The easy-mode island of Taiwan

Safety Solo traveler safe, even for female. I do it all the time.

Budget Typical cost $50 a day

Accessible Easy access from big cities.

Typical stay Should be at least 3 days

Expect the unexpected.

— From a person who's been there 5 times

Taiwan itinerary

A loose 8-day Taiwan route. Placeholder copy for now.

Trip length

8 days

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8

Let trains set the rhythm Taiwan is easy to freestyle, but train times, typhoon risk, and east-coast weather matter. Keep the big transfers fixed and let food stops do the wandering.

Per person

Included

Round-trip flight from Hanoi
Visa fee
Homestay
Meals
Public transport (MRT, bus)
EasyCard
If visiting Hualien: round-trip Taipei - Hualien train

Not included

Personal expenses
Optional upgrades
Seasonal price changes

Age: 8 - 75 Just random recommendation. I've seen older people do the loop.

One person or ten, the same Now I only go to Ha Giang alone because I have been so many times.

Taiwan Gallery

Photos I took. View and praise.

+27

Transportation

Fly directly from Vietnam and check your Taiwan visa requirements before departure.

Fast

Flight

By airplane: There are already direct flights from Vietnam to Taiwan, you can land in Taipei or Kaohsiung depending on your itinerary. I notice that flying to Kaohsiung is usually a bit cheaper. The flight time from Hanoi is only about 2 hours, plus a 1-hour time zone difference.

About 2 hours from Hanoi

Prepare

VISA

VISA: Check if you are eligible for a Taiwan VISA exemption, you can read on the website https://www.roc-taiwan.org/vn_vi/cat/11.html which is their official page, with full information and procedures to be done. My secret is to just prepare fully and more than what is required; if you have anything to prove your income, job, and assets, just bring them all out. In addition, you can also hire an agency service, the price is double the listed price, but the plus point is that you don't need to submit and pick up the results in person; the service people are not very enthusiastic either if you travel in a small group. Since I went alone, they didn't even care to look at me, so I did it myself.

Check visa exemption eligibility

Taiwan's trains, buses, and public bicycles make independent travel easy.

EasyCard

Train / Metro

Train/Metro system: The train system in Taiwan is extremely modern and clean. You can take the train to any province in Taiwan, and in addition, in Taipei, you can take the train everywhere in the city. Another convenient thing is that you only need to buy 1 Easy Card to use for all types of public transportation (trains, buses), and even for buying items at 7-Eleven. I don't remember the train ticket prices very well, but in 8 days I spent 1100 TWD in total for public transportation (excluding the ticket to Hualien).

1100 TWD for 8 days, excluding Hualien

Convenient

Bus

Bus: Buses are available everywhere, the stops are also diverse and more convenient than trains, and there is no traffic jam in Taiwan so taking the bus is not an issue. When taking the bus, remember to tap your card once when getting on, and once when getting off. Buses in Taipei are mainly electric buses, while in Hualien they look like coach buses. You can check the bus routes using Google Maps quite accurately, and all waiting stops have schedules to track.

Tap your card when getting on and off

YouBike

Bicycle

Bicycle: Automated rental bicycles are quite popular in Taipei and there are many stations around the city. To rent one, I think you must have a WeChat account? I forgot to register while in Vietnam, so I couldn't try it when I got there. You can search for Youbike on maps to see the bike stations.

Search YouBike stations on Maps

Taiwan weather in August

Taipei

--°C

...

Xincheng, Hualien

--°C

...

Taichung

--°C

...

August overview

I will only cover August weather, based on my trip in 2025. This is generally the rainy and typhoon season, so check the forecast carefully before traveling and adjust your itinerary when needed. If a typhoon is approaching, avoid east-coast areas such as Hualien.

Taipei

Taipei is on the west coast. Summer is hot, usually around 30 - 35°C. The upside is strong sunshine that makes the coast look especially beautiful.

Hualien

Hualien is on the east coast, between the mountains and the sea, so it is usually 2 - 3°C cooler than Taipei. However, this coast faces incoming typhoons. August is peak season for daylilies, and the scenery is beautiful.

What's here

Things you'll actually remember

Ha Giang is not only beautiful in destinations but also in the roads we travel. And sometimes, it doesn't have to be a famous or well-known check-in spot to be beautiful; sometimes just stopping by the roadside can offer enchanting scenery.

Ximending

This is the tourist center of Taipei, somewhat like the Old Quarter in Hanoi.

Bitoujiao

This is a quite high cliff cape, reaching out to overlook the sea.

Hualien

A province on the East coast of Taiwan, taking a high-speed train from Taipei for about 2 hours and 30 minutes will get you.

Liushishi mountain

At an altitude of over 800m, the scenery on the mountain peak is breathtakingly beautiful.

Houtong Cat village

A village near Jiufen, super tiny, probably with only about 20 rooftops, nestled on a hill.

Jiufen

A very touristy place, but convenient for eating, sightseeing, famous Taiwan shops, and souvenirs.

Keelung Mountain Trail

A quiet stone-step trail beside Jiufen with wide views over the old town and coastline.

Taroko National Park

I stumbled upon this place via Google Maps, got so hooked on the reviews about the cliffside walking trail inside that I decided I had.

Qixingtan Beach

Oh, it's super super super beautiful, my readers.

Taiwan, easy mode with a view

Taiwan feels built for people who like doing things on their own: trains work, buses show up, convenience stores rescue bad planning, and the coast casually looks unreal. It is organized, friendly, and still full of small weird details worth chasing.

Cities that actually function

Taipei is dense but not chaotic, with MRT lines, night markets, small food shops, and 7-Eleven doing heroic work every few blocks. Get an EasyCard, follow the signs, and let the city carry the boring logistics for you.

Soft cities, dramatic edges

The fun part is how fast Taiwan changes mood: one day neon streets, the next day cliff trails, mountain towns, pebble beaches, or flower fields. Check weather closely, especially for the east coast, because typhoon season does not care about your spreadsheet.