Security Alert – U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City – Rise in Crime Around Tet Holiday (January 20, 2021)
Location: Vietnam
Event: The U.S. Embassy Hanoi and Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City remind U.S. citizens that there is typically a rise in crime around the Tet holiday season. Petty theft, purse/phone snatching, and pickpocketing are the most common crimes, and occur most frequently around hotels, tourist sites, airports, public parks, and other crowded areas popular among foreigners. Although rare, residential burglaries do occur.
U.S. citizens are advised to maintain situational awareness, limit the amount of cash you carry, leave valuables (e.g. passports, jewelry, cash) in a safe or secure place, and keep residential doors and windows locked.
If you are targeted by thieves, do not resist and report the incident immediately to local police and to the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Emergency contact information is available here. Consular and duty officers are available 24/7 for emergency assistance.
Resources and Contacts:
- The local equivalent to 911 in Vietnam is 113 for police.
- U.S. State Department Country Specific Information – Vietnam
- U.S. Embassy Hanoi 24/7: (024) 3850-5000 within Vietnam or +8424-3850-5000 internationally.
- U.S. Consulate Ho Chi Minh City 24/7: (028) 3520-4200 or (028) 3520-4600 within Vietnam; or +8428-3520-4200 or +8428-3520-4600 internationally.
- For a listing of emergency and non-emergency services provided to U.S. citizens overseas, please see our American Citizen Services page.
- For information about general, non-emergency services provided by U.S. Citizen Services, including urgent appointment requests, please contact us via our ACS inquiry form. Depending on the nature of the request, we will generally respond within one business day.
