Health and safety

Being the biggest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City inevitably invites people from other provinces come here to live, study and work with hope for a better life and they make the city so crowded. Generally it is absolutely no danger to travel here, no war, no storm, no flood, no natural disaster, no political issue, but caution is always necessary. Watch out when you cross the street or walk along the streets as the traffic is almost out of control. Some, not only poor people, will look for chances to earn from you, so keep your money and credit card in your pants. Try not to carry any bag when you go out. Cameras, hand phones and bags are snatched, not too often, but quite at higher rate compared with other cities. When talking on your mobile, stand near a wall instead of walking and talking in the crowded streets. If you rent a motorcycle or a bicycle, always let people keep with a fee (VND2,000 or 3,000. US$1 = VND16,000 as of June 2006) when you go into a shop or a market, etc.

Keeping it in a big parking lot of a bank or supermaket, in front of Fahasa book shops or inside any park when you see keepers in military colored uniform looks safer. It’s common that a keeper after giving you a ticket (as a receipt to keep your bike) will normally takes your bike to park somewhere, but it has been reported that when you come back, they say this is not the real ticket. If you travel alone, it's not necessary to advertise this. It's a tip everyone knows, say your wife or husband or sister is in the hotel, and you just step out to buy something. A male traveler may strike up a conversation with a local lady and wishes to take her to your hotel room. The hotel will keeps the lady's ID card and returns to her upon departing. They may ask your lady to leave after 10pm. Ask yourself "Can I trust her?" Do you feel you're safe with a stranger you just meet? Remember if anything happens, people will not report as this is a shame. Avoid dark streets at night. Prostitution is strictly prohibited in Vietnam but girls still stand there to catch customers. The problem is without a proof, policemen cannot arrest them. Their manager may rob your belongings, not the girls themselves. You may see “thin” hotels (small and with many floors). See if you have exits in case of fire. Houses burnt down did happen for fire or electricity reasons.