Stay safe & healthy in Vietnam
| WARNING! |
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In Vietnam, drug crimes are very severely punishable. Those found guilty of trafficking, manufacture, import or export involving more than fifteen grams of heroin; thirty grams of morphine; thirty grams of cocaine; five hundred grams of cannabis; two hundred grams of cannabis resin and one point two kilograms of opium are sentenced to death while for just being found with the amounts above can lead to conviction. You could go to jail for ten years maximum, a huge fine or both. If traces of illicit drugs are detected in your body system then you may be accused with an illegal usage even if you have evidence that they were consumed abroad. If drugs are discovered in your bags or room (by any chance), you would be charged by law enforcement agencies with “trafficking” regardless if they belong to someone else who has told you about them – so mind well what you possess at hand. |
Stay Safe In Vietnam
Crime in Vietnam
Vietnam is a moderately secure country for tourists, particularly those who go there in groups.
Most of the safety tips listed in guidebooks are mere scare tactics and most of the tourist areas are usually places of low crimes. Although violent crime against foreigners rarely happens, however pockets are picked and motorcycles stolen in major towns. From pedestrians or other motorbike riders, motorcycle thieves steal bags, mobile phones cameras and jewels. When you ride a motorcycle, don’t carry your bags on your shoulder. Also do not put it at a bike’s basket. If you have to walk in the streets with your bag move it from the outside shoulder to the inside one. When your bag is taken away from you avoid being pulled across the street.
Even upscale hotels have isolated cases of room thefts occurring sometimes. Do not think that the safe in your hotel room is unbreakable.
Do not fight over things with locals .It could be argued that westerners are more important than Vietnamese but if there are five or more Vietnamese on your team then be sure that you’re out of luck. Keep it mind that shouting is offensive to Vietnamese people and may cause them to respond violently. Majority of Vietnamese people are generally cool and nice. Indeed as a visitor you must respect local laws and customs; easily disputes can be avoided by maintaining politeness and tolerance towards cultural differences At least act like a good girl when drinking with Vietnamese men
Petty theft
Vietnam is a safe country, but the threat of theft always exists, especially in large cities. Do not extend camera lenses or cell phones into crowds and street corners; most robberies involve drive-by snatching. Keep your camera on your body so it is not jostled by traffic while photographing on sidewalks.
Women, especially those walking around Ho Chi Minh city need to be careful. When riding on motorcycle put your luggage either in the seat compartment or fasten them to the front of the bike. Bags slung over shoulders or left in bike baskets are easy pickings for thieves.
Before leaving your room at a hotel or guesthouse, place valuables in safes or keep them locked in bags. Generally it’s good to be aware about own things, watch baggage closely and avoid traveling with huge sums of money and expensive gadgets when visiting remote locations.
In fact, if you become a victim of any theft in such situations, there will be very little law enforcers can do to assist you get back your belongings that have been stolen from you.
Tourist Scams
Despite numerous developments in Vietnam’s tourism sector, some travel agents and freelancers still flout the law. Always reserve cruises to Halong Bay from recognized tour companies. Instead of small shops, through well vetted travel operators who will not take advantage of you must you plan your trips across Vietnam to avoid being swindled.
For Female Travellers
Visitors to Vietnam are not at a very high risk, and female travelers will be accepted in open arms. Therefore, it is necessary for Western women tourists to dress conservatively as possible; therefore, they should avoid wearing short skirts or shorts along with sleeveless tops that expose bare shoulders. Single women tourists should be prepared for questions regarding why they are alone ad unmarried. The inquiries are often harmless since the people genuinely want to know the reasons behind her staying alone. Few women commit crimes in Vietnam. However, walking alone late at night is not advisable and if you come back from somewhere late, it’s better to take a taxi.
