Southeast Asia
Is Vietnam safe?
L1Exercise normal precautions
Is Vietnam safe?
Violent crime against visitors is rare; snatch theft, overcharging and chaotic traffic are the everyday risks. Most trips are trouble-free with normal care.
Key facts
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2026-06-23.
- Homicide rate: 1.5 per 100,000 people (2011, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths: 30.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 113 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 114.
- Solo women: Generally comfortable for solo women; use Grab at night, watch drinks in backpacker bars, and expect curiosity more than harassment.
Risks, scams and laws
Main risks
- Traffic: crossing streets and riding scooters
- Phone and bag snatching by passing motorbikes, especially in Saigon
- Typhoons and flooding in central Vietnam, September–December
- Unexploded ordnance off marked paths in former DMZ areas
Common scams
- Rigged meters and fake look-alike taxi brands at airports
- Cyclo riders and street vendors changing the price afterwards
- Fake e-visa agency websites charging inflated fees
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
Safety by place 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 Vietnam safe for tourists?
Violent crime against visitors is rare; snatch theft, overcharging and chaotic traffic are the everyday risks. Most trips are trouble-free with normal care.
Is Vietnam safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women; use Grab at night, watch drinks in backpacker bars, and expect curiosity more than harassment.
What is the emergency number in Vietnam?
Police 113 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 114.
Safety by place
Sources
- World Bank: intentional homicides
- US State Department travel advisory
- Vietnam National Portal on Immigration (e-visa)
- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
- Vietnam Railways
- Speedtest Global Index: Vietnam
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.