Job Discussion Forums

[ripple]

It has come down to it - I will decide where to go to very soon, and Vietnam tops my list. But my dad seems to think that it's too dangerous, and a year (with the program that I'm pursuing they only offer one year contracts) is too long. He has literally forbidden me to go. Like he could stop me. He thinks that I'd get hurt, probably by a motorbike or something. And he doesnt't trust their hospitals. He has actually been to Vietnam 12 years ago so he "knows" how dangerous the place is. Is there anything I can tell him to put him at ease?

Thanks

[RedRoof]

My experience relates only to a three month contract in Hanoi - so balance my comments with opinions from others with more comprehensive experience.

I am a single female - lived in a one star Vietnamese hotel for the three months - staff, hotel and area were GREAT!

For the first month I used xeom transport (motorbike taxis), thereafter hired a motor bike and taught myself to ride it - in Hanoi trafic! My biggest problem was being honked at by others when I stopped at red lights - as is the custom in my country! And on one occasion my foot was slightly run over by a police car - while I was stationary at a red light. I never did work out the actual function of traffic lights and road rules - advisory or decorative - certainly not obligatory.

I wandered about markets, the streets at night etc etc with no feelings of threat to my safety and found people in Hanoi to be generally friendly and solicitous of my well being ( sometimes I need to walk with a stick).

The worst problems I faced were (a) a couple of (car) taxi drivers whose meters "jumped" to fares two and three times the usual price; (b) my favourite restaurant KOTO closed for a week when I wanted to introduce a short term visitor to it and (c) insufficient supply of large dogs to pat and cuddle - chihuahuas don't quite do it for me! (d) a Canon printer which had a warranty on everything BUT the print head!

The beer was cold, cheap and everywhere, gin an unbelievably cheap and plentiful commodity, street food was good and excellently priced, tailors cheap and friendly - great at copying clothing.

I've backpacked in Asia, Africa, South& Central America, Caribbean and Pacific islands. I have no hesitation in recommending Hanoi.

Of course I didn't try getting pissed and rolling home with unknowns nor improving my sex life with willing (or unwilling) locals. So if those activities are likely to be part of your lifestyle, you may need advice from the more experienced players.

Suffice it to say I'm looking frward to returning this year.

Red Roof

[Mr Wind-up Bird]

[kparsons]

I'd have to agree -- the main safety concern is the traffic -- it is a bit insane. But I do think it is getting somewhat better, in terms of following the rules of the road. True, people still run red lights, but not nearly as many as in the past -- it seemed like they cracked down on it for APEC, and people got used to it or something.

I don't know about the hospitals -- no one I know goes to the Vietnamese hospitals in Hanoi. Everyone went to the Korean clinics (equally cheap, but much better). There's SOS and a few other international clinics as well which provide "western" service... at high prices. Most people I know flew to Bangkok for anything major.

I agree also that Vietnam is one of the safest places I've ever been -- no qualms about walking home in the middle of the night: 12:00, 2:00, 4:00.... Tell him not to fear -- you'll be fine!

[BedTiger]

Read these.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=42923
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=42896

Vietnam is quite safe but you do have to keep your wits about you. Crime against travelers is rising, especially pick pocketing and other minor theft. Violent crime is almost unheard of...unless you piss off the wrong person. But don't pick any fights and stay away from the drugs and prostitution and you will be fine.

Hanoi is 100 times safer than Phnom Phen.

[slug93]

VN is relatively safe of violent crimes.. ie(muggings, sticks up, kidnapping, etc.,).. BUT has lots of petty crimes, ESPECIALLY motobike thieves.. If you're a women, you should be extra careful how you carry your purse riding a bike or walking. Always carry it across your body not just on one shoulder and try to limit talking on the cell phone while driving/riding or walking.

Motobike thieves will drive by and snatch stuff from unwary victims. I saw this happen several times in VN, one time it happen to my friend as we were standing around on a corner talking. A motobike sped by and the person on the back just snatched her purse from her shoulder.. in SECONDS.. she was too stun to yell out until a few second later. This happen at around 10pm at night. Another time i saw another motobike thief strike on the main street(Nguyen thi minh kai) around 2pm weekday. The thief drove by a grab the purse from a lady sitting on the back of a motobike, causing the lady and her driver to crash the motobike, suffering scratches.

I live in dist 4(in the ghetto areas) and there the people haves fights every now and then. The two group would attack one another with matchets, they eithe stare each other down or attack if they outnumber their victims. In these case the victims usually run, follow by a pack of macthet wielding attackers. I've seen group of middle age WOMEN stare down each other with matchets! But i've never felt my safety was in danger in VN from crime and i have lived/travel to peru & colombia. Where there is MUCH more violent crime than VN.

In VN my BIGGEST fear is traffic. Traffic in the cities are pretty bad but NOT too dangerous, sure you might fall off the bike, but usually accidents IN the cities happen a moderate/slow speed(10-15mph). So the injuries tend to be nicks/scratches. BUT on the highway leading in/out of the city, it's more dangerous. Because on the highway, motobike are using the SAME road/lane as trucks and cars. So if a fall on the highway is usually deadly. The Hanoi highway(the highway that leads out of Dist 1 to Dist 9 and beyond) has about 3-4 fatalities PER DAY! from traffic accidents. So if you must travel on the highway, be very careful or use bus/taxis.

Also, one thing a non-asian foreign benefit is they are LESS likely to become victims of robberies. BECAUSE the police crack down HARD on attacks on foreigners, VN doesnt want to get a bad reputation of being unsafe for foreigners. So while a thieves almost always get's away with robbing locals, robbing foreigners bring lots of HEAT on them. Because cops MUST investigate attacks against foreingers, while they can take their time investigating attacks against locals.

ONE TIP.. IF YOU ARE A VICTIM.. GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.. AND REPORT IT.. if you do it quickly enough, there's a slim chance the police will be able to get your stuff back.. especially if it's a pickpocket or such. Motobike theft are alittle more difficult, because the thieves are usually not from the local neighborhood.

[Galileo]

I do know of a few cases in which foreigners were victims of violent crime. In the first case, the guy was attacked at about 1 am in district 1 of HCMC. He woke up in a hospital bed with a concussion and a black eye with no memory of what happened. He was not robbed so it may have been a hate crime against a foreigner. In the second case, a guy was approached by a hooker on a motorbike. They made a deal and he got on the motorbike. She took him down a dark alley where several men surrounded him with baseball bats and beat and robbed him. So it's probably best not to be out late at night. If you are you might want to consider travelling with friend or taking a taxi and definitely avoid any women that approach you on a motorbike.

[Micro67]

[thechosenone]

I felt pretty safe while I was in VN. I didn't see or experience any of those things. Of course I was already aware of the petty types of theft so I was always cautious or I had ppl remind me. They say don't even talk with you phone with an open window in a taxi, they will snatch it right from your hands.