Perhaps Vietnam is the last on your travel bucket list for Southeast Asia due to the many mixed views on the country’s tourism. Rampant scams, lurking dangers, hostile people, unsanitary, and many other well-established myths about traveling in Vietnam could give the most willing would-be Vietnam visitors a second thought. However, it’s always good to travel places with a clear head and an open mind. Make your own decisions about a place and never let anything get to you. Most travelers to Vietnam are surprised that those negative opinions are either overly exaggerated or completely not true.
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Vietnam Tourism is not safe
It is undeniable that Vietnam is probably one of the safest countries you will ever visit. There are almost no violent crimes, absolutely no gunpoint robbery and terrorism. Business Insider evaluated Vietnam as the safest and most friendly destination in Southeast Asia in the list of 30 Ideal Destinations (link pls). This is the reason why Vietnam has overtaken Thailand as a favorite destination for tourists. Of course, petty crime still happens, as it does everywhere else in the world. But generally, the hassles you’l encounter in Vietnam is nothing compared to let’s say, New York or Barcelona. Some visitors even said that they felt much safer in Vietnam than when they arrived back in their hometown after their travels.
Anyway, every country could be potentially dangerous if you act in unsafe ways. The key to traveling in Vietnam (or anywhere else) is to be aware of your surroundings and have a really good understanding of it before you hit the road. So it would be better if you could equip yourself with a few local words and write down all the local emergency numbers. Always take precautions. Don’t forget to learn about popular scams in Vietnam, as well as known dangerous areas and activities. You will most likely get by without any issues.
Don’t travel Vietnam in rainy season
For many people, the scene of sunny sky and warm seas is much more appealing than getting wet in the monsoon or rainy season. But let me tell you, there are a hundred advantages when traveling in the off season.
First of all, rainy season does not include constant downpour along with cold, dreary skies. It usually showers in the afternoon only. You have all the morning with sunny sky and beautiful weather.
Secondly, wet season can help you to avoid tourist traps and save a lot of money. Because there are less tourists, the famous attractions are not heavily full of people from everywhere. You can also find nice and cheap accommodation at ease.
Last but not least, the sights are much more fascinating as everything becomes beautifully lush and green. It is a great opportunity for you to witness the best of Mother Nature: blooming flowers, magnificent waterfalls, luscious jungles and verdant green rice terraces.
Don’t eat street food
“….Because they’re weird and unsanitary”. My point is it won’t hurt if you give it a try. Just because something is unfamiliar to you and where you come from, it does not mean you should limit yourself and your choices. Another thing is that every traveler back from Vietnam agrees that a trip to this country is not complete without tasting the street food.
If you worry about the hygiene, be observant of the street stall you plan to eat so you can see how thay make food. Reading reviews from other diners is another good idea to avoid getting ill.
While food sanitation should remain a topic that is big enough for its own article, it is an indisputable truth that Vietnamese cuisine is amazing! There are hundreds of types of dishes for you to choose from and each carries a unique flavor. Vietnamese food is not as spicy as Thai food, not as complicated as European food, not as greasy as Chinese food, but healthy and you can eat them all day.
Don’t use ice
It is true that ice outside may not be safe as it might originate from contaminated water. However, a lot of restaurants in Vietnam use special ice made by reliable suppliers rather than self-produced ice. This type of ice has a hole through the middle and is perfectly safe.
In the end it’s you and your attitude that determine how your trip turns out. The most important thing to understand about traveling is that yes, you may get scammed sometimes and you may get frustrated. But that’s part of traveling which would unintentionally become a memory that you can look back and laugh at. Don’t let anything put you off your dream trip and travel where you want to be.
