Backpacker tips
How to travel when you share no language: lessons from Nepal, Vietnam and Bali
Some of my best travel moments happened with people who spoke no English. It works better than you think if you stay patient and bring the right tools.
A translator app that speaks
In a remote part of northern Vietnam a family offered me a bed. They could not read or write, so we used the voice mode of a translation app. It turned my questions into spoken Vietnamese and their answers back into English. It is not perfect: at one point a mistranslation produced the words “idiots down there” from a 12-year-old guide, and I only later understood what he meant. Keep sentences short and check meanings.
Acting at the pharmacy
In the Nepali village of Syabru Besi I needed medicine before a long trek. The pharmacist spoke little English. I pointed at my stomach, acted out the problem and she gave me two types of tablets. Do not rely on this for serious problems, and see a doctor if you can.
Show instead of tell
In Vietnam I showed the children banknotes and coins from Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and explained what each one was. It was a tiny geography lesson with no common language.
Learn ten words
Hello, thank you, please, how much, yes, no, water, toilet, help and the name of your hotel. Write them in the local script on your phone.
Accept hospitality carefully
Families have given me food and a bed. Accept politely, ask what is expected and offer something small in return. Use common sense and trust your instincts.
Respect the quiet
In monasteries and temples, a smile and a gesture are enough. I met a monk in Kathmandu who did not speak English, and we still understood each other.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best translator for travel?
I used a voice translation app on my phone. Download offline language packs before you travel.
How do you buy medicine without speaking the language?
Point, act out the problem and show packaging. For anything serious, ask for a doctor.
Is it okay to stay with a local family?
It can be, if you are invited, you are polite and you use common sense.