Are you planning to travel to or live in Hua Hin and wondering how safe the city is?
In short, Hua Hin is a safe city. It’s a chill beach city that’s peaceful and quiet. But that doesn’t mean you can leave your bags unattended or walk alone at night in an abandoned area. Like every city on earth, you still need to take safety precautions while living here.
In this article, we are going to break down everything you need to know about the safety of living in Hua Hin, including what you should know and how to protect yourself against scams and danger.
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Hua Hin Crime Rate
According to Numbeo, the safety index of Hua Hin is normally around 65. With this number, it means:
- It’s very safe to walk alone during the daytime.
- Even at night, it’s still safe to walk alone.
To give you a clearer picture, Hua Hin has a better safety index than many big cities in the world, including New York, London, and Los Angeles. The level of safety is somewhat similar to Sydney.
The crime rate in Hua Hin is also very low. According to the statistics provided by Hua Hin Police Departments in February 2024, there were only two cases of physical assaults and four cases of petty thefts.
The numbers seem to stay pretty consistent month to month.
That said, it’s worth pointing out that shootings do get reported in Hua Hin. While it’s not common, it does still occur. Most of the time, these incidents happen around the red-light districts and are usually the result of arguments or conflicts between the people involved.
The last time a murder involving a foreigner occurred in Hua Hin was over a decade ago.
Petty Theft
As mentioned above, petty thefts are one of the most common cases in Hua Hin. However, the number is considerably low. There are normally less than five a month, as reported by the Hua Hin police department.
I’ve been to Hua Hin many times and never had any problems with petty thefts at all.
While you won’t need to worry much about having your items stolen in Hua Hin, there are some safety measures you should always take:
- Never leave your items unattended.
- Never park your car or motorcycle in an abandoned area at night.
- Carry your bag in front of you while walking through crowded areas like night markets.
Walking Alone
It’s safe to walk alone in Hua Hin, even for a female solo traveler. During the daytime, you should be able to walk in most areas in Hua Hin and feel pretty safe.
However, at night, there are certain places you should avoid walking alone:
- Dark alleys
- Certain areas of beaches in Hua Hin that are not close to hotels. They can be too quiet with very few people.
In other areas, such as inside the city or malls, it’s generally safe to walk alone, even for a female solo traveler at night.
Scams
Scams do happen in Hua Hin. But in many cases, it’s only a small scam that may leave you in a bad mood.
There are two common scams:
- Tuk-Tuk Scam: While Hua Hin’s tuk-tuks are not going to take you to a gem shop or claim that a palace is closed, they may charge you more than they should. For example, a 100-meter trip can cost you a few hundred baht.
- Seafood Restaurant Scam: When you eat seafood at a night market, they may not clearly tell you the price and surprise you with the bill. For example, a single seafood meal could cost you over 6,000 baht.
To protect yourself from scams, here’s what you can do:
- Use a ride-hailing app such as Grab for transportation.
- Always ask for the price first. If they don’t tell you, just walk away.
Additionally, there are jet skis for rent in Hua Hin, but they aren’t as popular as in Phuket. While jet ski scams in Hua Hin are unheard of, it’s still a good idea to use safety precautions, such as taking pictures of any damaged parts and negotiating the price in detail.
Food Poisoning
Restaurants and local food shops in Hua Hin generally have good hygiene standards, so you are unlikely to get food poisoning here. However, there are a few exceptions:
- If you find any shop or street food vendor that doesn’t seem hygienic, avoid it.
- Seafood can be a problem since, sometimes, it might not be fresh, or your stomach might not adapt to it. To be safe, make sure the seafood is cooked.
- When it comes to water, it’s always a good idea to drink bottled water and avoid ice.
Mosquitoes
Being a tropical country, mosquitoes are a significant problem in Thailand, including Hua Hin. Diseases such as dengue fever and the Zika virus, carried by mosquitoes, can be an issue during the rainy season, which lasts from June to October.
