Is Ho Chi Minh City safe to visit? Safe areas and what to avoid?

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. It is a bustling city in South Vietnam, known for its vibrant nightlife, shopping, and great food scenes. In today’s article, I will share with you my opinion about safety in Ho Chi Minh city, common scams, safe areas, and where to avoid.

In Ho Chi Minh City, you can visit many cultural and historical attractions including the War museums, Independence Palace, Central Post Office, and Cu Chi Tunnels. You can go shopping at many markets and shopping malls including Ben Thanh Market, Central Market, Saigon Centre, or Vincom Dong Khoi.

You can enjoy the lively nightlife scene at Bui Vien Street, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, or Japan Town. You can try iced coffee or eat many delicious foods such as com tam (broken rice), pho, or banh mi.

Ho Chi Minh City is the transport hub of south Vietnam. It is home to an important international airport that connects with many cities in the world and in Vietnam. From Ho Chi Minh City, you can easily make trips to the Mekong Delta, Mui Ne, Da Lat, or Nha Trang.

Is Ho Chi Minh City safe to visit?

In my experience, Ho Chi Minh City is overall a safe place to visit, especially if you practice basic safety precautions and be aware of your surroundings. The city has a very low violent crime rate, but like many other popular places, it has some common issues such as pickpocketing, tourist scams, and overcharging.

These are my recommendations for staying safe in Ho Chi Minh City:

Taking care of your belongings, especially in crowded area
Be aware of Bag and phone snatching (snatch-and-grab robbery)
Confirm the price, check menu before order/using the services
Check the bill before pay
Stay in a reputed hotel and guest houses
Use a reputed taxi company or Grab to get around
Avoid walking alone in poorly lit area at late night
Remember that drugs and prostitution is illegal in Vietnam
Always watch out for your drinks at the bars/ nightclubs

Petty theft in Ho Chi Minh City

Petty theft and snatch-and-grab robbery is a common safety issue in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in touristy spots, crowded markets, nightlife areas, and public parks. Thieves drive motorbikes, come up from behind you and suddenly snatch your belongings such as bags or phones.

To avoid these crimes, I recommend paying extra attention to your belongings, avoid using the phone too much on the street, and stay away from the road when using the phone to take photos.

Road safety in Ho Chi Minh City

Traffic in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh can be chaotic, especially for first-time visitors. You’ll see lots of motorbikes and cars on the streets. If you need to cross a busy street, I recommend just watching and following the steps of locals. I’m Vietnamese but still scared of crossing the road.

If you rent a motorbike, be sure to follow the local rules like driving on the right side of the road, wearing a helmet, and not driving when drinking alcohol.

Taxi scams in Ho Chi Minh City

Taxi scams are one of the most common scams in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City. You can easily see them at the airport, when some drivers approach you and offer you the price to take you to the city center with a very high price.

To avoid taxi scams, you should use a reputable taxi company like Mai Linh or Vinasun. Be aware of FAKE Mai Linh and Vinasun taxis, you can check the hotline, logo, and have a quick comparison with the original one. The official taxi drivers wear uniform, have ID Card details, and meter dashboard.

You can ask for your hotel to organize transportation for you. Or the best way to get around without bargaining the prices is book Grab taxi from its official App. You can pay by card or cash after arrival.

Tourist Scams in Ho Chi Minh City

Some popular tourist scams in Ho Chi Minh City include:

Overcharging at markets, by street vendors, cyclo, or xe om. Always bargain and pre-agree prices before buying products, or using the services.
Shoe shine scammers. The scammers will approach you (especially if you are alone), start cleaning your shoes, and demand a high amount of money. To avoid this, just be aware of people approaching you, be aware of your surroundings, and firmly say no to it.
Random drivers on the street offer to take you on the city tour with cheap prices or somewhere more locals. Be careful of these deals, they can take you to commission-based shops/bars, or demand a high payment at the end.
Pickpocketing and bag snatching

Food/ Water safety in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has vibrant food scenes. You can try a variety of delicious and reasonably-priced food here. While Street food is generally safe in Ho Chi Minh City, things like diarrhea, stomach issues, and food poisoning can happen. To avoid this, I recommend opt for popular street food spots and use your common sense when choosing the restaurant or street food stalls to eat.

