Ho Chi Minh City Pickpockets
Vietnam
HCMC has one of the highest bag-snatch rates in Asia. Drive-by motorbike snatching in District 1 is the primary risk — walking with a phone or bag on the road-side arm is the trigger.
High risk3 pickpocket hotspots
District 1 (Nguyen Hue, Bui Vien, Le Loi walking areas)
street
When: All day + evening
Technique: Drive-by motorbike bag/phone snatch
Pham Ngu Lao backpacker street
street
District 3 tourist areas
street
Common techniques used in Ho Chi Minh City
Drive-by motorbike snatch
Two-person motorbike passes slowly, passenger grabs bag/phone as they accelerate away. Injuries common (dragged by strap).
Prevention
- 1Walk with bag/phone on the OPPOSITE side from the road.
- 2Cross-body strap ONLY.
- 3No phones on the street — step inside a shop or cafe.
- 4Money belt under clothes.
Recommended anti-theft gear
- •Money belt
- •Anti-theft cross-body bag
If it happens
- 1.Do NOT chase — you can't catch a motorbike + falls are the injury risk.
- 2.Tourist Police District 1: +84 28 3829 7457
- 3.US Consulate: +84 28 3520 4200
Emergency
Police: 113
Report line: HCMC Tourist Police District 1: +84 28 3829 7457