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Viewing cable 09HANOI35, 2008 ANNUAL OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09HANOI35 2009-01-13 09:32 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Hanoi
R 130932Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9005
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH
UNCLAS HANOI 000035 
 
 
DEPT FOR DS/OSAC, DS/IP/EAP, DS/IP/ITA 
HCMC FOR RSO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AMGT APER
SUBJECT: 2008 ANNUAL OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL 
(OSAC) CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT - HANOI, VIETNAM 
 
REF: STATE 132056 
 
I.  Overall crime and safety situation 
 
A.  Crime threats:  vehicle thefts, personal robberies, and 
residential thefts. 
 
Although most travelers in Vietnam feel relatively safe, 
pick-pocketing and petty crimes do occur.  Violent crimes 
such as armed robbery against Westerners or tourists remain 
rare.  Drug use, which contributes significantly to the crime 
rate, is an increasing problem in Vietnam, particularly the 
increasing use of methamphetamine and intravenous drugs. 
 
Petty theft, purse snatching, and pick pocketing are most 
common in the areas frequented by foreigners such as major 
hotels, tourist sites, and public parks.  One common method 
of purse snatching used throughout Vietnam employs two people 
on a motorcycle with the passenger snatching the victim's 
bag, camera, cellular phone, etc., often while traveling at 
the same speed or faster than street traffic.  This method 
can be especially dangerous to victims if the straps of the 
bag are over the shoulder or around the neck, as the victim 
can be pulled down or dragged by the strap until it breaks. 
Several Embassy employees even had expensive cellphones 
snatched from their hands as they were talking. 
 
Frequently a thief skilled in the use of a razor blade cuts 
open a purse, or a backpack, or in one case in 2008, the 
pockets of an employee's cargo pants, in order to reach in 
and expertly lift items.  A popular night market in Hanoi's 
old quarter was the scene of at least ten reported thefts in 
this manner from expatriates in 2008.  People should never 
leave possessions unattended, particularly in public areas 
such as airports, parks, restaurants, hotel lobbies, etc. 
2008 saw the theft of a purse left on the floor in a changing 
room, and multiple cell phones/blackberries lost as a result 
of leaving them in taxis. 
 
In general the safety and security of guest rooms in quality 
hotels is adequate.  However, at one five-star hotel in Hanoi 
in 2008 an attempted robbery occurred that clearly showed the 
hotel's systems of locks on hotel room doors was inadequate 
to sufficient force.  Valuables and important documents such 
as passports should be kept inside a safe in the room, or in 
a safety deposit box at the front desk.  If on guided tours, 
secure your personal bags and if possible do not leave them 
on the tour bus/boat.  It is not uncommon for tourists who 
leave the bags on buses/boats to find upon their return that 
the bags were rifled through. 
 
Individuals planning to lease homes or apartments within the 
city limits are advised to acquire properties properly 
outfitted with crime prevention devices.  Burgleries against 
stand-alone homes in the Tay Ho (West Lake) and Ciputra 
residential areas continued throughout 2008.  In one case 
burglars scaled a fence to steal car mirrors despite the 
presence of two dogs.  In another instance, burglars entered 
a fenced yard to steal bikes and shoes left on the porch of a 
house.  Normally however, criminals sought entry into houses 
they felt were unoccupied at the time. 
 
Credit card and ATM fraud is relatively uncommon, however as 
more businesses begin to accept credit cards, people are 
advised to closely monitor their records for fraudulent 
claims.  Of more immediate concern are the repeated robberies 
of expatriates in large Western-style department stores, the 
big box retailers in Hanoi.  A common operation involves 
several individuals surrounding an expatriate and knocking 
them down or off-balance and robbing them.  Management of 
these stores has consistently been unhelpful and 
unsympathetic to the victims. 
 
B:  Safety; road conditions and hazards. 
 
The two most dangerous activities in Vietnam are crossing the 
street and driving or riding in traffic.  The road system 
throughout Vietnam is underdeveloped and traffic rules are 
widely ignored, while the economy grows and more and more 
vehicles with new drivers hit the streets.  The lack of open 
sidewalks and adequate traffic controls creats a precarious 
situation for all pedestrians and motorists.  In 2008 one 
Embassy visitor was hit by a motorbike as he crossed the 
street and had to be medevaced for a serious operation.  Also 
in 2008, another expatriate was killed while riding his 
motorbike.  One Embassy local employee suffered a broken 
shoulder and a broken leg as the result of another motorbike 
accident. 
 
Over 10,000 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2008, 
an average of 28 a day.  This number is down by thirteen 
percent however, from 2007, in part due to a helmet law for 
all motorbike riders over the age of 14.  Regardless of one's 
experience in other countries, walking in Hanoi demands one's 
full attention at all times. 
 
II.  Political violence. 
 
A.  The political situation in Vietnam is stable, with no 
known specific threat to American citizens.  However, 
Vietnamese-Americans known or suspected to be affiliated with 
anti-Vietnamese government organizations abroad have been 
harassed and in some cases arrested when visiting Vietnam. 
Visitors should respect local laws and customs, and avoid 
unauthorized gatherings or uncontrolled crowds.  Exercise 
care in taking photographs - photographing of military, 
police, or other government facilities may result in 
questioning by the authorities and possible confiscation of 
the film and/or camera. 
 
B.  Vietnam is not known to harbor any regional terrorism 
groups.  Some organized criminal elements do exist and 
usually concentrate their activities in the manufacture and 
distribution of drugs and counterfeit goods as well as 
extortion against businesses. 
 
