What Took Me So Long? A Mother Returns to Solo Travel

Solo travel doesn’t have to mean going it alone. In Vietnam, Kellie Floyd discovers the perfect balance – embracing independence while finding connection on a small women’s group trip.

“What? You’re going alone? Why?” 

I think about these words as I float on my back in the ocean alone, half a world away in Vietnam.  This was the reaction from a few family and friends when I shared my plan to fly overseas solo. The water is warm, gentle waves lap at my face, and now and then, tiny flying fish leap across the surface before vanishing beneath the water. Above me, soft pinks and golds streak across the sky, the first light of day. My answer to their question lies – or rather, floats – right here in this moment. This is what I craved: a moment entirely my own.

It’s my first morning in An Bang, Hoi An, and I’m the only tourist awake. On the beach, Vietnamese women ground themselves in the early morning light, burying their bodies in the cool sand as if drawing in its energy. A few people stand meditative while others swim in the sea. The air is thick with salt, and the light breeze carries a faint scent of grilled fish, perhaps a remnant of last night’s food stalls.

I’ve wandered down from my nearby hotel, and travelling alone means I can do what I want for as long as I wish, watching without interruption, thinking without distraction, and floating until I decide otherwise. Soon, the sun will be high, and I’ll be surrounded by my travel group, off to explore Hoi An, and perhaps a little more about ourselves too. That’s the beauty of this trip, I’m traveling solo, but I’m not alone.

Juggling it all, and then letting go

Vietnam has long been on my wish list, but I wasn’t quite ready to navigate it alone. A small women’s travel group felt like the perfect middle ground – offering solitude when I craved it and connection with no pressure.

It’s been nearly two decades since my last solo adventure. In that time, life had been full – marriage, kids, work and somewhere along the way, I’d stopped prioritising myself. As a career-driven, working mother who throws so much of my energy into being present with the kids and making it to the school gate, my days were full of commitment. When I briefly mentioned the idea of heading away on a women’s trip to my husband, his response was an immediate and unwavering yes. That simple reassurance made me realise the logistics weren’t holding me back. It was me.

Moments you can’t find in a guidebook

On my first day in An Bang, I wandered down the main street, Nguyen Phan Vinh. I sidestepped scooters carrying entire families -three, sometimes four people. I passed clothing shops with mannequins clad in silk dresses, fruit vendors stacking pyramids of bananas, and small cafes with plastic stools set out on the footpath. 

By the afternoon, I was sitting at a beachfront restaurant with my group of six ladies, laughing over our first cocktail, mine, a tropical indulgence served in a coconut. That’s when I knew I’d made the right choice – this wasn’t just a tour; it was a safety net, there when I needed it but never stifling my independence.

I joined a travel group founded by fellow Australian Evie Farrell. Years prior, Evie, a solo parent, had backpacked through Asia with her young daughter for three years and, upon returning home, realised so many other women – single, married, and everything in between – deserved adventure, too. Mumpack Trips was created.

Evie’s warmth was evident from the moment I arrived. My flight landed at midnight, and instead of simply picking up my key from reception, Evie was in the hotel lobby, waiting for me with a hug and a fresh mango smoothie. That small act set the tone for the entire trip, this wasn’t just about logistics, it was about connection.

I chose this trip because Evie, having lived in Hoi An while travelling with her daughter, infused the itinerary with local knowledge. I never would have found the local haunts we dined in. Places like Phuong’s beachside restaurant, where we ate grilled prawns brushed with chilli and our feet in the sand, are not listed in any guidebooks. We bought souvenirs from Lui and Moon, two local women selling beaded bracelets and woven trinkets from baskets they carried along the shore. Even our hotel was a beautiful, family-run stay. Every dollar we spent stayed within the community.

A safety net without strings attached

Group travel also allowed me to experience things I might have skipped as a solo traveller. Like laughing as we accidentally glued lantern-making fabric to our own pants or cheering each other on while flipping sizzling ingredients in a wok during a cooking class with local chef Mimi.

But there was space for solitude, too. Some mornings, I ventured out alone, relishing the quiet of an early swim or losing myself in a local food market. On other days, I leaned into the group’s collective energy, knowing there was always someone up for a bike ride, a massage or a cocktail.

One morning, after exploring Hoi An’s lantern-strung streets with the group, most ladies returned to the hotel to lounge by the pool. Instead, I wandered off to a teahouse, spending an hour sipping rich Vietnamese coffee, thick with condensed milk, and watching the world go by. Eventually, I returned to the hotel, where we all regrouped. That was the magic of this trip: the freedom to be untethered, yet never alone.

A lesson in saying yes to myself

When I think back to that first sunrise swim, I realise this trip gave me exactly what I needed: connection but with the freedom to explore in my own way. The real question isn’t why I chose to travel solo, it’s why I waited so long to do it. So, would I join another group trip as a solo traveller? Absolutely.

Mumpack Trips, founded by Evie Farrell, offers curated travel experiences for mums, kids, and solo female travellers, designed to create lasting memories. After travelling full-time with her daughter for three years, Evie launched the company to empower women to explore the world with confidence.

With a focus on safety, support, and local connections, Mumpack Trips provides guided adventures, often partnering with teachers for childcare, and local experts for immersive experiences. Evie also leads women-only trips and shares her journey in her memoir, Backyard to Backpack, inspiring others to embrace travel as a transformative experience.

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