Corruption in Vietnam
Vietnam has deep-rooted corruption problems, and many people are suspicious of their police force. However, sometimes policemen have certain patrols with objectives or goals in their minds but any driver can be impounded for a wide range of reasons including random paperwork checks that will cost about $20 for foreigners while locals pay between $5 to $10 on average per each offense. Politeness should not prevent you from being assertive. Logbooks must be maintained by officers showing the traffic offences committed by any driver and they should be able to give you a receipt which is what you should present at the station (not the officer’s office) then pay the fine, however do remember that in some instances like driving without proper papers for instance, your bicycle might as well be confiscated. If you have a phone, threaten to call your embassy but most likely it is better not to make things worse and just pay.
You will experience fewer interactions with police in remote or rural areas where English skills are often weak among local authorities compared to central cities and tourist sites where more officers know how to talk to visitors.
Immigration officials were known for accepting bribes. In early days of Doi Moi (the 1990s reform), this could mean either a few US dollars or a few packs of cigarettes (555). Despite the fact that it now seems okay with most of them whenever officials take them in exchange, there is nothing dangerous about refusing bribes.
Most agencies still want a “gratuity” fee before processing the documents. Most times one has tried to get resident permit for private accommodation or work/residence permit.
Vietnam was ranked among Asia’s corrupt countries by Transparency International, an international watchdog organization.
Prostitution in Vietnam
However, despite a seeming abundance of it, prostitution is banned in Vietnam. The age of consent is 18. In Vietnam, sexually exploiting women or children can land one in jail for up to twenty years and some others nations have provisions enabling them prosecute their citizens who travel abroad with the intent of engaging in sex with minors.
Remember that taking a Vietnamese national to your hotel room is an act contrary to the law of Vietnam. Though seldom imposed, if you are reporting a crime stating that you shared your room with a Vietnamese national could put you into more serious trouble.
In addition to legal issues, people engaging in this form of behavior face two more risks. First and foremost, HIV/AIDS is rampant in Vietnam and due to the taboos surrounding this disease many individuals do not get treatment. It is advisable therefore to be cautious as one might catch the disease from any prostitute he meets.
Second there are chances that when an unknown woman enters a hotel or guesthouse she can steal something. When waking up, men frequently notice their wallet or phone missing together with laptop. Furthermore, numerous reports exist concerning Westerners being drugged while sleeping in a hotel room or taken by criminal gangs to deserted places where they get stripped off their belongings
Scams in Vietnam
The majority of scams in Vietnam include transportation, accommodation rates, or the two-menu arrangement used by some eateries.
Many taxi drivers in Saigon and Hanoi use phony meters that charge 2 to 8 times the going rate. It is preferable to use a cab from a respected company such as Mai Linh (+84 38 38) and Vinasun in Saigon or Mai Linh and Taxigroup in Hanoi (but note that using these companies is not a guarantee). It is often not advisable to agree on a price in advance if you do not know what a decent price is. The meters from the two recommended vendors are quite dependable. The first suggested the Saigon Tourist Taxi, which is not at all recommended.
Taxis are readily available in Saigon at all hours of the day and night. You can also hail a taxi, and most switchboard operators can either speak English or relay the phone to someone who can. The basic rule of thumb for recognizing scammers is to ask the taxi to stop and get out immediately if the fare is not written down or the driver’s name and photo are not on the dashboard. This is unquestionably a scam.
When you exit the airport, the taxi driver may insist on paying the airport toll. He may be uncooperative on the fare, and if you offer him cash, he will pay the toll and pocket the remainder.
Many taxi drivers in Saigon and Hanoi try to take advantage of inexperienced tourists. You could read some travel books and forums to prepare for these tiny scams and learn how to avoid them. The airport toll in Saigon is 10,000 dong (July 2012). This sum, along with the price, is displayed on the taxi’s dashboard. You can safely state, “Airport toll is only 10,000 dong,” and refuse to pay for anything else, such as parking or other fees (unless there are other toll roads in between). Typically, the driver will not contest this. A trip on the backpacker route in Saigon should not cost more than 250,000 dongs from the airport.
