Is Vietnam Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Vietnam is generally a safe destination for solo female travelers. Both urban and rural areas are generally welcoming and respectful towards foreign visitors. Violent crime rates are low and most locals are helpful towards travelers. However, like anywhere else, it's vital to exercise common sense, stay aware of your surroundings, and avoid isolated areas especially at night. Pickpocketing and petty theft can be a concern in crowded tourist areas and public transportation. It's advised to stay vigilant with personal belongings. Solo female travelers should also note cultural norms and dress respectfully, especially in religious sites.

Safety rating

4.9 /5

Based on 21 experiences

4.2 /5

Based on research and crime data

Safety overview

Safety at night:Moderate

Vietnam is relatively safe for solo female travelers, even at nighttime. The streets tend to be lively with street vendors and tourists; however, petty crime such as pickpocketing can occur. Avoid poorly lit and deserted areas. As anywhere, it's best to remain aware of your surroundings and stay cautious at all times.

Public transportation: Moderate

Public transportation in Vietnam generally falls mid-range on the safety spectrum. Buses, taxis and trains are widely used by locals and tourists alike. However, overcrowding and traffic can pose certain risks. It's important to be cautious of your belongings at all times as pick-pocketing can occur, particularly in busy areas. Additionally, taxi scams are known to be prevalent, so always ensure that the meter is on or negotiate a price before the journey starts. Booking taxis through a reputable company or your hotel is advisable. Despite these issues, most people use public transportation without any major problems.

Street harassment: Low

Vietnam tends to be quite respectful towards tourists. Street harassment is not usually a common issue and tourists, including solo female travelers, generally report that they feel quite safe. However, this doesn't mean it is non-existent. Like in any part of the world, it's important to always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Travelers may encounter occasional instances of catcalling or persistent vendors, particularly in busy urban areas, but as a whole, street harassment in Vietnam is not a significant concern.

Petty crimes:Low

Vietnam is relatively safe and petty crimes like pickpocketing and bag-snatching might occur, especially in crowded places such as markets, bus stations, and tourist areas. However, these are not predominantly significant and they can be avoided by taking some usual precautions like not exposing valuables, using a money belt or a pouch hidden under your clothing for important documents and money. It's always sensible to stay alert of your surroundings.

Tap water:Unsafe

Tap water in Vietnam is not deemed safe for drinking straight from the tap. Although it's generally treated and safe for brushing your teeth or washing, it's likely to contain bacteria that can lead to diarrhea or other illnesses if ingested. Always opt for bottled water, ideally from a sealed bottle, for drinking or rinsing your mouth.

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Travel experiences

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 21 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4.9/5

Safety

4.9/5

Food

4.8/5

Budget-friendly

4.5/5

Solo travel experience

It was my first solo trip and I genuinely felt completely safe as a lone, young female. The Vietnamese are gorgeous people and are super respectful. I spent almost 3 weeks there and it was the most amazing place I’ve ever been.

Posted: November 8, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

Did a month in southern Vietnam solo. Loved it, and had no issues at all. Loved Hue (especially the citadel and tombs of kings and then the city itself), Dalat (so cool, great motorcycle tours around there into the central highlands), Ho Chi Minh City (busy but cool, and Mekong delta tour was fun) and Hoi An was my favorite place.

Posted: August 8, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I stayed in Vietnam for a month and it was amazing! I suggest everyone should go there. I felt safe and secure the whole time. I traveled alone and I'm really proud of myself.

Posted: July 31, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

Vietnam was my first trip abroad and I was alone. It was fantastic. It’s very safe there, and inexpensive. I’ve been back 4 times since. I’ve been to several other countries but Vietnam is still my favorite.

Posted: July 29, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I was there for 2 months. So safe. Never had a problem. Used buses, trains, motorcycle tours, and Grab. And traveled from the south to the north, spent many late nights in Saigon on bar street, and everywhere else. Dancing, karaoke with locals, beer, and breakfast at 5 am lol. Hanoi was my least favorite place.

Posted: July 25, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I traveled Vietnam solo for a month by motorbike and absolutely loved it. I didn't feel unsafe once and I spent a lot of time riding around the middle of nowhere on my own. I stayed in hostels and met loads of great people to keep me company.

Posted: July 18, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I've been solo to two big cities Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi and felt safe. I would say traffic is the most dangerous thing there. Also went to Halong Bay and Phu Quoc island, and always felt safe. Use common sense, don't walk out alone at night. Vietnam is amazing, I loved it.

Posted: June 9, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I was in Vietnam on my own and I felt perfectly safe. I've been to Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh. I stayed in hostels and met quite a few people, spent time with them, and really enjoyed the experience. I recommend downloading the "Grab" app (like Uber) and using the Grab cars or bikes on there. It's cheaper and you get verified drivers.

