Issues such as Theft, Etc.
Always be careful of snatchers and pickpockets in places where there are a lot of travelers, such as places where are money exchanges or tourist attractions. Since your wallet and mobile phone can be stolen in an instant in a variety of unexpected ways, you should not take them out, and hide them in a place that is difficult to find. Hotels are also unreliable places, so it's best not to take valuables with you when your traveling, and if you do, you should hide them deep in your bag or keep them on you at all times.
In particular, theft of wallets and mobile phones occurs frequently on Bui Vien Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City, which is crowded with people, so special caution is required when visiting. Unfortunately many tourists suffer misfortune after carelessly leaving their cell phones and wallets on the table. Valuables should always be kept in pockets or bags.
Just because you keep your wallet and mobile phone in your bag or pocket doesn't mean you can let down your guard. When you walk down a crowded street at night, young children will cling to and beg. It is best to ignore them, no need to care of pity. The moment you take out your wallet, it may be snatched away and disappear into the crowd, and the moment you become interested, several kids may cling to you, creating a dangerous situation. If you are targeted by young children, you must be careful not to snatch your wallet, mobile phone, or bag, and get away quickly, such as by going into a nearby store. The moment you hit a child because he or she is annoyed, adults hiding nearby may come out and demand payment for the settlement, so the only way is to just get away.
In deserted alleys, young women cling to you and engage in skinship, so you have to be careful not to take your wallet, cell phone, or other items. They usually work in groups of two, and a young woman targets a man walking around alone, approaches him, engages in skinship, steals his wallet, etc., then quickly runs away on a motorcycle waiting nearby.
Not only the streets but also the hotels are unreliable. It is best not to bring your travel expensive accessories or watches, but if you do take them, it is best to keep them on your person at all times or store them in the hotel safe. If you lose it in your room, you can assume there is almost no way to find it. Even in 5-star hotels, it will not be easy to get your valuables back because excuse to protect privacy of other guests, they do not allow you to check the CCTV in the hallway.
Besides pickpockets, snatchers, and rip-offs, there are more things to watch out for. There are many cases where vicious shoe shiners wander around the front of hotels where many foreign tourists stay and forcefully clean their shoes and demand money. They move in groups of two and surround a target with no companions in front and behind, blocking the escape route and forcibly trying to clean their shoes, so there are cases where the person who face for the first time doesn't know what to do and ends up getting ripped off.
You must express a strong refusal, and quickly get out of the situation. It doesn't really matter what you're wearing because they'll try to take your money even if you're wearing slippers and not shoes. And even if you happen to be caught and forced to have your shoes cleaned, you don't actually have to give them money, but if you feel uncomfortable, just give them 50,000 VND, you don't have to pay a lot of money.