While the death rate is very low, dengue fever can cause a high fever for many days. If you experience symptoms of dengue fever, such as a high fever, severe headache, muscle pains, or more, it’s highly recommended to visit a nearby hospital immediately.
You can learn more about dengue fever symptoms from the WHO website.
To protect yourself, mosquito repellent is your best friend. It comes in many forms in Thailand, including cream, spray, and coils. You can buy them from any convenience store or even a pharmacy. Use them.
Heat
Hua Hin’s heat can be a challenge, especially if you’re coming from a colder country.
Below is the average temperature in Hua Hin throughout the year:
| Month | Average High (°C) | Average Low (°C) | Average High (°F) | Average Low (°F) |
| January | 30°C | 21°C | 86°F | 70°F |
| February | 31°C | 23°C | 88°F | 73°F |
| March | 32°C | 25°C | 90°F | 77°F |
| April | 33°C | 26°C | 91°F | 79°F |
| May | 33°C | 26°C | 91°F | 79°F |
| June | 32°C | 26°C | 90°F | 79°F |
| July | 32°C | 25°C | 90°F | 77°F |
| August | 32°C | 25°C | 90°F | 77°F |
| September | 31°C | 25°C | 88°F | 77°F |
| October | 31°C | 24°C | 88°F | 75°F |
| November | 30°C | 23°C | 86°F | 73°F |
| December | 30°C | 22°C | 86°F | 72°F |
Please note that during the summer months (March to April), the temperature can rise as high as 40°C (104°F) on a sunny day.
To avoid heatstroke and sunburn, here are a few things you should always do:
- Stay hydrated.
- Avoid direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.
- Protect yourself from sunlight as much as possible by using sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, breathable long-sleeved clothing, and even an umbrella.
Pollution
Air pollution from PM2.5 can be a problem in Hua Hin from January to March. During this time, it may be unhealthy for sensitive groups to walk outside without wearing masks.
However, air pollution is not just a Hua Hin problem. Most provinces in Thailand experience air pollution during this time of the year. The problem is particularly severe in the northern regions, including Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
If you want to avoid air pollution altogether, consider living in the southern provinces, such as Phuket.
Monkeys
Hua Hin is home to thousands of monkeys. You can find them in many parts of the city, particularly near mountains, such as in the Khao Takiap area (Monkey Mountain) and Khao Hin Lek Fai.
While these monkeys may seem friendly and are used to humans, they are still wild animals. Always keep a safe distance, avoid feeding them, and protect your belongings. It’s also important not to eat in front of them, as they might snatch your food.
Additional Safety Tricks
Hua Hin is generally a very safe place to live, retire, or travel, but it’s important to keep these safety tips in mind:
- Never walk alone at night in dark alleys or unsafe environments.
- Never leave your items unattended.
- Never interact aggressively with monkeys.
- Drink responsibly.
- Avoid getting into fights.
- Always ask for a price before eating or using any service.
Additionally, for extra peace of mind, consider purchasing travel insurance or health insurance to protect yourself and your wallet from medical emergencies.
Emergency Contacts
Here’s a list of emergency contacts in Hua Hin:
Emergency Services:
- Police Emergency: 191
- Tourist Police: 1155
- Fire Department: 199
- Ambulance and Medical Emergencies: 1669
Local Police Stations:
- Hua Hin Police Station: +66 32 511 027
- Tourist Police (Hua Hin): +66 32 515 995
Hospitals and Medical Facilities:
- Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin: +66 32 616 800
- San Paulo Hospital Hua Hin: +66 32 532 576
- Hua Hin Hospital: +66 32 523 000
Now, Over to You
We hope this article answers all your questions about the safety of Hua Hin. It’s one of the safest cities in Thailand, making it a great place to live or travel. This is also one of the main reasons why Hua Hin is such a popular destination among retirees in Thailand.
If you’re considering living or retiring in Hua Hin, check out our detailed guide about living in Hua Hin. You’ll learn all about the kind of lifestyle you can expect while living there.
Good luck!