Many other cities in Vietnam, including Dalat, Hoi An, and Nha Trang, do not use meters. The airports are 30-40 km away, and a meter ride will cost you between 500,000 and 650,000 dong. You can, however, take a bus from the airport to the city center or negotiate a taxi fare of 200,000-300,000 dong. Pay attention to the taxis’ sides. The airport fare is usually displayed on the door.
When accepting payment for an agreed-upon fare, taxi and bicycle drivers may declare that they have no change. The simplest method to deal with this issue is to carry tiny money or be prepared to wait for things. Usually, the driver is merely trying to grab an additional dollar by rounding up the fare, but to keep this scam from spreading, it is best to remain calm and firm on the pricing.
If you meet an overly nice driver who tells you, “it doesn’t matter how much you’d pay” or “you can pay whatever you like at the conclusion of the ride,” be wary. He might try to show you his book of worldwide tourist comments. This type of driver must be a thief. If you still want to use his services, you must clearly state the agreed-upon amount and not pay more. Simply state how much you are willing to pay. Cyclocross athletes are merely trying to make ends meet.
The hotel owners may tell you that the room costs 200,000 dongs. However, when you leave the hotel, they may insist on charging you $20, forcing you to spend nearly twice. Another ruse is to inform guests that a room is simply a few dollars, but then the next day to explain that the price was only for a fan-only room and that a room with air conditioning is a different price. Nowadays, trustworthy hotel owners appear to be aware of these frauds and are usually happy to assist by writing down the price of the room per person per day (in US dollars or dong), as well as whether or not it has air conditioning. Respectable hotel employees will never request payment when a guest checks in. Be wary if they demand on payment at the time of checkout yet refuse to put down the price.
Some restaurants are known to have two menus, one for locals and one for visitors from other countries. The only way out of this is to learn a few Vietnamese phrases and insist on just seeing the Vietnamese menu. Leave if they are hesitant to show you the local cuisine.
Fake monks in Vietnam
In Vietnam, Buddhism is mainly Mahayana; this means that monks should be vegetarians and are given no general alms. Donations are not sought by Monks who do not usually sell religious products (but rather sold by the laypersons) instead people can put their offerings in collection tins found within temples. An individual can choose whether or not to make a donation as well as the amount that they will give to the temple. The individuals begging for money from tourists under the guise of “monk” are actually nothing more than imposters.
Traffic in Vietnam
In Vietnam, many recent visitors have had to learn again how to cross roads. You may see a tourist standing in the middle of the road for about five minutes and still be unable to proceed further because he does not know how to cross it. The traffic situation in Vietnam can be a hell. If you are at home, you may fail to notice that accident, witness someone lying with injuries on the tarmac or hear bang sound of it.
If you stay in this country over thirty days your chances of undergoing all these become very high.
The streets are jammed with cars. Some key intersections in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have police-controlled traffic lights; however, most of them do not work or are disregarded by drivers.
Don’t try to zigzag between motorbikes when crossing the road; instead let them dodge you. These people will slow down or go another direction as soon as one takes another step forward. Keep your speed and course predictable for other motorcycle riders by avoiding abrupt changes in speed or direction until you reach your destination.
To cross a road, the easiest option is to follow a local and stand next to him facing opposite side (if something happens, he will catch up with you first).
When injured don’t expect any help from locals such as calling an ambulance which is not free. Tell people clearly that all costs related with ambulance services will be covered by yourself. Even hospitals would refuse admitting unless there is proof that payment can be made.
Highways also pose danger rates with 30 deaths each day on average thereby some residents avoid coming out unless they are travelling in big cars (vehicles). Going through the highway on a bike or moped means adventure only for brave souls, but definitely not for families with kids.
Nightlife dangerous in Vietnam
Occurrence of petty crime in nightclubs is not an unusual thing. Do not make it worse: arguing with locals might turn violent drunks.
In clubs, there are working ladies everywhere who await customers. They could be looking for bags and mobile phones.
Do not talk to unknown women while walking in the streets of the tourist district at night, although it is safe to walk alone. These strange women can touch you, chat politely, and finally pick your pocket.
