The short answer: yes. Vietnam is one of the easier countries in Asia for women to travel in. Violent crime against tourists is rare, people are friendly and used to visitors, and getting around is simple. The things that actually catch travellers out are petty: bag snatching from motorbikes in the big cities, taxi and money mix-ups, and traffic. A little preparation takes care of almost all of it.
We have taken many groups of Indian women through Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa, Hoi An and Da Nang. This guide is what we tell them before they fly: what to watch for, what to wear, how to get around, and what to do if something goes wrong.
How safe is Vietnam for women, really?
Most women who travel to Vietnam say they felt comfortable walking around in the day and in the busy parts of town at night. Staring and catcalling are much less common than many Indian women are used to at home, and Vietnamese people are generally polite and reserved. Women run shops, cafes, hotels and tour boats everywhere you go, which makes it easy to ask for help.
That does not mean nothing can go wrong. The common problems are:
- Bag and phone snatching by passing motorbikes, mostly in Ho Chi Minh City and parts of Hanoi.
- Overcharging by some taxis, cyclo drivers and street vendors in tourist areas.
- Money mix-ups, because Vietnamese dong notes carry a lot of zeros and some look alike.
- Traffic. Crossing the road in Hanoi is the part most of our travellers remember.
Practical safety tips for Vietnam
1. Carry your bag on the side away from the road
Use a cross-body bag with a zip and wear it on the side away from the traffic. Do not hold your phone out at the kerb to take photos or check a map; step back towards a shop front first. This one habit prevents most thefts.
2. Use Grab instead of street taxis
Grab is the ride app everyone uses in Vietnam, for cars and motorbike taxis. The price is fixed before you get in, the driver's details are recorded, and you can share your trip with someone. If you do take a street taxi, use a well-known company and make sure the meter is on.
3. Get to know the money
The 20,000 and 500,000 dong notes are both blue and easy to confuse in a hurry, and a mistake costs you about 25 times the amount. Keep big notes separate from small ones, count change before you walk away, and use cards in hotels and larger shops.
4. Cross the road slowly and steadily
Traffic in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City rarely stops, but it flows around you. Walk at a slow, even pace, do not run and do not step back suddenly. Riders judge where you will be. If in doubt, cross next to a local.
5. Dress for temples and for the weather
Day to day, wear what you would wear on holiday in India. At pagodas, temples and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, cover your shoulders and knees; a light scarf in your bag solves it. Sapa and Hanoi get cold from December to February, so pack layers; our Vietnam in December packing guide has the full list.
6. Drink bottled or filtered water
Do not drink tap water. Bottled water is cheap and everywhere, and most hotels provide it. Ice in restaurants and cafes is generally made from filtered water.
7. Be careful with motorbike rentals
Renting a scooter without the right licence is illegal and usually voids your travel insurance. Book a car, a Grab bike with a helmet, or travel with your group's transport instead.
8. Keep copies of your documents
Save a photo of your passport, e-visa and insurance on your phone and in your email. Your hotel will hold or copy your passport at check-in; this is normal in Vietnam.
Food for Indian travellers
Vietnamese food is fresh, light and not very spicy. Vegetarians can eat well once you know one word: chay means vegetarian, and every town has com chay (vegetarian rice) restaurants, often near pagodas. Fish sauce goes into many dishes, so ask for food without it if you avoid it. Hanoi, Hoi An, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City all have Indian restaurants too.
Visa, money and phone
- Visa: Indian passport holders can apply online for a Vietnam e-visa on the official government portal, evisa.gov.vn. Apply at least two weeks before you fly and use only the official site, as look-alike agency sites charge extra.
- Money: cards work in hotels and bigger shops; carry dong in cash for markets, street food and small cafes. ATMs are easy to find in cities.
- Phone: a local SIM or eSIM with data costs little and makes Grab, maps and translation apps easy. Buy one at the airport on arrival.
If something goes wrong
- Police: 113
- Ambulance: 115
- Fire: 114
- Embassy of India: in Hanoi, and a Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City. Save their numbers before you travel.
Travel insurance that covers medical treatment is essential, and it is mandatory on all our international trips.
Travelling to Vietnam with a women-only group
Many women who would happily explore Vietnam on their own still choose a group for the first visit, because someone else handles the airport pick-ups, the domestic flights, the Halong Bay cruise and the hotel check-ins. On our Vietnam with Sapa trip:
- A Wovoyage trip leader travels with the group for the whole trip, alongside local English-speaking guides.
- Groups are all women, typically 8 to 15 and never more than 20.
- Most women join alone and share a twin room with another woman from the group; a private room is available for a supplement.
- Stays, air-conditioned transport, the Hanoi to Da Nang domestic flights, the Halong Bay cruise, Fansipan and Ba Na Hills cable cars, entry fees and tips are included.
See the upcoming dates on the trip page, or every open date on our women-only tours page. For more ideas, read 10 best places to visit in Vietnam.
Common questions
Is Vietnam safe for solo female travellers?
Yes, for most women. Vietnam has a well-worn backpacker route, friendly people and low violent crime. Take the usual city precautions with bags, phones and money, use Grab, and avoid empty streets late at night as you would anywhere.
Is Vietnam safe for Indian women?
Yes. Indian travellers are common in Vietnam, there are direct flights from several Indian cities, and Indian food is easy to find in the main cities. Most of our travellers say they felt more relaxed walking around than they expected.
Which parts of Vietnam are best for a first visit?
Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa, Hoi An and Da Nang make an easy first trip, with domestic flights covering the long stretch between north and centre. Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta suit a second visit or a longer trip.
What is the best time to visit Vietnam?
October to April is the most comfortable time for most of the country. The north, including Hanoi and Sapa, is cool to cold from December to February, while the centre around Hoi An and Da Nang can be wet from October to December.
