Is Ho Chi Minh City Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Ho Chi Minh City is generally a safe destination for solo female travelers. Local people are friendly, helpful, and respectful towards tourists. Violent crimes are rare although petty crimes like pickpocketing and bag snatching can occur mainly in crowded places. As with any destination, it's important to stay vigilant, avoid empty streets at late hours, keep your valuables secure, and trust your instincts. Local laws and customs are quite strict, so respect them to avoid any problem.

Safety rating

2.2 /5

Based on 2 experiences

4.2 /5

Based on research and crime data

Safety overview

Safety at night:Moderate

Ho Chi Minh City is moderately safe for lone female travelers at night. It is advisable to be aware of your surroundings as petty crimes like pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are common, especially in tourist areas. Most areas are well-lit and bustling with activities till late hours. However, safety could vary from district to district with more central areas generally being safer. Avoid dark, isolated areas and take reputable taxis or ride-share services if you're unsure. As always, trust your instinct and if a situation or area makes you uncomfortable, remove yourself from it ASAP.

Public transportation: Safe

Public transportation in Ho Chi Minh City, is generally safe and is used daily by locals and tourists alike. Key modes of public transport include buses, taxis, and the popular Grab application akin to Uber. It is recommended to keep an eye on your belongings, as petty theft can sometimes occur. Night travels are not recommended as some forms of transportation may no longer be available or as safe as they are in the daytime. Overall, use common travel safety precautions and you should have a pleasant and secure experience.

Street harassment: Low

Ho Chi Minh City, within Vietnam, tends to be safe and respectful towards female travelers. Street harassment is considerably low in frequency, and women rarely report instances of catcalling or inappropriate comments. As is the case with any large city, it is always important to remain vigilant, especially during the late hours. Ladies should also be aware of petty thefts and pickpockets operating in crowded areas, but this is also relevant to male travelers.

Petty crimes:Moderate

Ho Chi Minh City is generally safe for travelers, but like any large city, petty crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching and scams occur, particularly in crowded areas and tourist hotspots. It's advisable to stay alert, secure your belongings, and avoid displaying valuable items in public to reduce potential risks.

Tap water:Unsafe

In Ho Chi Minh City, the tap water is generally considered not safe for direct consumption. While the city's water treatment facilities have improved significantly over the years, the distribution system infrastructure isn't completely reliable. As a result, water could get contaminated during transmission. To stay safe, you may wish to drink filtered or bottled water.

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Travel experiences

Overall rating

3.3 /5

based on 2 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

2.2/5

Safety

2.2/5

Food

3.3/5

Budget-friendly

3.9/5
Lien

Lien (35)

Vietnam

Solo travel experience

It was relatively safe. Food is amazing. People are friendly. Be careful of phone and bag snatches in the streets. Use ride share apps like Grab, Be, Gojek. Plenty of airBnB and hotel options Explore street life, city center, war sites, Chinatown.

Posted: November 25, 2023Experienced: October, 2023
Things to do: 4/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 4/5
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Rachel

Rachel

Singapore

Group travel experience

It’s very affordable to travel here and you will enjoy it if you like the hustle and bustle of the city. One main problem is that people here do not speak English at all, or if they do, it’s very minimal so please have Google Translate with you at all times! The service tends to be over the top since they are vying for tips, but there is no compulsory tipping culture.

Posted: October 12, 2023
Things to do: 3/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 3/5
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Meet locals in Ho Chi Minh City

Thắm

Thắm

Speaking

About Me

Yes

Countries I’ve Visited

🇻🇳 Vietnam

mode_comment 0
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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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 Ho Chi Minh City

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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Hannah

Hannah

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Hi, My name is Hannah and I'm interested in books, cinema, culture, dancing, food & cuisine, languages, writing and solo travel

Countries I’ve Visited

🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇻🇳 Vietnam

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Song

Song

Speaking

You can stay for:

7 days

About me

I'm a Chinese working in Saigon D7. Vietnam. INFJ. I like workout and have a simple and quiet life here. Like to meet people and hear stories from them. An occasional fan of drinks but 3 glasses get drunk with no fail.

Countries I’ve Visited

🇨🇳 China, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇳🇵 Nepal, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇯🇵 Japan

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Safety in Vietnam