Hanoi Ranked One Of The Safest Countries For Female Travelers

Hanoi is considered a safe destination because crime and violence against tourists is very low and most locals are very friendly.

Charlotte Pho

June 20, 2023 | 07:06

Tripzilla, a travel magazine based in Singapore, said that although traveling has become easier, the world is still a dangerous place for women. With the rise of anti-Asian sentiment in recent years, Asian women are at greater risk when traveling alone.

Meanwhile, traveling alone is becoming more popular among women. The safe destinations for female solo travelers are highly rated by tourists, especially women.

Photo: TripAdvisor

Tripzilla revealed that a total of 85% of solo travelers registered with Overseas Adventure Travel are women, with more than 60,000 women in the United States choosing to travel alone between 2018 and 2019. According to the ranking put together by the travel platform, Hanoi ranked fourth on the list.

Hanoi was named on Tripzilla’s list because the crime rate and violence against tourists are very low and most locals are friendly. “Though it is often overlooked when discussing the best solo trips for women, Vietnam’s capital is generally a safe place for travelers. Violent crimes against tourists are rare and most locals are friendly,” says Tripzilla.

Photo: Vietnam

According to Tripzilla, Hanoi has a lot of cultural attractions such as the charming Old Quarter with small alleys and ancient houses. Visitors shouldn't miss places like St. Joseph's Cathedral, Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, or Ngoc Son Temple in Hoan Kiem Lake.

“The city’s Old Quarter exudes an eccentric charm with its narrow alleys, quaint shop houses, and medieval architecture. The late Gothic St. Joseph Cathedral is also found here. The church is dedicated to Vietnam’s patron saint and resembles Notre Dame in Paris,” the magazine shared.

It advised tourists to stop at a coffee shop in the city to relax at the end of their trip.

Hanoi is also considered a pocket-friendly place. Travelers do not need to worry too much when traveling alone. Rooms in luxury hotels cost less than 3.5 million VND per night, while meals cost about 245,000 VND (US$10.41).

“Feel free to pamper yourself while staying in this beautiful city, which is undoubtedly one of the best places to travel alone as a woman in Southeast Asia,” it concluded.

The remaining 11 locations suggested by Tripzilla are Seoul (Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Taipei (Taiwan - China), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Zurich (Sweden), Seattle (USA), and Montreal (Canada).

A guide to getting around Hanoi

Walking is the cheapest type of transportation in Hanoi. In such a crowded city with many small alleys, especially the Old Quarter area, walking will be the optimum type of travel so you can easily explore every corner. It's highly recommended that you walk in the Old Quarter Area and around the two biggest lakes of Hanoi - West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake. One thing to note, when walking, you must walk on the right side of the road. And not every place in Hanoi has a pedestrian line, so you should raise your hand toward the vehicles' direction to give the signal that you're crossing the road.

Photo: Escape

Just like walking, cycling is ideal for you to explore every corner of Hanoi. Cycling on the roads around West Lake or Hoan Kiem Lake is also a unique experience for visitors to enjoy the beauty of these areas.

Cyclo is a great type of transport if you want to visit the most famous tourist destinations in Hanoi. On a cyclo, at a slow traveling speed, you can freely enjoy the beauty of the city.

Motorcycle is a convenient type of transportation if you want to travel between multiple locations. In Hanoi, there are also many places to rent motorbikes at affordable prices, about US $ 4 / day.

No different from using a motorbike, but you will have the chance to sit back and relax in the back seat. In Hanoi, there are two types of motorbike taxis, including traditional motorbike taxis and hi-tech motorbike taxis. For the traditional type, you can find a driver almost anywhere, especially near tourist attractions and bus stops. However, the price is slightly higher than hi-tech motorbike taxis, and you also run the risk of being scammed. Hi-tech motorbike taxis such as Grab, and Go-Viet are more credible services that inform the price prior to your booking as well as a map to track your journey.