Is Vietnam Safe for Tourists? What About American Tourists?

I moved to Vietnam from the USA in 2018. As someone who’s lived in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, I can shed some light on the safety of tourists in Vietnam.

The information in this article comes mainly from my own personal experience and perspective.

It’s important to remember that Vietnam is still a developing country. Accidents and crimes happen, but visitors can avoid much of this by being prepared and paying attention. So, is Vietnam safe for tourists? Yes, with some caveats.

The biggest safety issues, which I’ll go over below, are taxi scams, motorbike riding, crossing the street, drive-by snatchings, and pickpocketing. The latter two are relatively rare (in my experience).

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Is Vietnam Safe for American Tourists?

My quick answer: Yes. This article by the US embassy and consulate in Vietnam offers safety advice.

According to the statistics site Numbeo, Hanoi is ranked the 5th safest city in Southeast Asia, while Ho Chi Minh City is ranked 11th. It’s important to note that these ratings are based on the self-perception of visitors.

Important phone numbers for travelers:

• Dial 113 for police
• Dial 114 for fire
• Dial 115 for an ambulance
• Dial 113 to report traffic accidents

As an American expat in Vietnam, I’ve never been in or felt any danger because of my nationality. On the contrary, if you’re in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll find that the view of Americans from locals is overwhelmingly positive.

The US also maintains what I think is the biggest and nicest embassy in Ho Chi Minh City, in a very central area of District 1. Here is the location on Google Maps. This is the US embassy’s website.

I have used this embassy a few times to notarize documents and other things. It’s like a mini fortress inside the city. It shares some grounds with the French consulate.

When I’ve struck up random conversations with locals while walking around Ho Chi Minh City, they’ve often told me they love America or the USA. Also, in my experience, they like when you refer to Ho Chi Minh City as Saigon.

Avoiding Taxi Scams in Vietnam

My quick answer: Use the Grab app (the Uber of Vietnam). You can download the Grab app here. I wrote an article on how to use Grab.

Taxi scams come in different forms in Vietnam. Some drivers use rigged meters or cell phones instead of an actual meter.

Some drivers will try to avoid using the meter altogether, instead trying to negotiate an inflated price with you beforehand. Sometimes, they’ll just blatantly overcharge tourists.

For ones that do turn on the meter, I’ve also heard of them taking an unnecessarily long scenic route to milk the meter.

When you arrive at the airport and exit the arrivals area, tourists are bombarded with people offering them rides. Many of these are legitimate drivers, but many are unlicensed taxi drivers.

In my experience, the most reputable taxi companies are Mai Linh (official website) and Vinasun (official website). Mai Linh taxis are all green, and Vinasun’s are all white.

However, the good news is you can avoid these taxi scams using the Grab app.

The Grab app is like the Uber in Vietnam. You can book taxis, moto-taxis, order food and groceries, and more. You see the price you’re paying upfront.

You can add your credit card to the app or pay entirely with cash.

Common Money Scams and How to Avoid Them

Overcharging tourists is a common issue across Vietnam. Even in legitimate businesses, foreigners are sometimes charged more than locals. It happens.

You’re good in restaurants, cafes, and small eateries where a menu is available or displayed publically. Also, get in the habit of using Google Maps and reading the reviews. Caveat: if a business is flooded with good reviews, but the actual reviewers are dozens of accounts over and over with only one review to their name, it’s likely fake. This happens all over Vietnam, too.

I am a local Google Maps guide in Vietnam. I’ve reviewed many places in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hoi An.

Overcharging of food, items, or services happens when no menu is displayed, and the owner/operator has to tell you the price of something. This happens a lot with street food vendors or smaller shops.

Here’s a personal story: I’ve lived in Da Nang for a couple of years, and I sometimes visit Hoi An to explore, have coffee, or get lunch.

A banh mi is a famous Vietnamese sandwich, often available as a street food item from carts. A legitimate price of a banh mi from a street food vendor can be as low as 20.000 VND. Depending on if you want add-ons, the location, or just that vendor’s costs, maybe up to 40.000 or 50.000 VND. If you order a banh mi from an indoor eatery, prices can get over 50.000 VND.

Back to the story: I walked around Hoi An and wanted a banh mi, so I went to a street vendor nearby. She had no price signs on her cart, so I asked her, “How much?” She used her fingers while saying, “Seventy thousand.” I laughed because the inflated price caught me off guard, and she immediately said, “OK, thirty thousand.”

Now, the difference between these is just a couple of dollars, but this is the gist of what can happen. This can be applied to any food product, service, or item available on the street or in shops without price signs.

Grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, malls, etc., with sticker prices and such, you have nothing to worry about.

Several types of street vendors selling non-food items could also try to scam you by overcharging for services or items.

For example: Guys run around Ho Chi Minh City with these homemade mobile shoe-cleaning kits. They’ll have some sort of pack around their waist or over their shoulder, hold a toothbrush or cloth in their hands, and try to get your permission to clean your shoes—sometimes, they’ll start cleaning them without your permission or you even noticing. I have had a guy start cleaning my shoe randomly with a toothbrush.

Here’s an article on this shoeshine problem happening in Hanoi.

Guys like this may try to rope you into an unwanted service and see how much they can get from you.

Of course, you can also stop, interact with these guys, and settle on a price to clean your shoes. But settle on the price beforehand.

Street vendors sell all kinds of Vietnamese souvenirs, hats, and sunglasses.

Before buying any of these services or items, negotiate a price you think is fair. Most people are just trying to make a living, not necessarily doing anything malicious.

