Budget travel trends for those who love to travel

VHO - Nowadays, many tourists are choosing to "pack their bags and go" intelligently, turning each journey into a worthwhile story without having to "burn" too much money.

Many tourists choose to travel freely, independently, and take control of their own itinerary.

Every year, millions of tourists travel in search of memorable moments, from beckoning blue beaches to quiet ancient streets or majestic mountain peaks touching the clouds.

Instead of luxurious, “all-you-can-eat” vacations at expensive resorts, the trend of budget travel is gradually becoming the preferred choice. Not only does it help “lighten the wallet”, but more importantly, it opens the door to surprisingly authentic, profound and meaningful experiences.

When experience reigns supreme

When it comes to traveling, especially abroad, many people often think of luxury and expense. High airfare, luxury hotels, package tours... all seem like invisible barriers.

But now, everything is different. With the explosion of technology, low-cost airlines, convenient bus and train systems, and countless accommodation options from homestays, budget motels to hostels or even camping in the wild.

Now, anyone can make their dream trip come true without having to worry too much about the budget.

Many people also choose budget travel as a way to reduce their impact on the environment, or simply to challenge themselves, practice life skills and find joy in simplicity and independence.

The feeling of conquering a difficult route, finding a “secret” delicious restaurant with unbelievable prices, or connecting with new friends along the way.

Free, self-sufficient, enjoy your own trip

One of the greatest things about budget travel is the rise of independent travel.

Tourists no longer have to follow the tour group's rigid schedule, rush after the tour guide or jostle at crowded tourist attractions.

Instead, travelers are in control of their own journey, free to plan each day, each hour.

This gives maximum freedom to explore hidden corners, enjoy authentic local cuisine and create unique, personal memories.

The process of planning a trip is also an interesting part. Travelers will spend hours “immersing” in travel groups, travel blogs, watching videos on social media platforms of travel bloggers, or even asking friends and relatives.

From finding information about transportation, choosing a "satisfactory" accommodation, to identifying "must-see" tourist attractions, "delicious" restaurants and "unique" experiences.

This process helps tourists save costs, while increasing excitement and anticipation for the trip.

When you arrange everything yourself, you feel like you are the real master of your journey, and every little success in finding a good restaurant or a shortcut to a beautiful scene brings great joy.

Truong Hang (24 years old, Tuyen Quang) shared about her trip to Hue: "Departing from Hanoi, I chose to travel by sleeper bus, so I saved a significant amount of money compared to flying."

“In addition, instead of going on a tour, we proactively researched places to visit and eat in Hue through groups and review blogs. Thanks to that, our 3-day, 3-night trip only cost about 3,000,000 VND/person but still got to experience all kinds of interesting things,” Hang said.

Two young people traveled to Hanoi - Hue with a cost of only about 3,000,000 VND/person.

Choose your vehicle, choose your experience

Instead of spending a lot of money on plane tickets, many tourists now choose more intimate and experiential ways of traveling such as traveling by motorbike, private car, or using sleeper buses or trains.

These trips not only help reduce the financial burden but also provide interesting experiences along the way, allowing travelers to enjoy the scenery and feel the journey in a very unique, unhurried way.

Traveling by motorbike is the “true love” choice for those who love to explore. The feeling of freedom on the roads, breathing the fresh air of the mountains and forests or the sea breeze, admiring the beautiful scenery on both sides of the road and stopping anywhere to take pictures, chat with the locals.

These are things that no flight or tour can provide. Gasoline and motorbike rental costs are often very affordable, especially when traveling in groups, helping to optimize the budget significantly.

For families or groups of friends, traveling by private car is a great option. It offers comfort, privacy and flexibility in terms of luggage, especially when traveling with small children or the elderly.

Members can share the cost of gas and tolls, making the trip more economical than buying plane tickets for the whole group.

Moreover, long car trips are often associated with stories from all over the world and happy memories in the car, creating a special bond between members.

Buses and trains are also popular means of transport because of their economy and convenience. Bus and train tickets are often much cheaper than plane tickets, especially for domestic trips, but of course they take longer.

Traveling by train also offers a unique experience as visitors can leisurely watch the changing landscape through the window, read books, listen to music and feel the slower pace of life, completely different from the rush of flights.

Quang Huy (30 years old, Nghe An) excitedly shared about his trip to Da Lat: “We just returned from a 5-day trip to Da Lat. This is our second time to Da Lat but this time is completely different. Instead of staying in a big hotel, we chose a small homestay with a shared kitchen to cook for ourselves, which is both economical and feels like home. Thanks to that, our food expenses were significantly reduced.”