Posted: May 25, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Nurul

Nurul (23)

Indonesia

Solo travel experience

First time travel alone outside my country because I want to try get out from my comfort zone. Vietnam is a good choice to start traveling alone I think😊. If you are huge fans of coffee, you should try it in there because taste is really pretty good especially egg coffee. Daily budget in here is cheap but you know it depends on the people how they manage or spend it :)

Posted: May 15, 2023Experienced: January, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I spent a little over a week in Vietnam and I wish I had more time! Here's what I did: * Hanoi - I stayed for 2 days and visited the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, watched a water puppet show, saw the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, explored the Temple of Literature, visited the Ha Ba Trung Temple, and enjoyed the Night Market. * Halong Bay - I stayed for 2 days and went on an overnight cruise, which was a highlight of my trip. The scenery was amazing! * Hoi An - I stayed for 4 days mainly because I wanted to get clothes made. I also took a walking tour of the Old Town, went on a street food tour at Vy's Market (which was really fun), and took day trips to Ba Na Hills (the bridge was impressive but the rest was too touristy) and Anbang Beach. * Ho Chi Minh City - I stayed for 2 days and visited the Reunification Palace, War Museum, Jade Emperor (Ngoc Hoang) Pagoda, Botanic Gardens, and enjoyed chocolate at Marou and beer at the Heart of Darkness Brewery. I also went on a day trip to the Mekong Delta. Overall, I had a great time in Vietnam, but I wish I had more time to explore.

Posted: May 15, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Local experiences

Don't have to bring so many clothes as everything is cheap here. Vietnam has long latitudes so the south is hot and the north is cooler (even cold in the winter). High humidity and dust. Be cautious when u cross the streets due to crazy traffic.

Posted: November 10, 2022
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Hoi An is commercialized a lot these days. You will only find chinese and korean shops everywhere. If you have time, just go there to see the ancient homes. Da Nang is wonderful, you must go to Hai van Pass, all the beautiful bridges and Son Tra peninsula. For the northhern Vietnam go to Ha Giang and hire a motorbike to go to Ma Pi Leng Pass, Dong Van. It is a hot place for vietnamese backpackers. You can have a ride to Ban Gioc waterfall in Cao Bang, the fourth biggest waterfall in the world. The forests in Northern Vietnam are much more stunning than the south, but the ocean in the south is much much beautiful.

Posted: August 19, 2022
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Meet locals in Vietnam

Mal

Mal

Speaking

About Me

Im a travel lover. Also, a foodie. Been to 63 provinces in Vietnam and 10 countries. Hope i can be of your help!

Countries I’ve Visited

🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇲🇲 Myanmar [Burma], 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇼 Taiwan, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates, 🇮🇳 India, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇨🇳 China, 🇧🇳 Brunei, 🇱🇦 Laos

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Sunny

Sunny

Speaking

About Me

I’m Vietnamese, I live in Phu Yen province and welcome all friends to visit my hometown with free couchsurfing

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Wen

Wen

Speaking

About Me

Hi there! I'm a 24 years old visual artist from Southeast Asia. I am super chilled so shoot me a message if we ever crossed path. I love art, music & anything cultural and fun:)

Countries I’ve Visited

🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇲🇾 Malaysia

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Stay with locals in Vietnam

Mal

Mal

Speaking

You can stay for:

2 days

About me

Im a travel lover. Also, a foodie. Been to 63 provinces in Vietnam and 10 countries. Hope i can be of your help!

Countries I’ve Visited

🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇲🇲 Myanmar [Burma], 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇼 Taiwan, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates, 🇮🇳 India, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇨🇳 China, 🇧🇳 Brunei, 🇱🇦 Laos

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Sunny

Sunny

Speaking

You can stay for:

7 days

About me

I’m Vietnamese, I live in Phu Yen province and welcome all friends to visit my hometown with free couchsurfing

mode_comment 0
Tran

Tran

Speaking

You can stay for:

1 day

About me

I’m Dung. I’m a nurse. I love traveling and exchange language

Countries I’ve Visited

🇻🇳 Vietnam

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Upcoming visitors to Vietnam

Kristina

Kristina

About Me

Hi :) would like to explore the area, grab something to eat or join for a yoga class?

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Karen

Karen

Speaking

About Me

I will be going to Vietnam 31.1-15.2 2024. First time in the country. Arrival in Ho chi Minh and planning to stay in Hoi An/Hue. Maybe we can join?

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GuGu

GuGu

Speaking

About Me

I am a solo traveler who enjoys to meet new people and find out about their culture and mentality of people. I love nature, hiking and drinking coffee with friends 😁 I don’t have any borders, very friendly to LGBT 🏳️‍🌈

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇱 Albania, 🇦🇲 Armenia, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan, 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇲🇻 Maldives, 🇲🇨 Monaco, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇲🇲 Myanmar [Burma], 🇳🇵 Nepal, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇻🇦 Vatican City

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Local discussions

Solo travelHas anyone been to the Son Doong Cave? Any recommendations?

Planning a trip to Vietnam for next year. Has anyone been to the Son Doong Cave? Any recommendations or time od year I should travel? Anything would be helpful.

Posted: November 29, 2022
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TravelWhat beaches/islands would you suggest visiting in Vietnam?

Hi all, I’m currently in Vietnam and am searching for some really nice beaches/islands to visit. Looking for any suggestions!

Posted: November 10, 2022
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TravelWhat recommendations do you have for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia?

Hi there!! I’m looking for recommendations on Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), Laos (Vientiane) and Cambodia (Phnom Penh). Hotels, places not to miss, car services, anything else you are willing to share!

Posted: October 12, 2022
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TravelWhat are your favorite places in Vietnam and how long would you recommend staying there?

Heading to Vietnam next week for 1.5 months and want to know your favorite places and how long you would recommend staying there. So far, I only have one week booked in Ho Chi Minh. Thank you in advance.

Posted: September 22, 2022
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Safety in Vietnam