Is Can Tho safe?
Relaxed and safe with normal care. Snatch theft, scooter traffic and mosquito-borne disease are the main risks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2026-06-23.
- Homicide rate in Vietnam: 1.5 per 100,000 people (2011, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Vietnam: 30.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 113 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 114.
Safety in Can Tho at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching from passing motorbikes near the riverfront and night market; violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | The riverfront and night market are busy until about 10 pm, then the city empties. Take Grab late rather than walking. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Expect curiosity, not harassment; use app taxis at night and keep bags away from the road side. |
| Other risks | Dengue from mosquitoes, especially in the rainy season; Flooded streets at high tide Sep–Nov; Heat and humidity year-round |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Boat touts on Ninh Kieu quay quoting low prices, then adding fees
- Taxis without a running meter, especially from the airport
- Floating-market vendors charging inflated prices for fruit
Take care
- Ninh Kieu riverfront at night: bag snatchers on scooters
- Narrow boat trips at dawn: take life jackets and a licensed boat
- Streets after heavy rain or high tides: flooding and open drains
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty; possession means prison
- Flying a drone needs a permit; unpermitted drones get confiscated
- Photographing military sites or joining protests can lead to detention
How Can Tho compares in Vietnam
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Con Dao | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hanoi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Da Nang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hoi An | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ha Long Bay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nha Trang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Phu Quoc | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sapa | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hue | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ninh Binh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Da Lat | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mui Ne | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Phong Nha | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cat Ba | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Vung Tau | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Quy Nhon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Can Tho | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cao Bang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mai Chau | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ha Giang | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Can Tho safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Expect curiosity, not harassment; use app taxis at night and keep bags away from the road side.
Is Can Tho safe at night?
The riverfront and night market are busy until about 10 pm, then the city empties. Take Grab late rather than walking.
What is the crime rate in Can Tho?
Phone and bag snatching from passing motorbikes near the riverfront and night market; violent crime against visitors is rare. Nationally, Vietnam records 1.5 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2011).
What number do I call in an emergency in Can Tho?
Police 113 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 114.
More about Can Tho
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
- Hoan My Cuu Long Hospital
- Grab Vietnam
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.