The fun journey begins with listening
For many young people, group travel is not only a journey to explore experiences but also a "test" of the ability to connect and accompany each other.
According to personal experience, Dao Thi Huyen Trang (22 years old, Hai Phong) believes that maintaining solidarity in group travel lies in understanding and respecting each other's differences. Having traveled with a group of friends many times, Trang believes that the biggest reason why trips are prone to stress is that each person carries different expectations but does not say it from the beginning.
Some people want to go for vacation, sleep a lot, eat well; some people want to take advantage of exploring and taking pictures of many places. If you don't discuss it in advance, it is very easy to feel disappointed or think that others are not cooperating" - Trang shared.
Before each trip, the whole group should spend time agreeing on basic principles such as budget, schedule, time, travel level or priorities of each member. The division of work should also be clear, for example, one person is in charge of booking rooms, one person finds a place to eat, one person manages common expenses to avoid the situation where one person does everything while others only participate.
Huyen Trang also believes that during the journey, it is not advisable to force the whole group to operate together at all times. "I used to go in groups of 4 and sometimes divided into two small groups: the group went to watch the sunrise, the group stayed in the room to rest. Then we went out for breakfast together and told each other stories. Everyone felt much more comfortable" - Trang recounted.
This young person believes that solidarity is knowing how to give in at the right time and put common experiences above personal emotions.
Transparency in spending to maintain group harmony
For Nguyen Dinh Tuan Anh (21 years old, Hanoi), the factor directly affecting the atmosphere of a group trip is the financial story. The male student said that he has witnessed many trips becoming stressful just because of non-transparent expenses or different ways of spending money between members.
Some people are willing to spend a lot to live beautifully and eat well, but some people want to save as much as possible. If there is no agreement from the beginning, it is very difficult for everyone to feel comfortable" - Tuan Anh said.
According to young people, before each trip, a common budget should be finalized and the fluctuation level can be acceptable. During the journey, the group should record expenses or use a money sharing application for everyone to easily follow, avoiding the situation of being reluctant to remind and then developing feelings of injustice.
Besides financial issues, Tuan Anh believes that communication is the decisive factor in maintaining the cohesion of the whole group. If there is something unpleasant, each person should discuss it early instead of keeping it to themselves or telling others.
Traveling is inherently for fun, comfort, and relaxation. If there is something unpleasant, you should give gentle and direct advice. Many times the other person is not intentional, but because no one is speaking, misunderstandings gradually accumulate" - Tuan Anh shared.
Young people also emphasize respecting the emotions of each member. In the group, there will be extroverts who like to take photos and plan; but there will also be taciturn people who like to walk slowly and rest. Listening so that everyone feels they are participating will make the trip more comfortable and pleasant.
