With a diverse culture and rich historical background, Vietnam offers a unique and thrilling experience for travelers of all age groups, genders, and nationalities. Although it is a relatively safe destination to travel and live in, crimes like anywhere else can occur and it is risky to not be aware of your surroundings. Since you are a woman travelling alone, and you can appear to be vulnerable targets to malicious people and sinister activities, extra caution and planning are advised. These tips and advice will make sure you are able to make the most out of this exciting destination and ensure a safe, smooth journey.

Stay connected

Although travelling solo presents a  great opportunity for self-discovery through alone time, it is important to remain on the grid and stay in contact with your relatives or friends. In case you are involved in an accident or something unfortunate, it is useful if someone knows where you are and can assist authorities in helping you. As you are hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, staying connected with your loved ones is essential as locals might not be very fluent in English and therefore might not be able to comprehend your situation fully. Moreover, having an internet connection at all times can give you access to maps which will be very handy in a foreign place. Always remember to remind someone you know of your whereabouts or travel plans for the day.

It is best to prepare a SIM card before your journey starts. SIM cards are only usable in Vietnam if they have been properly registered. To make sure yours is from a reliable retailer, purchase it at one of the small kiosks at the airport upon your arrival. The only documents and details that will be required are your passport, ID number, name and date of birth. To make things even more convenient, you can ask to buy a card with 4G/LTE or unlimited data, which will easily allow smooth Skype or Whatsapp calls whenever wifi is unavailable. 

For one month of unlimited data, the price would approximately be 200,000 VND or USD$9 which is quite reasonable as 4G has much quicker speed than normal 3G. Tourist and other network packages are also available for purchase; the kiosk staff will gladly assist in taking out your old SIM and replacing it with a Vietnamese one. Also remember to purchase your data plan or SIM card from trustworthy and large coverage providers, such as Viettel, Vinaphone or Mobifone. You can buy a prepaid 4G Data card without calls and messages, too.

Information about Viettel’s tourist data packages is available here.

Cultural awareness

It has been observed that Vietnamese culture and social expectations have been loosening up increasingly over the years; however, a large part of society still remains quite conservative and traditional. A typical Vietnamese family prefers to act and dress modestly, therefore it is best not to show a large number of valuables or expensive jewelry in more rural areas where such a scene is not common. Moreover, you should also avoid displaying excessive wealth even in cities, as this can attract unwanted attention from thieves and discomfort from locals.  Therefore, avoid packing too many valuables and only replaceable essentials for the smoothest trip.

It is not mandatory and required to dress conservatively in Vietnam- in fact, many tourists and locals usually dress liberally to cope with the extreme heat and humidity. However, keep in mind that the way a woman dresses in Vietnam can potentially affect a man’s attitude, and there have been numerous incidents of ‘catcalling’ or women getting propositioned when dressing a bit revealing – wearing little clothing.

Therefore, you should pack some long sleeved or more conservative clothing just in case. To avoid serious crimes or sinister attention, beware of the destination you are headed to in relation to the way you dress. When going to rural or less populated areas, try to cover up more than usual and do not give attention back to strangers calling at you on the streets. Although violent crimes are rare in Vietnam, you should stick to well-known or crowded streets and avoid dark alleys or desolate roads at night time.

Means of protection

This is entirely optional, but you can equip yourself if desired with non-irritant dye spray or small tasers in case of an emergency, since you will not have a companion to provide extra protection or to alert others in an emergency as a solo traveler. Note that pepper sprays are illegal in Vietnam. As a woman travelling solo or unmarried, you might get some prying questions from men about why you are alone or if you already have a partner. Simply politely decline the curiosity and avoid sharing personal information with suspicious strangers or speaking to them for too long.

A good local tip, besides from doing careful research and being conscious of the neighborhoods you are going to is to quickly go to and knock on the nearest civilian house, restaurant or any open building if you feel like somebody is following you or in an unsafe situation. Wandering around on your own especially at night in rural areas is not recommended. It would also be useful to remember emergency contacts to call if you are in trouble, such as 113 which is the Vietnamese police’s numbers or your embassy’s phone numbers in case you need assistance.  

Making copies of your vital official documents or identification

This advice actually applies to all travellers, as keeping your personal possessions and documents are extremely crucial on any vacations to a far away destination. As a solo traveller, you need to be even more careful as you are solely responsible for keeping everything safe so they will not get lost or stolen. If your hotel or accommodation contains a security safe, it is your best bet to keep official documents such as passports and IDs in there, while only carrying copies of your personal documents around in case you lose your bag or purse.

Always ensure to pack paper and digital copies of your important documents such as passport, ID, international driving license, credit card information, etc. as this is extremely useful if your official versions got lost from theft or other reasons. Local authorities and your country embassy will need these documents to confirm your identity and help you renew the official documents that are lost.

Taking care of your personal belongings and valuables

If you are a backpacker staying in a shared room or hostel, a suitable option would be to buy a small padlock for your bag zippers or suitcase for added security. Theft can be a common occurrence on long-haul bus or train rides and even plane rides, therefore try to carefully lock your bags or keep them within sight at all times.

Avoid openly using your cellphones or other electronic devices in public or while sightseeing, as you can become a victim of ‘snatch and run’ thieves which can be common in popular tourist spots such as Ben Thanh Market or Pham Ngu Lao (backpacker district). Avoid pickpocketing by wearing your bag in front of your belly in crowded areas such as markets and do not wear them loosely as they can also get snatched. If you carry a camera, it is best to connect it to a string which goes around your neck for extra protection. Hide your most prized valuables within your bag and ensure to hold it carefully on motorbike rides as that is where you can be very vulnerable to snatch thieves.

In addition, if you are going to one of the beautiful beaches in Nha Trang, Da Nang, Mui Ne etc., do not leave your belongings on the sand unattended while you go swim in the ocean or elsewhere. Theft on belongings that are left in the open on the beach has been frequently reported so it is best to leave them at your accommodation if possible.

Tour scams

As with most things,  intensive research into the services and destinations you will be using and going to adds to the high chance of having a smooth and enjoyable trip. Vietnam is a relatively safe destination where tourists are warmly welcomed and where many locals are honest, however, some travelers have reported strong differences in a tour’s online itinerary and the actual activities.

Therefore, to avoid having to go on unsatisfactory or potentially dangerous tours with untrustworthy guides while unaccompanied by a fellow traveller, you should do research and prebook all tours you are planning to go on before arriving. Try to search the agency or tour company you are going on a trip with and read online reviews as well as photos from other travellers in order to confirm their reputation and quality.

You can book any trip to Vietnam with us by dropping us a message at mazevietnam.info@gmail.com or fb.com/mazevietnam. Check some popular tours here. Your safety is our first priority.

Have a happy and safe travel!