C.  As with regional terrorism, Vietnam is not known to be 
the target of any international/transnational terrorist 
groups. 
 
D.  Sporadic disputes have occurred between local residents 
and authorities, but foreigners have generally not been 
involved.  The most common political unrest experienced in 
2008 has been land rights activists who gather and protest 
their land being seized by the government without receiving 
equitable reimbursement. 
 
III.  Post specific concerns. 
 
A.  Flooding is a yearly occurrence in Vietnam in provinces 
adjacent to the sea, and while damaging to local people and 
businesses, rarely affects expatriates.  Warnings are usually 
made well in advance and broadly disseminated, and 
evacuations are usually well-managed and thorough. 
 
B.  Transportation accidents are confined to road safety; 
with buses, cars, and motorbikes the most common perpetrators 
and victims.  Air safety is considered to be adequate. 
 
C.  Small business ventures formed by U.S. citizens in 
conjunction with Vietnamese partners have ocassionally 
reported threats from their Vietnamese partners or employees 
if the business relationship deteriorates.  Some foreign 
business people have faced threats, vandalism, and harassment 
in connection with their business dealings. 
 
One should assume that all rooms, telephones, and fax 
machines might be monitored.  Similarly, all movements and 
activities may be subject to surveillance.  Personal 
possessions, media, and documents kept in hotel rooms, 
apartments, or at the workplace may be searched.  Visitors 
and residents should be cautious when discussing sensitive or 
proprietary information. 
 
IV.  Police response. 
 
In the event of an emergency the police can be contacted by 
dialing 113 from a local telephone, though few of the 113 
operators speak English.  If dialing 113 or assistance from 
local citizens is not a viable option, one should attempt to 
go to a western-type hotel where staff are more likely to 
speak English and are generally helpful.  If you are involved 
in a traffic accident, altercation, or other situation that 
draws a crowd, leave the immediate area and quickly contact 
the police. 
 
Be aware that police are often under-funded and lack training 
in a number of areas.  While the overall situation is 
gradually improving, some people have been openly solicitous 
of compensation, ostensibly to support local police efforts 
or to facilitate an investigation of a crime. 
 
V.  Medical emergencies. 
 
Visitors and residents should be aware of the limitations of 
medical care in Vietnam.  Even when adequate medical care is 
available at private clinics, it is often rather expensive. 
The quality of medical care in major cities is limited, and 
medical care in rural/provincial areas can be non-existent. 
American or Western medical insurance with medical evacuation 
coverage is highly recommended.  When traveling outside of 
major cities emergency medical evacuation is limited to 
ambulances; there are no emergency medical evacuations via 
helicopter. 
 
International SOS Clinic            3934-0660; Emergency 
3934-0555 
 
Hanoi Family Clinic           3843-0748; Emergency 
090-340-1919 
 
Hanoi French Hospital         3577-1100; Emergency 3574-1111 
 
VI.  Travel precautions. 
 
A.  In 2008 there were repeated attempts to take unsuspecting 
passengers from the airport to Hanoi and charge them 
exorbitant rates.  While a normal airport taxi should cost 
around eighteen dollars for the trip, several expatriates in 
2008 were charged between one hundred and six hundred 
dollars; with the threat of physical violence used to get 
them to retrieve the money from an ATM.  On at least three 
other occasions people were met by drivers who called them by 
their name and offered to take them into the city, when the 
travellers had not asked for or arranged a pick-up.  All 
persons arriving in Hanoi should either be certain of who is 
picking them up or use only the licensed Airport taxis. 
 
Unless you are familiar and comfortable with one of the 
smaller taxi cabs, use taxis from the larger companies, such 
as Hanoi Taxi, Taxi CP, or Mai Linh Taxi.  Many of the 
smaller taxis, although metered, are more dishonest and even 
though they begin cheaper, often end up costing three or four 
times as much as taxis from the larger companies. 
 
B.  Try to minimize any potential losses ahead of time.  When 
going out, take only what is needed.  If confronted by a 
robber, quickly give up whatever is demanded and then leave 
the immediate area and contact the police.  Protect identity 
documents and leave most valuables in a safe place.  If 
carrying a bag, purse, or backpack, carry it in a manner that 
would allow it to be quickly and easily released in an 
emergency.  When out on the street, be as alert as possible 
to your surroundings and the people around you.  Watch out 
for distractions such as kids surrounding you to sell 
something and then picking your pockets, or someone asking 
you the time on one side while another person on the other 
side of you attempts to steal your possessions. 
 
VII.  Embassy points of contact. 
 
U.S. Embassy Hanoi 
7 Lang Ha 
Dong Da District 
(84) 4-3-850-5000 
 
Regional Security Officer 
(84) 4-3-850-5106 
 
Embassy Operator 
(84) 4-3-850-5000 
 
Medical Unit 
(84) 4-3-850-7175 
 
Consular Affairs 
(84) 4-3-850-6133 
 
Political Section 
(84) 4-3-850-5168 
 
Economic Section 
(84) 4-3-850-5013 
 
Marine Post One 
(84) 4-3-850-5105 
 
VIII.  Osac Country Council. 
 
Headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City. 
U.S. Foreign Commercial Service 
Saigon Center 
9th Floor 
65 Le Loi Street 
District 1 
(84) 8-3825-0490 
 
 
MICHALAK