Solo travel is often praised as a life-changing experience, but I'm skeptical about the hype. When I traveled alone through Vietnam last year, the freedom was nice, yet the loneliness hit hard during meals and quiet evenings, and I missed having someone to share the awe of Ha Long Bay or the chaos of Hanoi's streets. Group tours or traveling with friends might offer less flexibility, but they provide shared memories and safety in numbers that solo trips simply can't match. So, is solo travel really worth the struggle, or are we just romanticizing being alone?