Is Vietnam safe for tourists?
When I returned from my 3 month Southeast Asia Backpacking trip and people asked me the inevitable (impossible) question - “What was your favorite country?” - I think they were all shocked by the answer: Vietnam!
Vietnam has such a special place in my heart, and after having visited twice, I can confidently say that it was my favorite country on my backpacking trip, and definitely has earned a spot in my list of top three favorite countries overall.
I think with young people, there isn’t as much of a stigma regarding Vietnam, but whenever I spoke to my parent’s friends or anyone else regarding Vietnam, they had such strong negative feelings towards the country. I believe this to be due to the tumultuous history between Vietnam and America, but that was nearly 50 years ago.
“Seriously? Is Vietnam even safe for tourists? You went alone? What even is there to do in Vietnam?”
These are all questions I got anytime I brought it up, and I’m here to dispel any rumors.
IS Vietnam Safe for Tourists?
The answer, in my opinion, is a resounding YES!
Vietnam is safe for tourists, luxury travelers, and budget backpackers alike. It is part of an extremely well-traveled backpacker loop, with easy (if long) forms of transportation all over the country, countless organized tours, and a large population of English speakers.
A lot of people also ask me how I have the courage to travel in such foreign countries all alone - and the answer is simple! I am never distrustful of people or places where such a large chunk of their economy comes from tourism. The majority of people are very kind towards tourists, and if the concern of safety is the only thing standing between you and an epic trip through Vietnam, you need not worry.
How to stay safe in Vietnam as a tourist
scams
Snatchers:
As with every country (even America!), there are precautions you can take to ensure that you remain safe in Vietnam as a tourist.
Although I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable walking around cities in Vietnam at night, that is something you can avoid just to be extra cautious.
A huge “scam” in Vietnam that has affected many of my personal friends is phone-snatching. There are people who will ride around at night (sometimes in the day, but heavy city traffic can make a quick getaway difficult), looking for unsuspecting, potentially drunk, tourists that are returning home from a night out.
Chances are, if you’re using google maps to get back to your hotel or hostel, your phone will be out in front of you and your eyes will be on your phone and not your surroundings. Then, a two person team will speed by you, one driving the bike and one who will attempt to snatch your phone out of your hand. This happened to THREE people I knew over the course of three weeks in Vietnam, so it is a common occurrence.
While not necessarily dangerous, there’s nothing quite like a stolen phone (lost pictures are the absolute saddest thing, am I right?) to ruin your trip.
When my friend and I were navigating through the streets of Hanoi, we would constantly blurt out “GORILLA GRIP” as a reminder to keep a super tight hold on our phones, and because it was such a funny phrase we always remembered to hold on tight and stay aware of our surroundings.
Money Scams:
Additionally, keep an eye out for common scams that aren’t specific to Vietnam. Make sure you count your money when you exchange it, as many notes can look quite similar. Don’t accept anything for free, as people will often force you to pay for it after, and expect that if you take a photo with someone or in front of their shop, that they’ll expect you to compensate them.
Try not to get any taxis that aren’t regulated by an app. the Grab app will be your best friend during your trip to Vietnam! Unregulated taxis either have meters that rack up miles faster than normal or drivers that will agree to one price and then magically forget the agreed upon price when you get to your destination.
Be aware of these, but also just avoid any situations that could put you in scenarios like these altogether.
Physical Safety
One very common safety hazard in Vietnam is the traffic! The sheer number of people on the roads is actually mind-boggling, and crossing the street can be quite dangerous. Most Vietnamese people are amazing drivers, however, so I never heard of any tourists being injured while crossing the street - but we’ve all been honked at multiple times!
As a result of the insane traffic and seemingly nonexistent traffic rules, I would not recommend driving in the bigger cities such as Hanoi and Saigon. I drove in the more rural part of Vietnam as well as some of the bigger cities, but it is undeniably dangerous. The streets are pure chaos, your legs can get burned by uncovered exhausts, and we all know what happened to me when I hit a rock and went flying over my handlebars.
One way you can avoid incidents like these is by simply not renting your own motorbike! I know it can seem like fun, but if you are not an avid motorbike/motorcycle rider in your home country, Vietnam is not the place to learn.
Thankfully, the Grab app exists, and it is super easy to call a motorbike taxi and hop on the back. Locals, despite their crazy driving, are experts and I’ve never heard of anyone getting into an accident while on the back of a locals bike. They just know how it’s done. There are handlebars on the underside of the seat - so that you don’t make the hilarious mistake of grabbing onto the driver to stay on! They’re typically required to offer you a helmet, which I would always accept.
How to stay safe in Vietnam as a tourist in case of an incident
Travel incidents are inevitable. Most times, it’s not even a matter of if, rather than when.
In light of this, make sure you have travel insurance! you never know when an accident will happen, and even though it seems like a potentially unnecessary and annoying upfront expense, it can actually save you thousands in the long run. After knocking my tooth out in Laos and an uninsured hospital visit, I will never make the mistake of traveling without insurance again!
So…Is Vietnam safe for Tourists?
I loved my time in Vietnam and enthusiastically recommend it to absolutely anyone who will listen. Vietnam, while it may be a shock to the senses initially, is safe for tourists.
Keep your senses about you no matter what, especially if you’re a solo traveler, but don’t be put off of Vietnam because you’re worried about safety.
