Plan in advance
Do some advance planning, that is one of the best tips for solo travelers. You don’t need a detailed plan but you should know, for the first night at least, where you’re going to stay. Book your hostel before you leave.
Choose suitable accommodation
Try a homestay or look for room rentals in an apartment, this gives you an automatic connection with residents when you are travelling alone. As a solo traveler, you will have tons of options to choose from. Even if your landlord does not take you out on the town, you will at least scoop up a few local tips.
Check the weather
Check it carefully where you are going to visit, to make sure that you have adequate equipment. For example, Vietnam’s weather is very erratic and different depending on each region. The North of Vietnam is cold for a few winter months, and the rest is hot and super hot all year around.
Prepare basic and specialized medicines
Flu, cold or stomach-ache due to abrupt weather change or unfamiliar food and so on, pharmacies are all around but they only sell basic stuff, so if you have any special illness, make sure you bring enough medicines for the entire trip.
Watch the world around you
Take the time to observe how people interact, and how things work. While sitting at a sidewalk cafe, on a park bench, or just killing time you can learn how to use public transit, whether to pay your bill at your table or at the counter, how to tip or how to hail a cab and much more.
Take photos
Making photography is a mission, even if it's just snapping odd little details you notice about a place, gives structure to your day. Your friends at home will appreciate your perspective and the story that comes with it.
Find local friends
Use Facebook and Twitter to make connections where you are travelling. Offer to take local friends of friends out for dinner, and you will be surprised how many people take you up on it, everyone likes to be tour guide for a night. Also seek out your interests in your destination, the fan club for the local football team, say, or the chess association.
Learn a little of the local language
Make the effort to learn a few words and phrases before you go travelling. Just knowing how to introduce yourself, start a basic conversation, order a beer and count from 1–10 makes all the difference. People love to know you are making effort and doing your best to interact, even if you're a little rusty.
Don't bury your head in a book
Going solo means you have a chance to really take in your surroundings, meeting locals and travelers alike along the way. Be content to be by yourself, but confident enough to introduce yourself to people when you want to be sociable.
Take advantage of other useful apps
While learning how to travel alone, you find it handy to download useful apps to your phone such as a GPS, a translator, a currency converter and some travel guides.