Tap water is not safe to drink directly. You can drink it after boiling it. To stay safe, you can buy a bottle of water to drink. It is safe to use for taking a bath or brushing your teeths. I personally think ice is okay to consume, especially in restaurants and hotels, and I don’t see any people having a problem with it.

Safety at night in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh is the best place to go in Vietnam for nightlife. The city has a lively nightlife scene with many bars, nightclubs, pubs, and rooftop bars. You can enjoy nightlife in Bui Vien street, at many trendy bars in Nguyen Hue/ Dong Khoi area, and in Saigon JapanTown.

The nightlife in Ho Chi Minh city is generally safe for visitors, but to ensure your safety, I recommend to avoid walking alone late at night, watch out for your drinks, be aware of your surroundings, check the bill before paying, avoid drugs or say no to street hookers.

Safe areas to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

View from La Vela Saigon Hotel District 3

In my experience, the safe areas to stay in Ho Chi Minh City for tourists are district 1 and district 3. They are the tourist heart of the city, and always packed with things to do and see. You’ll be surrounded by many tourist attractions and amenities such as restaurants, bars, and shops.

To stay safe in Ho Chi Minh city, I recommend staying in reputable hotels. Always check different reviews from different platforms such as Google, booking.com, or agoda.com before booking.

I stayed in several hotels and apartments in Ho Chi Minh City. I recommend La Vela Hotel in district 3 if you have a good budget and want a huge rooftop area, infinity pool, and a lovely breakfast zone.

I also stayed a few nights at the Orchids Saigon Hotel. I think it is a good quality 4-star hotel in a safe and quiet location, within walking distance/short Grab ride from major sights like Independence Palace, Ben Nghe food market, and Ben Thanh market.

For a smaller budget in a central location, you can look at the family-run Hoang Lan Hotel in District 3. It is a cozy hotel with a clean room and lovely breakfast and a small cafe. It is located on the back of an apartment building, so it is quite quiet and safe and a short grab ride to major attractions.

If you want to stay close to the airport for early flights, you can consider Prague Saigon Airport Hotel or Bluesky Serviced Apartment. I stayed in these accommodations for only one night, but felt comfortable and clean. Good base for a short stay and for layover.

For those who want a safe and affordable place to stay in the district 2, which is an expat area of HCMC, I recommend Common Inn Thao Dien. It was a small clean hotel with a rooftop area and common kitchen area. The reception works here 24h, so feel more safe.

Areas to avoid in Ho Chi Minh City

Most tourist districts like district 1 or district 3 are generally safe for tourists to stay. I recommend avoiding walking alone late at night in poorly lit areas, and be careful in the nightlife/entertainment areas such as the red lights area of Bui Vien street or Japan Town.

District 4 was the former mafia district of Ho Chi Minh City and was once the no-go area, but now is a safe area and good place to experience local life. It is located just on the other side of Saigon River from district 1. You can find some good apartment-style accommodations in D4.

Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for solo travelers?

I have traveled to Ho Chi Minh many times as a female solo traveler, and I personally think it is an overall safe place for solo visitors. I always use normal common sense such as staying in reputable hotels in popular locations, taking care of my belongings, avoiding walking alone late at night, checking prices before using services, and checking the bill before paying.

Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for families with children?

In my opinion, Ho Chi Minh is quite a safe place for families with kids. There are plenty of family-friendly activities for children of all ages here. I recommend always keeping your eyes on your kids, especially crossing the road. Choose the reputable restaurants to eat to avoid stomach ache. And be aware of pickpockets and bag/phone snatching as it is a common safety problem in Ho Chi Minh City.

Emergency number

Ambulance: 115

Police: 113

Fire Department: 114

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Overall, in my experience, Ho Chi Minh is a safe place to visit and stay. The city has a very low violent crime rate, but you should be aware of pickpocketing, bag snatching, taxi scams, and overcharging. If you practice basic safety precautions, you should be fine and have a memorial trip in this city.