Is Hanoi Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Hanoi is generally safe for solo female travelers. The residents are often friendly and willing to help, and crime rates are relatively low. Still, it's important to stay vigilant, especially at night, and keep an eye on your belongings at all times as petty theft can occur. Public transportation is reliable but can get crowded, which may lead to unwanted attention. Always be clear and firm with taxi drivers to avoid overcharging issues. Overall, most travelers have a positive and safe experience in Hanoi.

Safety rating

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How safe is Hanoi?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

As a solo female traveler, Hanoi offers a generally safe environment during nighttime. People are often seen out late and there's a vibrant night market and street food scene. However, like any big city, one should maintain awareness of their surroundings and avoid dark or deserted areas. Some occasional instances of petty crimes like bag snatching may happen, so keep your belongings secure when walking around. Walking alone at night in populated, well-lit areas tends to be okay, but it's always smart to use caution and common sense.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Hanoi, is generally safe. There is a noticeable police presence in major areas, which deters most major crimes. However, one should still be cautious of their belongings due to occasional reports of pick-pocketing. Buses are the most common form of public transportation and are typically crowded. As an alternative, Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Grab are widely available, reliable and safe. While traveling after dark, it's safer to use a taxi or Grab rather than the local buses. Always follow basic safety precautions such as not showing off expensive items, being aware of your surroundings, and keeping firm hold on your personal belongings.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

Street harassment in Hanoi, is relatively low compared to many other cities around the world. The general Vietnamese culture is one of respect. Any perceived rudeness is usually due to cultural differences or misunderstandings. But of course, occasional catcalling or relentless vendors can sometimes be an issue. Still, it's not common to encounter overly aggressive or endangering behavior. Always take personal safety measures that you would take while traveling to any other city in the world.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Hanoi is relatively safe when it comes to petty crimes. Pickpocketing and purse snatching incidents are not unheard of, particularly in crowded markets and tourist areas. However, if you practice vigilance and common-sense precautions such as not displaying flashy jewelry or electronics in public, you can significantly reduce the chances of becoming a target.

Is Hanoi worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.2 /5

based on 10 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4/5

Safety

4.2/5

Food

4.2/5

Budget-friendly

3.5/5
Hina

Hina

Japan

Solo travel

I felt the mixture of Asian and European style in their architecture and food. Also, the Hanoi old quarter is full of beautiful trees which made me so happy and relaxed! Everything is cheap there so you don’t need to care too much about your budget while staying there!

Posted: September 21, 2024
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Solo travel

Hanoi is chaotic and bustling, especially in the old quarter. Don't let this deter you, as the Old Quarter is really the only place you should be staying in on your trip to Hanoi. There is coffee shops and food there, the best.

Posted: August 16, 2024Experienced: July, 2024
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Maxine

Maxine

Australia

Solo travel

I totally recommend visiting Hanoi. The old town was very nice to walk around in and the history at the old jail was very interesting. I only had one comment by someone about my appearance and then someone crack onto me after a tour. You could avoid the tour and just catch the local buses. Super cheap! From Hanoi you can visit SAPA or Cat Ba Island with a local bus or ferry. There is also the waterpuppet show that is a must visit in the area. I would go back to Hanoi.

Posted: July 10, 2024Experienced: August, 2023
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Solo travel

The best city ever! I just love how it was both kinda choatic and very authentic. Just walking around the city was an adventure, crossing the streets from all the motorbikes, and walking by the lake, and riding grab motorbikes. I had the best absolute time there. I felt extremely safe as well.

Posted: June 28, 2024Experienced: December, 2023
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Alika

Alika

Russia

Solo travel

I'm a budget traveler, so hanoi and vietnam in general feel really cheap after Thailand. I've stayed in hanoi for 1 week, hostel cost me around 900k vnd for the whole period. Food prices are different from place to place but in general you can find something to eat starting from 45k vnd (for example pho and other types of soup usually cost around this price). For side dishe + rice or stir fried noodles with vegetables you'll pay 60-80k, also, you can find cafes serving buffet the cost of it starting at 60k vnd. Also, I'm vegan, so can speak only for vegan food. Hanoi felt quite save. There wasn't many people staring at you, and non who would approach and disturb me, except of few hostes who asked to come to their cafes. Even at the night time it wasn't a problem to walk home enjoying the weather 🙌🏻 For the transportation hanoi has quite good public transportation system and google maps will easily accommodate you with it showing needed route and bus numbers, ticket costs 7-8k. Also, you can use grab app to get a car or a bike as a taxi, bikes are quite cheaper than cars, but still x3 and more times more expensive than buses. Bike taxi for a 20-25min route cost me around 20-30k. And for sure try to explore hanoi by walk! Hanoi is super cozy city and lovely architecture. Every corner is so picturesque and vibrant, you don't wanna miss it, trust me!

Posted: June 23, 2024Experienced: April, 2024
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Solo travel

Hanoi was the first ever country I visited and I traveled solo. With this considered, I took all efforts in researching not only its accessibility (as a Philippine resident) but also its overall safety as a first time international traveler. I was told people there weren't as friendly than those in southern Vietnam but most locals I met are extremely nice if not a bit reserved. I felt safe even walking alone in their street market at night, but I only stuck to the walking street and avoided dark & quiet alleys. There are, however, a lot of scams especially around Hoan Kiem Lake so be extra careful and vigilant. I booked my tours via Klook and paid them in advance so I won't have to carry as much cash.

Posted: March 6, 2024
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Maria

Maria

Romania

Solo travel

Hanoi is such a vibrant city! People here are friendly but also pretty chill compared to other places. Traffic is also not that crazy. The food is amazing and the city comes alive at night during weekends - especially in the old quarter area when they close some streets for vehicles. I strongly recommend checking out the French quarter as well and going further South to experience some local things. I went to Complex 1 for a watercolor workshop and open mic night where Vietnamese locals came together to sing. It was a truly amazing experience!

