Vietnam

Is Vietnam safe to visit?

Yes, for most visitors, as long as you take the roads seriously. Vietnam has little violent crime and no recent history of terrorism, and the US State Department rates it Level 1, the lowest. The danger is traffic: WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary about 18 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, roughly seven times the UK's rate. We score Vietnam 71, above Thailand, which has deadlier roads and an active border conflict, and far below Singapore.

Motorbikes, buses and boats

Vietnam runs on motorbikes, and so do its road deaths. Official figures are much lower than WHO's estimate: the National Traffic Safety Committee reported 10,491 road deaths in 2025, down 6.4% on 2024, or about 10 per 100,000. WHO's model corrects for deaths that never reach police records, which is why we score on it, but even the official count means almost 30 deaths a day. Most victims are on two wheels.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary is blunt: do not hire a motorbike unless you are an experienced rider. Riding the Ha Giang loop, the Hai Van Pass or the mountain roads around Sapa looks easy in videos, but surfaces change fast, trucks overtake on blind bends and landslides block roads after rain. You need the 1968 version of the international driving permit with your licence, and insurers can refuse claims if you ride without one. A crash also has legal weight here. Foreigners involved in accidents have been stopped from leaving the country until police finish investigating, and have been pushed into paying settlements.

Long-distance sleeper buses crash more often at night, when drivers are tired. Trains are slower but safer. On the water, the FCDO warns that overcrowding and poor standards have caused sinkings on overnight Halong Bay trips. Choose a registered operator and check the life jackets yourself.

Crossing the road on foot is its own skill. Walk at a steady pace and do not stop or run; riders steer around predictable pedestrians.

Theft, scams and nights out

Petty crime is the most common problem for visitors, especially in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 and Hanoi's Old Quarter. The typical theft is a bag or phone snatched by someone on a passing motorbike. Hold your bag on the side away from the traffic and do not use your phone at the kerb. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says thefts rise around Christmas and Tet, the lunar new year, and on overnight trains.

Common scams are small but annoying. Unmetered taxis overcharge, so book through Grab or Xanh SM and check that the car matches the app. Free airport transfers you did not arrange can be a trap. Rental shops and some landlords ask for your passport as a deposit and then claim damage; give a copy instead. Change money only at official counters, as street exchange is illegal.

Nights out carry two serious risks. The FCDO reports rapes and sexual assaults in tourist areas, often linked to unlicensed taxi drivers, and drink spiking. It also reports deaths from methanol in spirits bought in licensed bars, shops and hotels. Stick to beer or sealed bottles from known brands, and get to hospital quickly if someone in your group has blurred vision or severe sickness after drinking.

Laws that catch visitors out

Vietnam is a one-party state. Protests are not tolerated, and criticising the government online or carrying political material can lead to an exit ban or prison. Drug penalties are severe, including for small amounts of cannabis, and the death penalty exists for serious cases. Police raid nightclubs and can drug-test everyone present; a positive test counts even if you took the drug before arriving. Vapes are banned. You must carry photo ID, though a printed copy of your passport and visa is accepted.

Unexploded bombs and mines from the war remain in former battlefields, mainly in central Vietnam and along the Laos border. Tourist sites are cleared, but do not wander off marked paths at places like the DMZ.

Storms, floods and health

Typhoons hit the coast from May to November, and central Vietnam floods most autumns. In late October 2025, record rain killed at least 37 people in Hue, Da Nang and neighbouring provinces and put Hoi An's UNESCO-listed old town under waist-deep water. If you travel to the centre in October or November, keep days free and avoid mountain roads after heavy rain.

Dengue is common, Japanese encephalitis is a risk in rural areas, and malaria exists mainly in remote forest and highland areas. Hanoi's air is often poor in winter. Medicines bought locally can be fake, so bring what you need. Vietnam also limits addictive and psychotropic medicines to 7 days' supply, which catches people with anxiety, sleep or ADHD prescriptions. Good international clinics exist in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but serious cases elsewhere may need evacuation, so check that your insurance covers it.

How to stay safe in Vietnam

• Use Grab or Xanh SM for cars and motorbike taxis, and book inside the app.
• Hire a driver for mountain loops unless you are a licensed, experienced rider.
• Keep your passport in the hotel and leave copies, not the original, as deposits.
• Drink beer or sealed bottles; avoid cheap spirits and buckets.
• In October and November, follow weather warnings for central Vietnam.
• Save 113 for police and 115 for an ambulance.

How we scored it

Road safety (51), on WHO's 2021 estimate of 17.7 deaths per 100,000, is the weakest factor and explains most of the gap to safer countries. Conflict and terrorism (88) and violent crime (85) are strong, though the last national homicide figure dates from 2011 and the newer one is a WHO model, so confidence is medium. Natural hazards (60) reflect yearly typhoons and floods in the centre and north.