Is Vietnam Safe for Solo Female Travellers in 2026?
Vietnam has recently become one of the top backpacking and travel destinations on social media and beyond. It’s for good reason! The country is beautiful, the culture diverse and there are many bucket list destinations there. But is it safe for solo, female travellers and what are some things to know before heading there?
Vietnam had been on my travel bucket list for THE longest time, almost 8 years now I believe. In 2025, I saw the chance to finally make it there and had the absolute best time.
You’re likely here as you are considering a trip to Vietnam, or keep seeing beautiful videos of the place or in the middle of planning and suddenly wondering about the safety aspect (been there, done that oops).
I’ll go over everything in detail in this article, but if you only have a few second: Yes, Vietnam is safe to solo, female travel as long as you apply common sense and research your destinations. In fact, it’s up there with my favourite countries to solo travel and I felt so safe the entire time.
But, let’s go into the details, including planning, safety tips, experiences and more:
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Visiting Vietnam as a solo, female traveller:
Do your research on Vietnam before travelling
As with any country, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into before landing. That includes checking travel advisories, ideally from a few countries (I usually check Australia, UK and US), to get an idea of safety climate and areas to avoid. For Vietnam, all say to “exercise normal safety precautions” as of Dec 2025 and mention the flooding that Vietnam has experienced lately.
You should also check recent news stories to see if there is anything noteworthy. For example, when I landed in Da Nang, a typhoon was suddenly headed for that exact area and I had to fly out again two days later.
Lastly, I’d check accounts from other travellers, especially solo, female travellers. But that’s what we’re here for 🙂 Other good places to look for first-hand accounts are Facebook Groups (e.g. Host a Sister – I met a girl on there in Hanoi and we spent almost all of our time in Vietnam together), Tik Tok and blogs.
Is Vietnam Safe to Visit as a Solo, Female Traveller in 2026?
From my experience and those of many other solo, female travellers I met, Vietnam is very safe to visit. It’s pretty easy to navigate, there are tons of other travellers and I felt safe walking around even at night.
I found most of the Vietnamese very welcoming and I wasn’t swarmed or stared at much at all. For reference, I am light blonde and tend to stand out as a a tourist by default. Even in the very rural areas I visited throughout the Ha Giang Loop, there was no negative attention directed our way, curiosity if anything.
I did have two very rude encounters in touristy areas. They didn’t leave me feeling unsafe, it was just an unpleasant experience. Both encounters, the vendors seemed to have expectations of what tourists should spend, and got rude if you didn’t. You just need to try to ignore encounters like that unfortunately.
In general, I’d say as long as you keep your valuables hidden and apply common sense, Vietnam is easily one of the safest countries to visit in South East Asia and even suitable for beginner travellers.
How to Stay Safe as a Solo, Female Traveller in Vietnam
Vietnam is a pretty straightforward travel destination in terms of being safe. As discussed, keep your valuable on your body (e.g. a crossbody bag) and hidden, stay aware of your surroundings and just be mindful that if you lose something, it probably won’t turn up again (like in most busy places).
While walking around at night is generally fine, I’d stick to touristy areas and ideally have someone else with you. If you are going into more rural areas, do so ideally as part of a tour.
Accidents on the road are unfortunately quite common and traffic rules aren’t really a thing. Research any bus, motorbike, etc. companies for safety before booking (especially on the Ha Giang Loop!).
I would only recommend renting a motorbike yourself in less busy areas and only if you have driving experience! You may also be fined if you don’t have the proper license, so do your research. I personally didn’t rent any and got myself a normal bike instead in Ninh Binh, which was also really fun.
What I did find in Vietnam was that locals, especially men, were fascinated if you were a single woman travelling alone. They only found this out when I was on tours like the Ha Giang Loop, as I will always lie otherwise (for my safety). Sexism and patriarchy is still very much alive here, yet I personally found the response was more curiosity at my lifestyle than judgement. I think I got lucky with those interactions though.
I’d say to ignore any negative sentiments as long as they don’t encroach on your safety and put it down to the big difference in culture and mindset that you will experience here.
Top Tips to Stay Safe in Vietnam:
- Keep valuables close to your body and hidden
- Choose hostels and hotels in touristy areas with reviews from other solo, female travellers (Google reviews in Vietnam are often fake, check Booking.com, Agoda, Hostelworld)
- If someone asks if you’re alone, the answer is always “No, I’m meeting my friend/boyfriend/XYZ just down the street”. This isn’t specific to Vietnam, but I was asked that question a few times and while none seemed to have bad intentions, you never say you’re alone!