“In particular, we rented motorbikes and drove ourselves everywhere, from the suburbs to the center, exploring mountain passes and hidden cafes. The cost of renting a motorbike was only about 150,000 VND/day. The best thing was that we were free to move around, not constrained by time, and could watch the sunset in places that the tour never took us to,” said this tourist.

Thanks to affordable ticket prices during low season or weekdays, travelers can now make their travel dreams come true easier than ever.

“Hunting” for the golden moment and taking advantage of community resources

To make the trip more economical and complete, budget travel enthusiasts often choose a time that is not peak season.

Avoiding holidays, Tet or crowded summers not only makes bus tickets, train tickets or hotel rooms much cheaper but also provides a more comfortable and peaceful space to explore.

Visitors can leisurely enjoy the scenery, take photos without worrying about crowds and have the opportunity to interact more with locals, learn more about indigenous culture, and even hear interesting everyday stories.

Besides, taking advantage of travel groups on social networks, video bloggers or travel review platforms is also an indispensable smart "strategy".

These are priceless “treasure troves” of information, where travelers can find everything from detailed itineraries, delicious and cheap places to eat, unique cafes, to useful tips on how to get around, book tickets or find accommodation.

These groups are also a place to connect, find companions, share experiences and even receive "real-life" advice from those who have gone before.

Many travelers are also willing to share detailed itineraries, costs, and tips so that those who come after can refer to and learn, creating a civilized and mutually supportive travel community.

Mr. Tuan Minh (58 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), a middle-aged tourist who still maintains his passion for discovery, shared about his trip to the West: “My wife and I just had a 7-day trip to the Western provinces. We went from Can Tho, to Soc Trang and then Bac Lieu”.

“Instead of flying or taking a private car, we chose to take a bus from Ho Chi Minh City, which is both cheap and convenient. In the provinces, we hired a motorbike taxi or took a bus to save money and see the street scenery,” he said.

“We also researched and booked rooms at small motels or hotels, which cost only about 300,000 - 400,000 VND/night, are clean and have full amenities. We mainly eat at cheap restaurants and local markets to enjoy authentic Western cuisine, rustic yet delicious dishes,” said Mr. Tuan Minh.

“Moreover, this experience helps us truly immerse ourselves in the lives of the local people, to chat and learn about the culture and people of this peaceful river region,” said Mr. Tuan Minh.

Live like a local, eat like a local

In budget travel, choosing accommodation and dining plays a key role in optimizing costs and enhancing experiences.

Instead of expensive 5-star hotels, many budget travelers often prioritize accommodation types such as homestays, budget motels, hostels or even camping in the middle of nature.

The costs for these types of activities are often very affordable, helping to save a significant amount of money on your travel budget, leaving money for other experiences.

In terms of food, the secret for budget travelers is to eat at local eateries, night markets, or cook for themselves. This is also an opportunity to explore street food, an indispensable part of local culture, where visitors can find delicious dishes that "forget to go home" at unbelievable prices.

Visiting the local market to buy fresh ingredients and prepare the dishes yourself is also an interesting experience, helping visitors understand more about culinary culture and save significant costs.

Low-cost airlines: A boost for dream trips

In the picture of budget travel, low-cost airlines play an extremely important role, as a strong push to help millions of people realize their dream of flying and exploring distant lands that were previously thought to be inaccessible.

This helps travelers, especially young people and groups of friends, optimize their travel budget effectively.

Thanks to that, the money saved can be spent on more unique experiences at the destination such as renting a motorbike to explore, joining local tours, or enjoying special cuisine without having to hesitate too much.

Low-cost airlines often operate short, flexible flights to destinations close to nature, in line with the trend of "leaving the city for the forest" or weekend travel of modern youth.

From dreamy Da Lat, Phu Quoc with blue sea and white sand, sacred Con Dao, to international destinations such as: Chiang Mai (Thailand) or Bali (Indonesia).

Not stopping at cheap airfares, many low-cost airlines also develop integrated travel ecosystems, connecting with hotels, local tours or service booking platforms, providing convenient combo packages.

Attractive promotions such as 0 VND tickets, super cheap tickets or group discounts of 3-5 people regularly implemented by low-cost airlines have helped significantly reduce initial costs.

Budget travel not only helps travelers manage their finances more effectively, but also opens doors to authentic, profound and meaningful experiences.

At the same time, it proves that the value of a trip is not in the amount of money spent, but in the memories, lessons and emotions it brings. It is a story about trips filled with joy, discovery and precious moments, that everyone can reach.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/xu-huong-du-lich-tiet-kiem-cua-nhung-trai-tim-me-xe-dich-159054.html