Vietnam Women Travelers

Personal space and privacy are not mainstays of Vietnamese culture; this may make female travelers particularly uncomfortable. Catcalls, often in the form of a teeth-sucking noise, are inevitable but harmless when ignored. Again, physical violence against foreigners in Vietnam is extremely rare. Verbal harassment is irritating but very rarely leads to anything threatening.

Your best answer to verbal harassment is none at all; feigning deafness, sitting motionless, and staring straight ahead at nothing in particular will do a world of good that reactions usually don’t achieve. The extremely persistent can sometimes be dissuaded by a firm, loud, and very public “Go away!” in Vietnamese; “I have a husband” is also useful (see Phrasebook). Don’t hesitate to seek out a sympathetic passerby if you are being harassed—it’s worth stressing again that Vietnam is hyper-aware of the detrimental effect instances of crime and harassment can have on tourism and the money they get from it, and bystanders will act accordingly. Memorize the emergency numbers in places you visit, and consider carrying a whistle on your keychain. A self-defense course will both prepare you for a potential attack and raise your level of awareness of your surroundings (see Self Defense). Also be aware of the health concerns that women face when traveling .

Finally, certain precautions are common sense. Stick to centrally located accommodations and avoid solitary late-night excursions. Always carry extra money for a phone call, bus, or taxi. Hitchhiking is never safe for lone women, or even for two women traveling together, and Let’s Go never recommends it. Look as if you know where you’re going and approach older women or couples for directions if you’re lost or uncomfortable. The less you look like a tourist, the better off you’ll be. Dress conservatively, especially in rural areas. Wearing a conspicuous wedding band sometimes helps to prevent unwanted overtures.