- Research tours and companies – make sure to filter to the bad reviews to get a more realistic view as Vietnam has a huge issue with fake reviews and most places will have 5 stars
- If a place has a lot of locals eating there, it’s a good sign its safe and delicious. YouTube and blogs are good for food recs in Vietnam.
- Avoid drinking tap water as well as ice in your drinks (although I had countless iced coconut coffees without any issues)
Common Scams to be aware of:
- Fake Grab drivers – they will wear the Grab merch and even pretend to be your driver and then charge you a lot more for the ride. Ensure you book on the app and check the license plate before getting on any Grab
- Fake taxis – the same applies for taxis. Again, stick to the App or ask your hotel to help you book one with a pre-determined price.
- Card Machine Fees – this happened way too much. Vendors won’t show you the amount on the machine and when I paid, it was suddenly more than the product price. When I asked, they informed me there’s a card machine fee that was MUCH more than the average or even what it said in the store. ALWAYS ask to see the machine before tapping your card, no matter how awkward they make it.
- Overly nice locals inviting you into their shop – listen, often the Vietnamese are just genuinely being kind and hospitable, but sometimes you will just end up somewhere overpriced and low-quality. Do your research before booking tours, restaurants, etc.
- Faulty ATMs – my friend always laughed at me for googling ATM reviews in Vietnam, but there were so many where money disappeared or the card was “eaten” or something else that I would highly recommend doing the same! Avoid taking any cash out in Sapa as they are all overpriced and go to VP banks for free withdrawal (I had to try a few as only some worked)
Travel insurance I would recommend for solo, female travellers in Vietnam:
I cannot stress the importance of a good travel insurance when travelling anywhere, including Vietnam! If anything happens, you need their backup. Make sure the one you choose covers the activities you are planning. For Vietnam, things to look out for is if motorbike accidents are covered, hiking and possibly diving or other sports you are planning to do.
The insurance I’d recommend is True Traveller. I have used them for years now and had something happen two times, for both I got the money back without any issues in only a few days.
Best Places to Visit in Vietnam as a Solo, Female Traveller
Vietnam is one of those countries that doesn’t really have “best places” to visit as the entire country is beautiful and there are some gems to find everywhere. That being said, if you are a solo, female traveller, it is best to stick to the touristy places where you are going to meet other travellers and not stand out too much.
Some of the most commonly travelled and recommended places are:
- Hanoi
- Ninh Binh
- Sapa
- Ha Giang
- Ha Long Bay
- Cát Bà Island
- Da Nang
- Hoi An
- Hue
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Nha Trang
- Phú Quốc
Conclusion: Is Vietnam Safe for Solo Female Travellers in 2026?
We have now discussed all aspects of travelling Vietnam as a solo, female traveller and my overall verdict is that it’s a very safe country to travel.
Not only will you meet a lot of other solo, female travellers there (in my 2 weeks there, I was virtually never actually “solo”), but the locals are kind, the travel aspect fairly easy to navigate and it is incredibly budget-friendly. Which in my eyes, makes it the perfect backpacking destination and I’m already planning my return there in 2026 🙂
FAQ about Solo, Female Travel in Vietnam
Is it safe to use ride-hailing apps or taxis as a solo female traveller?
Yes, in my experience it is very safe. I used Grab countless times throughout my time in Vietnam and I’d say as long as you double check the license plate before going on, you should be fine.
Make sure you get a helmet before getting on too and hold onto the bars of the seat!
How do I choose affordable but safe accommodations in Vietnam as a solo, female traveller?
The first thing I do when choosing accommodations in a new destination is research the area. Which areas are safe for tourists, especially solo travellers. There are usually lots of resources about these things. If you are unsure, you could also reach out to accommodations for advice.
Second, I usually stay in hostels or hotels that are rated well amongst solo-travellers. This is so I can meet other travellers but also so I know that the location is good etc.
While I always say Reviews are super crucial, it is a little more tricky in Vietnam. I have never seen so many fake reviews or people telling you to leave a 5-star review as in this country, especially on Google.
Booking and Hostelworld as well as Agoda will likely give you a better overview of what to expect as well as real reviews, though I’d still be cautious. I once booked a super highly reviewed place that ended up being in a dodgy area, so ideally stay in popular hotels/hostels in touristy areas.
Accommodation I’d recommend for Solo, Female Travellers in Vietnam:
Hanoi:
Sapa:
Ninh Binh
$ – Tamcoc Backpackers Hostel Homestay (VERY basic but only $3 per night)
$$ – The Valley Lodge Trang An
$$$ – Tam coc westlake homestay
Hi, I'm Bell
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