Staying safe in Vietnam: scams, theft, health and emergencies

Book rides on Grab, Be or Xanh SM instead of hailing taxis or motorbikes, and agree any other price before you get in or order. Carry your phone and bag on the side away from the kerb. Use insect repellent against dengue, see a doctor straight away if an animal bites you, and dial 113 for police or 115 for an ambulance.

Where are you?

Arriving at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City): book in the app and meet the driver at the marked pick-up area outside. Ignore drivers who approach you inside.Vietnam Airlines (opens in a new tab)vietnamairlines.com Scammers claim to be from Grab or Xanh SM, so book the full journey in the app, and turn down free hotel transfers you didn’t arrange.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
Changing terminals there: take the free shuttle between Terminals 1, 2 and 3, every 10 to 15 minutes. Passengers have been quoted 100,000 to 150,000 VND for the 2 to 3 km hop.Tuoi Tre News, August 2025 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Tempted by a street taxi: use the app. In 2023 inspectors at Tan Son Nhat found taxis rigged to push the meter up to 10 times the normal fare.Tuoi Tre News, June 2023 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Taking a motorbike taxi (xe om): book a bike in the app; 7 km costs about 50,000 VND off-peak. A Hanoi driver detoured and charged a tourist 1,000,000 VND for that distance.Tuoi Tre News, February 2026 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Taking a cyclo: agree the price per person first. In Ho Chi Minh City, drivers who had agreed 150,000 VND each later demanded up to 1,500,000 VND.Tuoi Tre News, September 2019 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Stopped by a coconut seller: ask the price before you take one, or a photo with the carrying pole. A Ho Chi Minh City seller asked 150,000 VND for a coconut that usually costs 10,000 to 15,000 VND.VnExpress International, October 2023 (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net
Buying street food: ask the price, pay with small notes and count your change. A Hanoi seller quoted 150,000 VND, then kept 430,000 VND of a 500,000 VND note.Viet Nam News, June 2026 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vn
In a restaurant: order from a menu with prices. A Nha Trang restaurant was fined for unlisted prices and charging above its listed ones.Tuoi Tre News, February 2025 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Befriended by a stranger: don’t go somewhere private with them, and never join a card game. Ho Chi Minh City police charged a ring accused of letting older tourists win a rigged game, then grabbing the cash they withdrew to keep playing.Tuoi Tre News, July 2026 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn Buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
Messaged by your “hotel” after booking: don’t send card details. Booking.com never asks for them by email, phone, text or WhatsApp.Booking.com (opens in a new tab)booking.com

Whatever you do

Install Grab, Be or Xanh SM before you land. See Vietnam connectivity.
Save the emergency numbers: 113 for police, 114 for fire and rescue, 115 for an ambulance.Viet Nam News, September 2025 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vnCDC (opens in a new tab)wwwnc.cdc.gov
Lock your passport in your hotel, and never leave it as a guarantee.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
Check your vaccines with a doctor. See health.

If it doesn’t go to plan

Robbed? Let go rather than risk injury.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk Call 113, then report it at the police station nearest where it happened. The report is in Vietnamese, so get an official translation for your insurer.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
Overcharged? Report it to the ward police the same day. Ask your hotel to help: one did, and the taxi driver was fined 21,000,000 VND.VnExpress International, March 2023 (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net Hanoi police made cyclo and motorbike-taxi drivers refund tourists in full in 2025 and 2026.Viet Nam News, September 2025 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vnTuoi Tre News, February 2026 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn For an airport taxi, report it with evidence to the taxi firm and the airport.Tuoi Tre News, June 2023 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Bitten or scratched by a dog or cat? Wash the wound with soap under running water for at least 15 minutes.Tuoi Tre News, April 2026 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn Then see a doctor straight away about rabies jabs, which are available in most of the country.CDC (opens in a new tab)wwwnc.cdc.gov
Fever for more than two days? See a doctor rather than treating it yourself.VietnamPlus, June 2026 (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn
Lost your passport? See below.

Theft

Bag snatching from motorbikes is common. Hold bags in front of you or on the side away from traffic, and watch for approaching bikes.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
Phones go in seconds. A rider in Ho Chi Minh City grabbed one from its holder, riding along the pavement.Tuoi Tre News, September 2024 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn In Hue, a rider took a tourist’s phone as she took photos from a cyclo.Tuoi Tre News, March 2026 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Bag-snatchers work crowds and tourist sites, and petty crime rises at Christmas and Tet.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk

Health

Dengue: by June 2026, cases were running at 2.5 times the 2025 level, and outbreaks no longer follow the usual season.VietnamPlus, June 2026 (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn Use repellent with at least 20% DEET, and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.CDC (opens in a new tab)wwwnc.cdc.gov
Rabies: it kills 70 to 90 people a year in Vietnam.Tuoi Tre News, April 2026 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn Pre-trip jabs depend on your activities and access to care.CDC (opens in a new tab)wwwnc.cdc.gov
Malaria: none in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Nha Trang or Quy Nhon, and rare in the Mekong and Red River deltas, where repellent is enough. For other rural areas, ask about tablets.CDC (opens in a new tab)wwwnc.cdc.gov
Vaccines: be up to date on routine jabs, including measles. Get hepatitis A and B if unvaccinated, and typhoid. Japanese encephalitis is for stays of a month or more, or shorter trips with higher-risk activities.CDC (opens in a new tab)wwwnc.cdc.gov
Food and water: drink from factory-sealed bottles rather than the tap, and eat food served hot.CDC (opens in a new tab)wwwnc.cdc.gov

If you need a hospital

Dial 115 for an ambulance, or go to an international hospital:

Hanoi: Vinmec Times City, 458 Minh Khai Street, has a 24-hour emergency department; hospital line +84 24 3974 3556.Vinmec (opens in a new tab)vinmec.com Hanoi French Hospital, 1 Phuong Mai Street, has emergency doctors on duty 24/7; +84 24 3574 1111.Hanoi French Hospital (opens in a new tab)hfh.com.vn
Ho Chi Minh City: Vinmec Central Park, 720A Dien Bien Phu Street, runs 24-hour emergency care; hospital line +84 28 3622 1166.Vinmec (opens in a new tab)vinmec.com FV Hospital, 6 Nguyen Luong Bang Street; emergency line +84 28 3511 3500.FV Hospital (opens in a new tab)fvhospital.com

If you lose your passport

You can’t leave Vietnam until you have a new passport and an exit visa.Australian Embassy (opens in a new tab)vietnam.embassy.gov.au

Get a police report from the police office covering where you lost it. Immigration accepts only a Vietnamese police report.Australian Embassy (opens in a new tab)vietnam.embassy.gov.au
Get an emergency passport from your embassy. Australia’s generally take two working days.Australian Embassy (opens in a new tab)vietnam.embassy.gov.au
Take the embassy’s letter to the Immigration Department for an exit visa: 69 Mac Thai To Street, Hanoi, or 333-337 Nguyen Trai Street, Ho Chi Minh City.Australian Embassy (opens in a new tab)vietnam.embassy.gov.au Allow up to 5 working days, more if you’ve overstayed.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk

Crossing the road

Walk at a slow, steady pace without rushing or stopping, keep eye contact with riders, and cross alongside locals when you can.VnExpress International, February 2025 (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net