Posted: August 28, 2023
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Solo travel

Hanoi is amazing. Allow yourself to get lost in the chaos and smells. Get to know as many locals as possible. Sit on small plastic stools and eat bun cha. Gain a higher perspective on popular intersections and watch as scooters pass by each other but never touch.

Posted: November 3, 2022
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Solo travel

Ninh Binh is wonderful. The Women's Museum was amazing, but very emotional. I love Mrs. Huong's cafe located nearby - it's like being in Paris. I highly recommend the coconut milk coffee. Lo Hoa prison is also very interesting. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn to practice Tai Chi, and in the evening to the dance groups. Book food tours and hikes, as well as cooking courses in advance, because they fill up quickly. There are amazing places to eat here. Try Banh Mi. I recommend checking out Lonely Planet or Trip Advisor guides to get the most current information.

Posted: August 21, 2022
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Is Hanoi safe for women?

Safety index

3.4 /5

Based on 6 local experiences

Crime index

1.9 /5

Based on 6 local experiences

In general it is safe and I think it is a bit safer than many other places because local people are very attentive and always willing to help. But just like in any other locations it is better if we are precautious.

Posted: October 4, 2024
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Very safe for solo travellers. I lived in Hanoi for over 30 years now and I have never been robbed or feto unsafe. We can hang out until midnight and ride motobike home without worrying at all. Maybe you should be more careful because you’re tourists but definitely Hanoi is a great andsafe place to travel for both solo travellers or female group of friends

Posted: September 27, 2024
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Meet locals in Hanoi

Tina

Tina

About Me

Visiting Southeast Asia one country at a time.

Speaking

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Trang

Trang

About Me

Hi, my name is Trang. I was born in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have been living in Singapore since I was 15 years old. About myself: - I am inquisitive, sensitive, reflective and introspective. I care about being thoughtful, considerate, truthful, sincere, understanding, accommodating, and sharing authentically. - To me, it comes down to inner peace, being your natural self, expressing your essence and potential, engaging, connecting, caring, and sharing. These are the moments that would flash back and warm the heart. - I appreciate having personal space to retreat to and recharge when needed. - These days, nothing instills in me more peace and nourishment than nature and greenery, and when watching videos of gardening and life in the countryside. My story: 2 years ago, I quit my full-time corporate job in Singapore to take a personal break. Many things did not feel right at that point, with work and personal relations, and I felt stuck in, living by the design of a modern life that became personally unfulfilling. “How can I have such a big chunk of my life that feels so impersonal?” was what I felt with work. It had been a process internally to reach that point of decision to break out of the “secure” and familiar template and blueprint, but it was freeing and absolutely needed for my life. At that time of leaving, I needed to leave Singapore and go back to my own country. It was in the middle of the pandemic. The new journey started with a rescue flight and a 3-week quarantine, right into the culmination of the summer heat in a basic facility. That made for a personal story. Currently, I have been on a 2-year break. It had definitely not been my original plan, but natural progression brought me here. In the beginning, I generously gave myself a 7-month timeframe, made possible by tagging the deadline to my birthday. My key intention was to have a safe personal space to resolve my feelings and shift my path. It has been a journey of still taking needed time and space to explore further what I feel compelled to, in order to arrive at somewhere and something suiting for myself. It is also a freeing experience to enable myself to spend my time naturally, how I feel like and need, which manifests in a lot of singing and journalling among other personal interests. Along the way were many instances of forfeiting the urges of settling myself into “comfort” options like a “safety” master's degree or regular employment, and the anxious urges of family members, such as “Aren’t you afraid of a lapse in your CV?”. But continuity in the CV doesn’t matter for my life. I guess the drive that sustained me was how much I hadn’t felt right when I left, so I kept on the journey of following what I felt I needed at each stage. The 2-year break was invaluable to me because I feel like I live my life. I went to search for what I needed and had a lot of needed space to feel and be myself. I have had many new exposures grounded in reality, and so real-life experiences, being back home and venturing out to new environments. It is not trite to say it is life-opening to go out there. My takeaway has been more inner grounding and the capacity to make choices for myself and to go back to living more naturally (less forced engagement and less self-pressure). I also get to be informed about living in my home country and the state of its inhabited environment, and how it is not for me.

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Hanoi

Linh

Linh

Hanoi

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I'm a free spirit and adventurous, curious, and open-minded. Always ready to explore things! I update a list of 100 things I have to do before I die and I'm super determined to check the boxes in that list. What brings me happiness is the ability to be present and stay conscious in anything I do. I am most present when I solo travel or do things outside my daily routine. My goal in life is to be the happiest that I can with the least that I have. This doesn't mean I don't have ambition for a high-quality life, It means that I appreciate what I have now and still look forward to opportunities life brings me

Speaking

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Sarah

Sarah

Hanoi

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hi, I’m Sarah, a local ready to take you on a unique Hanoi adventure to explore hidden gems, savor the best street food, and dive into local culture. Pay only for your food and tip based on your satisfaction. Message me on WhatsApp at +84 346035784 – let’s discover the real Hanoi together!

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Upcoming visitors to Hanoi

Assel

Assel

About Me

Hello beautiful ladies. I’m Assel from Kazakhstan. I’m a holistic therapist and numerologist. I am a solo traveler and love to discover spiritual experiences in places where I travel.

Speaking

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Rheen

Rheen

About Me

My name is Rheen, a seasoned traveller around Africa

Speaking

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Safety in Vietnam