A holiday in Vietnam – Is this a safe travel destination?

If you are wondering whether it is safe to have a holiday in Vietnam ? Yes. Viet Nam is safe for the solo, group and family holidays. Similar to most popular tourist destinations there is the risk of petty theft or scams, but there is nothing serious to stop tourists booking one of the budget-friendly to luxury Vietnam tour packages.

Crime

The crime rate is relatively low in Viet Nam compared to Western countries. Tourists are rarely likely to be a victim of a violent crime while holidaying in the country.

 The police keep a pretty tight grip on social order and you rarely receive reports about muggings, robberies or sexual assaults. Sure there are scams and hassles in some cities, particularly in Hanoi, HCMC and Nha Trang (and to a lesser degree in Hoi An)…

Snatch theft can be quite common on the road with two people on a motorbike driving by quickly to grab bags, cameras, phones, or other valuable items. In the event of an attempted bag snatch on the road, it is more practical to let the bag go to avoid the possibility of injury.

To minimize the risk of becoming a victim of theft it is more practical to leave values in the hotel safe and only travel with the essentials needed for the particular day’s activities. A simple money belt can be used as an alternative to a full size bag.

Natural disasters

In Vietnam there is no earthquake or tsunami …

Typhoons and storms are seasonal activities and more likely to impact the central regions of Viet Nam compared to the north and the south. The rainy season in the north and south runs from June until September with heavy rainfall, and in the in the middle of the country from October until December.

Although the rainy season does not cause severe consequences, it only hinders you when traveling so avoid the rainy season in Vietnam.

Traffic

Traffic in Viet Nam’s biggest cities can be a little dangerous.

For the first-time-to-Asia travellers, using and crossing the roads can be one of the quite daunting things to do in Vietnam. Stay calm while crossing the street and avoid making sudden movements to make yourself more predictable to drivers on the road.

Operating a motorbike on the busy streets isn’t advised for the first-time visitor because of the craziness on the roads. Using a local and a reliable taxi brand or public transportation is a lot more practical. Alternatively, a xe om or motorbike taxi is a traditional form of transport to experience on the Vietnam customized tour, but will require bargaining skills to avoid paying over the top rates.

But all in all, Vietnam is an extremely safe country to travel in.