Scams & Safety Guide

Key facts:

• Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare. Muggings, assaults, and robberies are almost unheard of in Da Nang.
• Most long-term expats report zero safety issues during their entire stay
• The "scams" that do exist are mild compared to Bangkok, Bali, or Ho Chi Minh City -- we are talking about minor overcharging, not dangerous situations
• Da Nang consistently ranks as one of Vietnam's safest cities, and Vietnam itself is one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia
• Women generally report feeling safe walking alone at night, though standard precautions still apply

Why is it so safe?

• Da Nang is smaller and more community-oriented than HCMC or Hanoi
• The local government actively maintains public safety
• Tourism-dependent businesses have an incentive to keep visitors happy
• Vietnamese culture generally values hospitality toward guests

Airport taxi long-routing:

• How it works: Traditional taxi drivers take unnecessarily long routes from the airport to inflate the meter
• The real cost from Da Nang Airport to the An Thuong / beach area is approximately 100K VND (~$4 USD)
• If a driver quotes you 300-500K VND, they are overcharging

The simple solution: Always use Grab from the airport.

• Book a Grab car or Grab bike from inside the terminal
• Walk to the designated Grab pickup area (signed in the airport)
• The fare is fixed before you get in -- no meter manipulation possible
• A Grab car to An Thuong costs approximately 100K VND, which is the fair price
• This one habit eliminates virtually all transport scams

Bait-and-switch:

• How it works: A listing shows a beautiful apartment at a great price. When you arrive, the "real" apartment is different (smaller, worse condition, different location).
• Prevention: Do a video call with the landlord or agent before paying any deposit. Ask them to walk through the actual unit in real time. If they refuse, it is a red flag.

Vietnamese-only contracts:

• How it works: You sign a rental contract written entirely in Vietnamese without understanding the terms. Hidden clauses may include excessive penalties for early termination, responsibility for all repairs, or forfeiting your deposit for minor issues.
• Prevention: Insist on an English translation of the contract. If one is not available, use Google Translate's camera feature to read through it. Review clauses about deposit refund, early termination, maintenance responsibility, and what happens if you need to leave early.

Fake agents:

• How it works: Someone poses as a real estate agent, collects a deposit or finder's fee, and disappears.
• Prevention: Always meet at a real office, check their Google reviews, and ask for references from other expats. Never transfer money before seeing the apartment in person.

Electricity rate markup:

• How it works: The landlord charges you 5,000-6,000 VND per kWh for electricity when the government rate is approximately 3,500-4,000 VND/kWh. Over months, this adds up significantly.
• Prevention: Ask about the electricity rate before signing your lease. The government rate is approximately 3,500 VND/kWh at the base tier, scaling up to about 4,000 VND/kWh for higher usage. Anything significantly above this means the landlord is profiting from your electricity usage. Negotiate or find a different place.

Helmet theft:

• Leaving your helmet on your motorbike seat (as locals do) can result in it being stolen
• Solution: Carry your helmet with you or use a helmet lock/cable to secure it to the bike

Beach theft:

• Do not leave bags, phones, or valuables unattended on the beach while swimming
• Solution: Go to the beach with a friend and take turns watching belongings. Alternatively, bring only what you can afford to lose and use a waterproof phone pouch.

Bag snatching:

• Rare in Da Nang but occasionally reported -- a motorbike rider grabs your bag as they pass
• Solution: Carry bags on the building side of the sidewalk (away from the road), use a crossbody bag, and keep a firm grip. This is more of a concern in HCMC than Da Nang.

Tourist pricing:

• Some restaurants, markets, or shops charge foreigners slightly more than locals
• The amounts are usually trivial -- an extra 10-20K VND ($0.40-0.80) on a meal
• Not worth arguing about in most cases. If it bothers you, check prices on Grab Food before ordering at a restaurant, or shop at supermarkets with fixed prices.

Credit card skimming:

• ATM skimming devices are rare but not impossible
• Solution: Use ATMs attached to bank branches, cover the keypad when entering your PIN, check for loose card slot covers, and keep your card frozen in your banking app when not actively withdrawing. Monitor your transactions regularly.