text and photos by Prime Sarmiento
 
  I wrote this post in one of those fab lifestyle concept cafes that can be found in Ho Chi Minh city. This is my first visit in Vietnam. Based from what I've seen so far – chic boutiques and galleries, metered taxis, yoga studios, spas and even a fab vegan cafe right smack at the backpacking center of Pham Ngu Lao – I understood why this is perhaps one of the best cities for women who  are keen on traveling in Southeast Asia.
 
  I'm not yet convinced that Ho Chi Minh city is fit for first time solo female travelers. Reports of bag snatching, the plethora of motorbikes that makes crossing a street a dangerous activity and a language barrier may prove too much for a woman who will be traveling on her own for the first time.
 
That said, the city has the “three Cs” which I think you need to consider when choosing a destination for your first solo adventure.
 
Cheap:
  Choose a place which has the same or better yet, lower standard of living than your hometown. Eating, lodging and shopping , is cheaper in Saigon than in Manila and cheap return tickets (as low as 150 U.S. dollars) are available, so I'm not surprised that a lot of Filipinas are now going here for a short break.
 
  I know that you saved a lot of money to pay for your vacation, but you need to remember that traveling on your own is more expensive than going somewhere with your family or your girl friends.
 
  You have no one to share your expenses with, you need to pay a premium to stay in a hotel located in a safe area, and when you suddenly run out of money because you got crazy shopping for shoes, no one will bail you out. Of course having credit cards will help but when traveling, it's better to have cash as there are still stores and hotels that don't accept credit cards.
 
Comfortable:
 
  Choose a place which you have visited with your friends, that you enjoyed, that you are familiar with and is within your comfort level. This is not the time to push the boundaries. There's plenty of time for that – after you earned your solo female traveling stripes.
 
  So if you're not into mountaineering because you can't survive without the conveniences offered only in the cities, I don't see why you will want to trek somewhere in the Himalayas for your first trip as a solo female traveler. The reverse applies to the outdoorsy gypsygal.
 
  Traveling on your own is not some game of upmanship where you go to some exotic locale so that you can brag about it. I was like that before, but after traveling on my own for years, I realized how boring, insecure and uncool I was. Now I just travel for my own reasons – as a spiritual journey,  art and food tripping, to have the time and space to write  – and not because I need to prove something.
 
  It's also advisable that you travel to a place whose culture is similar to yours. You might think that you are open minded, but believe me even those who grew up in multicultural societies is also prone to culture shocks.
 
Convenient:
 
  Avoid places where you will encounter a lot of problems just so you can go there. For example, if you can only get a few days off from work then go to a place which is just a short plane trip away. I can only squeeze a long weekend in my busy work schedule, hence Saigon, which is just a two and a half flight from Manila, is perfect weekend getaway.
 
  I also don't need a visa to go to Vietnam – which is a big thing as I'm Filipina and obtaining a visa is always a major production.
If you hold a Philippine passport or a citizen of developing countries, I advise that you visit other countries instead of planning for a trip to Europe or the U.S. All the bureaucratic BS that you need to go through just to get a tourist visa is just not worth it.
 
  It's harder still if you are single, childless, young and not rich. The consul will think that you just want to go to their country just so you can work as an illegal immigrant and then marry an American to get a citizenship. It's not really fair but since a lot of women do just that – you can't blame immigration officials for being suspicious.
I also recommend that you go to a more touristy place because it's easy and cheap to arrange organized tours where locals serve as tour guides. This is a way to meet friends, know more about the place and enjoy a hassle-free travel experience.
 
  I hope the three C's that I mentioned will help you in crafting your own journeys. Nothing beats the absolute freedom that comes from traveling on your own.
And if you have other questions and concerns as a solo female traveler, you can write them down in our comments section, send us an e-mail or post your questions in our Facebook Fan page .
 
Enjoy your journey!