An actual malicious scam involves receiving back incorrect change. Depending on where you’re shopping or what you’re buying, it can be busy, chaotic, and loud. Cashiers may purposely play aloof or try to distract you and then give you back the wrong change.

Legitimate counting mistakes can happen, especially when you’re communicating with the cashier in English, maybe chatting a bit, etc. Cashiers in certain places are definitely overworked. But be on the lookout and always count your change. Certain Vietnamese dong bills look alike at a quick glance, and colors may be worn after years of circulation.

There are also taxi drivers who won’t, or will pretend not to, have change. They hope they’ll get to keep whatever the difference is.

When this has happened to me, I tell them we will stop and get change somewhere. If the difference is small, I just let them keep it. Welcome to Vietnam!

For currency exchange, I wouldn’t do it in any airport; that’s just my personal rule. When I have to exchange money, I go to jewelry stores in the major cities, as they usually have the fairest rates.

Riding Motorbikes in Vietnam

Motorbike accidents happen. However, in my six-plus years living in Vietnam, I’ve witnessed maybe 25 to 30 accidents.

In contrast, living in the USA (New Jersey) and commuting on I-95 and the Garden State Parkway, I saw daily accidents. The difference is that you have zero armor around you on a motorbike, so they’re likely to be more injurious at lower speeds.

You should wear a helmet, even if you see other locals or tourists not. It’s unnecessarily dangerous with no upside.

If you are booking a GrabBike, the drivers will provide a helmet.

Bigger vehicles immediately take the right of way in any yielding scenario. There are no stop signs; if a car or truck can pull out in front of you, it will.

It’s important to note that you technically need a motorcycle license to drive any scooter bigger than 50cc in Vietnam.

However, this is seldom enforced by rental companies or the police.

But, the police may stop you at a checkpoint randomly and ask for your license. They can impound your motorbike. You’ll likely have to pay a “fee” of 500.000 to 1.000.000 VND for them to let you go. This does happen, but it’s not entirely common. I’ve gone several months without going through a police checkpoint.

But if you’re riding around on a 50cc or less, this doesn’t apply to you.

Also important to note—insurance. If you get in an accident and you don’t have a license, your insurance may not cover you. You’ll have to look into the specifics of your health insurance.

Furthermore, getting into an accident and not having a license can result in some serious legal trouble. So ride a motorbike in Vietnam at your own risk!

Crossing the Street Safely in Vietnam

First: Obeying traffic lights is an issue in Vietnam. Running red lights is common. Many drivers sneak through at the last second, and others will run a straight-up red light.

So, just because you have the green walking signal to cross the road, always, always, always look.

You need to be careful when crossing the roads. From a driver’s point of view, there is a lot more activity going on (cars and tons of motorbikes), so you may not be easily seen crossing the road in a busy city.

Here’s a video I filmed while crossing the street in Nha Trang.

You’ll notice that aqua-colored car that went through the crosswalk without stopping. These cars are from an electric taxi company in Vietnam called Xanh SM. I was crossing with a dad and his young son; the driver saw us and made no effort to stop. This company collectively has some of the worst, most dangerous drivers I’ve seen. Be on the lookout for these cars.

To cross, proceed slowly and stick up/wave your hands. Cross in bigger groups if you can.

Be on the lookout: Motorbike riders will drive on the sidewalks to avoid waiting at a red light. Likewise, they will drive down the street in the opposite direction to avoid the delay of a proper U-turn.

Cell Phone and Purse Snatchings

Cell phone and purse snatchings happen but are relatively rare. One or two people on a motorbike will drive by and snatch a cell phone from someone’s hand or a purse or handbag strap. In the latter case, the person is often pulled to the ground. Here’s an article about it happening to a local in Saigon.

I don’t know anyone personally who this has happened to.

You can avoid this by wearing a fanny pack or crossbody bag and not carelessly snapping photos with your cell phone as you wander around busy areas. I wear a fanny pack or crossbody bag every day. They are very convenient for walking around or riding on the motorbike.

If I’m taking photos in a market or a busy city area, I always quickly peek at my surroundings beforehand.

Pickpocketing in Vietnam

Pickpocketing happens. Staying vigilant and using a money belt, fanny pack, or crossbody bag can help avoid it.

You need to be more aware of certain congested and touristy areas. These are the Ben Thanh Market or Bui Vien areas of Ho Chi Minh City or similar areas elsewhere in Vietnam. The Han Market in Da Nang is another example.

Crowded places, with many tourists and a lot going on, people bumping into each other, etc. Here’s an article on pickpocketing happening in Ho Chi Minh City.

You can also minimize potential loss by carrying only the money you need for the day.

Walking around with anything over 4.000.000 VND in cash is mainly unnecessary unless you plan on going to a nice restaurant or shopping in the malls.

If you’re wandering and exploring and have no plans to eat at a fancy restaurant or shop at a mall, you can get by with 2.000.000 VND or less.

Entry tickets to attractions are in the 30.000 to 50.000 VND range. There are free attractions, too.

If you download and use the Grab app for taxis and then hook in your credit card, you can also avoid needing cash for transportation.

Friendliness of Vietnamese Locals

I personally find the Vietnamese to be very friendly. Over the years, I’ve read the opposite opinion from travelers who’ve only briefly visited Vietnam. Certain accounts described them as scowling or being cold.

Briefly, this will depend on where you interact with locals. Overly touristy areas tend to change the locals’ personalities over time. Keep that in mind.

In my experience, many Vietnamese locals are just slow to smile. But if you smile and say xin chao (hello in Vietnamese), you will likely be met with a warm response. Just try it a few times.

This is the overwhelming experience I’ve had for the last six years.

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Is Vietnam Safe for Tourists? (FAQs)