Never ask a taxi driver where to go clubbing. Most taxi drivers receive commissions from clubs and lounges for bringing foreign tourists. If you visit one of these places, they will give you cheap tickets. But when the bill comes, it may contain lots of hidden costs. Prepare in advance by telling taxi drivers where you want to go and persisting on that destination even if they warn against it. Many night clubs have got good names amongst them; however, some shops appear more international than others
Wildlife dangerous in Vietnam
There are very few wild animals surviving, let alone hazardous to people. Poisonous snakes, such as cobras, may still be widespread in rural regions, but nearly everything else has vanished or is so rare that chances of encountering one are limited. Tigers may exist in small numbers in distant regions, however this has not been proved.
Stay healthy in Vietnam
Malaria, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis are all prevalent in rural Vietnam. Malaria is less of a concern in major places such Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, but always carry a liquid mosquito repellent with you. This is especially effective in rural areas and densely populated areas.
Cooked food provided by street vendors and restaurants, including blended iced drinks, is largely safe because to substantially improved hygiene in recent years. Use common judgment and the instructions in the article on traveler’s diarrhea, and you’ll probably get away with it.
Health care in Vietnam
Public hospitals in Vietnam are typically understaffed and overcrowded, failing to reach Western standards. Furthermore, doctors and nurses in public hospitals do not speak any other languages. If you do not speak Vietnamese, you should bring a translation. In general, hospitals will only accept your case if you can demonstrate that you can pay for the services.
Private hospitals in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang cater mostly to Western expats and provide good medical care, with staff speaking English and French, even if the services are expensive. The French-Vietnamese hospital in Ho Chi Minh City is the most well-known of Vietnam’s private hospitals and a renowned medical tourist destination. The majority of private hospitals for expats accept international travel insurance.
Hospitals in Vietnam
There are a number of state-owned and private hospitals with English-speaking staff in major cities such Vietnam Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. While tiny pharmacies are ubiquitous in practically every Vietnamese city, you may be far from the next pharmacy or hospital in rural areas.
Pollution in Vietnam
Pollutants in the air can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms. Among the symptoms are a scratchy throat and nasal drip. If you have a respiratory condition, invest in a tiny mask to wear while traveling about cities, or plan to spend more time in the countryside if feasible.
Mosquito-borne diseases
Malaria transmission is more likely in the rural highlands. If you intend to visit any distant areas in Vietnam, you should consider taking anti-malarial medication. Dengue fever is becoming increasingly common in Southeast Asia, with the majority of cases occurring in the Mekong Delta, especially Ho Chi Minh City. Because there are no vaccines available, the best preventive method is to wear bug spray around dawn and sunset.
Heat concerns
Year round, Vietnam is hot and humid. Don’t underestimate the sun’s power. Sunburn can happen quickly, so it’s better to wear sunscreen all day. Reapplication should be done with caution, especially at seaside resorts. Another issue to be concerned about is dehydration, as well as heat exhaustion, which can manifest as headaches and irritability. Consume plenty of water. Heatstroke is a more serious side effect of sunburn and may necessitate hospitalization. If you are feeling weak, dizzy, or nauseous and have a temperature of more than 41°C, seek medical attention right once.
Food-related illnesses
Traveller’s diarrhea is a common issue when visiting new places. In remote places, stick to bottled water and avoid ice. To avoid bacterial contamination, choose restaurants with a high turnover of customers and those that produce freshly cooked meals. In general, street food in Vietnam is pretty safe, but always use your own discretion when selecting sellers. Take rehydration salts and stay hydrated if you have stomach troubles or diarrhoea. Seek medical attention if the issues persist.
Critter bites
These can be an issue when sleeping in hostels and other shared dormitories, as well as in hotels. If you have flea, bed bug, or lice bites, go to the local clinic for treatment. When in touch with wild or domesticated animals, keep an eye out for rabies. When visiting Ha Long Bay, avoid the monkeys on Cat Ba Island. When hiking in the forest, keep an eye out for ticks, leeches, and deadly snakes hiding in the vegetation. If you have been bitten, seek medical attention right away.
