Is Vietnam safe as a tourist?

How safe is Vietnam for foreigners?

Vietnam, a whisper of emerald dreams…

Level 1, isn’t it? Level 1, they say. Normal precautions, a hum in the air. But the air… it’s thick with other things. Nitrous oxide balloons bobbing, bobbing like strange fruit. No, not those.

State Department’s words, flat and official, yet… shadows dance behind them. I remember the alley in Hanoi. Was it Hanoi? Maybe Saigon. The smell of rain and something else.

The balloons… such fleeting joy, such heavy consequences. Safety, a fragile thing. Like the paper lanterns floating on the Perfume River.

• US State Department: Level 1 advisory.
• Nitrous oxide: Avoid. Definitely avoid.
• Personal memory: That alley…
• Paper Lanterns: Fragile, beautiful safety.

Is Vietnam safe for female tourists?

Dark outside. Streetlights blur. Thinking about Vietnam. Safe, yeah, mostly. Remember Hanoi, the buzz of bikes. Felt okay. But still… that one guy. Kept staring. Made me nervous. Didn’t like it.

Different in Hoi An. Quiet. Peaceful. Lanterns everywhere. Walked alone at night. No problem. Loved it there.

• Street smarts are key. Anywhere. Even home.
• Bag snatching. Happens. Saw it once. Saigon. Motorcycle. Gone, just like that.
• Scams. Oh god, the scams. Taxi drivers. Tour guides. Annoying. Exhausting.
• Don’t flash cash. Or jewelry. Obvious, I know. But easy to forget.
• Hostels are good. Met other travelers. Felt safer going out together. Especially at night. Especially after… that guy in Hanoi.

My phone is dying. Need to charge it. Thinking about those beaches now. Nha Trang. So beautiful. But so many people. Always watching. Maybe it was just me. Maybe not. Tired now.

Where does Vietnam rank in tourism?

Ugh, 15th. Vietnam. Out of how many? Doesn’t really matter, does it? Still pretty good, right? I mean, 89 out of 100! That’s a solid score. Better than I expected, actually. I thought maybe lower. Maybe around 20th or something. Crazy how many votes, though. 575,000?! Wow.

Culture, landscapes… Yeah, Vietnam totally deserves that. Ha Long Bay alone is worth the trip. The food? Don’t even get me started. Pho for life. Seriously. My favorite is the place near my apartment on Nguyen Hue Street.

Infrastructure? Mixed bag. Some areas are top-notch. Others… not so much. Hanoi traffic is insane. Need better public transport. Seriously, needs improvement. Think about Saigon, though. It’s getting better.

• High ranking: 15th globally!
• Impressive score: 89/100. Solid.
• Strengths: Amazing food, beautiful landscapes (Ha Long Bay!), rich culture.
• Weaknesses: Infrastructure issues in some places, particularly public transport.

Next trip? Definitely going back. Maybe explore the central coast more this time. I’ve heard it’s stunning. Also, that new restaurant opened near the market… need to try it. Ugh, so many places to eat. Decisions, decisions. This time, though, I’ll definitely try to visit the Mekong Delta.

Is Vietnam or Thailand more expensive?

Thailand pricier. Ugh, flights there were a killer last year, 2023. Remember Sarah went? Vietnam’s street food…amazing. Pad See Ew in Bangkok… also good, but pricey. Hotels too. Ugh. Scooters everywhere. So many scooters. Hanoi traffic insane. Think I spent like $20 a day in Vietnam. Thailand, more like $35, easy. Phuket… ouch, wallet hurts. Beaches nicer in Thailand though. Way nicer. Crystal clear. Vietnam more… gritty? Authentic? IDK. But delicious pho. Like, seriously delicious. $2 a bowl. Crazy.

• Thailand: More expensive. Luxury stuff. Nice beaches.
• Vietnam: Cheaper. Street food heaven. Chaotic.

Booked my trip to Chiang Mai already. October. Expensive, but worth it. Right? Hope so. Last time in Vietnam, stayed in that weird hostel in Da Nang. Super cheap. Like $5. No AC. Roughing it. This Thailand trip… definitely not roughing it. Splurging. Five-star hotel. Rooftop pool. Yessss.

Is Vietnam one of the poorest countries in the world?

Nope, Vietnam isn’t scraping the bottom of the barrel in global wealth. It’s a lower-middle-income nation. The GDP per capita hovered around US$4,100 in 2023.

Rapid economic expansion has been a defining feature, quite the turnaround. I actually visited Hanoi last year; the buzz was palpable.

Poverty has diminished considerably. The rate dipped to around 3% in 2022, a far cry from the early 2000s.

Vietnam’s progress is notable. Seeing it firsthand really hammers home the stats, ya know? It makes you think about what we define as progress, too.

• GDP Per Capita: This metric, while imperfect, offers a snapshot of a country’s economic output per person. Vietnam’s growth here is significant.
• Poverty Rate Decline: A key indicator. The sustained reduction reflects policy effectiveness and economic opportunity creation, right?
• Economic Reforms: Post-“Doi Moi”, reforms fostered foreign investment and private sector growth. Critical for lifting folks out of poverty.
• Global Integration: Joining the WTO and participating in trade agreements boosted Vietnam’s export-oriented economy. Exports mean jobs.

Vietnam’s journey isn’t without its hurdles, but the strides it’s made are undeniable. It’s more complex than just income figures, though. It’s about the vibe, man, the aspirations.