Wondering if Da Nang is safe? Get firsthand travel insights on scams, crime rates, food hygiene, road safety, and tips to stay safe in Vietnam.
I’ve been to Vietnam multiple times since it’s just a short one-hour flight from Bangkok. On one of my recent trips in early February 2025, I visited Da Nang, a major city in central Vietnam. While I was there, I spoke with a local guide who told me that Da Nang and other nearby areas in central Vietnam have become top tourist destinations, especially Ba Na Hills, home to the famous Golden Bridge with the giant hand.
Even though I don’t think Vietnam is as safe as Thailand overall, I felt safer in Da Nang than in most other parts of the country. That said, I did get scammed once during the trip.
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about safety in Da Nang, based on my own experience, stories from other travelers, and data from official sources.
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Key Takeaways
- Based on my experience traveling throughout Vietnam, Da Nang is one of the safest cities there. I never had to worry about crime.
- Scams exist, though. I got scammed by an airport taxi the moment I arrived.
- The most common petty theft is helmet stealing. That’s all.
- Food hygiene is quite good. I ate at over 10 places in one day, including street food, and had zero issues.
- Road safety is much better than in Hanoi or HCMC. But if you drive, be extra careful on mountain roads like Son Tr. There was a recent fatal motorcycle accident there.
- Mosquitoes aren’t a major issue in the city, but bring repellent for outdoor or forest activities.
- Air quality sometimes feels worse than what the apps show. If the sky looks hazy, you might want to wear a mask.
- Noise is a hidden problem. Read hotel reviews carefully. If people complain about noise at night, avoid it. The hotel might be located right in front of a bar.
Crime Rate in Da Nang
According to Numbeo, Da Nang has a safety index of around 76 and a crime index of only 20, which is considered very good. To put this in perspective:
- Da Nang (76.24) vs Bangkok (61.37) – Da Nang is significantly safer
- Da Nang (76.24) vs Singapore (76.14) – Nearly identical safety levels
- Da Nang (76.24) vs Hanoi (65.72) – Much safer than Vietnam’s capital
Based on this data, Da Nang is among Vietnam’s safest major cities according to official statistics. In my experience traveling throughout Vietnam several times, I completely agree with this assessment. I haven’t seen any recent reports of violent crime targeting expats in Da Nang.
When I was there, I never worried about crime at all. Sometimes I walked alone late at night and never got into trouble. The streets felt safe, and locals were generally friendly and helpful.
Petty Theft
I never got anything stolen in Vietnam. But I also never leave valuable items unattended or wear expensive items that would make me a target for petty thieves.
The most common petty theft I’ve heard about is helmet theft. The Reddit community agrees with this – if you’re renting a motorbike, never leave your helmet on the bike when parked.
Another common theft is bag snatching, especially in beach areas. There have been robbery warnings at Da Nang beaches, particularly targeting tourists who leave their belongings unattended while swimming.
When it comes to pickpocketing, many people report they never have issues here. They also mention that pickpocketing in cities like Paris or Barcelona is much more common than in Da Nang and Vietnam generally.
So if you just use common sense like wearing your bag in front of you in crowded spaces and never leave your items unattended, you’ll be fine.
Scams
Scams in Vietnam are real. The most common scam is the taxi scam.
My Taxi Scam Case Study
Before I went to Da Nang, I’d read about it and people recommended using Grab to get around. So I downloaded the app and thought I was prepared for taxi scams. I was wrong.
After I arrived at the airport and called a Grab to take me to a hotel in Hoi An, I didn’t know that Grab drivers can’t come to the airport area. While I was walking to find my driver, another taxi driver approached me and claimed he was the Grab driver. He suddenly took my phone from my hand saying he needed to “confirm” it. But in fact, he checked my destination and canceled my Grab booking before returning my phone.
He then took me to my hotel, but the fee became twice as expensive, claiming it was an “airport fee.” I had a hard time arguing with him since he couldn’t speak English – we could only communicate through a translation app.
Annoyed and with nothing much I could do, I just handed him the money and forgot about it. But that was the only time I got scammed there. After that, I used Grab to get around and never had any problems. All trips went smoothly and all Grab drivers were professional.
So I would say you just need to be careful of airport taxis. To be safe, many hotels offer airport pickup service (Da Nang airport is very close to the city), so it’s better to use that.
Tourist Pricing
Tourist pricing is common when you eat or shop at tourist places, but it’s totally acceptable to me and the prices are still reasonable.
Airport Souvenir Shop
Another scam I experienced was at the airport souvenir shop, though I’m not sure if it was intentional or just a currency exchange mistake. I bought a pack of coffee as a souvenir and was short on Vietnamese dong, so I used US dollars instead. I confirmed the exchange rate and everything, but the change I got was around 200,000 VND short.
I was confused at first and thought I was wrong since Vietnamese currency has so many zeros and is easy to get confused. After recalculating and confirming it was 200,000 VND short, I went back to the souvenir shop. The seller didn’t want to talk with me initially, but after asking several times, another staff member finally agreed it was their mistake and gave me the correct change, though with a bad attitude.
Good to know: When you shop at airport souvenir shops, many shops sell similar items at different prices. You need to shop around a bit to find the best price, but you can always get better prices buying outside the airport.
Walking Alone
I always feel safe walking alone here, both during the day and at night. It’s quite family-friendly and I see many families walking with their kids near parks or along the river.
I also went out at night and still felt safe. It’s not like in Ha Long Bay where some aging women kept following me asking if I was interested in staying the night, or in Ho Chi Minh City where an apartment owner looked at me with worried eyes when I told her I was going out to buy groceries.
But of course, it doesn’t mean you should always go out. I would say unless it’s necessary, avoid going out after midnight since it can be empty, especially along beaches.
Food Poisoning
The overall food hygiene in Da Nang is actually quite good. Personally, I find it better than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. One big difference is that Da Nang has a lot of proper sit-down restaurants. You’re not always stuck eating on those tiny plastic stools on the sidewalk like in other parts of Vietnam.
I eat everything in Da Nang, even street food in the Hoi An market, and I’ve never had food poisoning. On my last trip, I did a full-on food tour the day before flying out: 11 different places. Pho, Vietnamese spring rolls, pizzas, hot broths, desserts, everything. No stomach issues at all.
I also had nem nướng (Vietnamese grilled pork sausage served with rice paper and fresh vegetables) and ate tons of raw greens. No problem either. That shop didn’t look very hygienic, but it’s super popular with locals, so the ingredients were always fresh and rotated quickly.
That said, food poisoning can still happen. Vietnam doesn’t have the best hygiene standards when it comes to washing dishes. Often, everything just gets thrown into a single tub and washed together. Some people are more sensitive to that and might get sick from dirty utensils or cross-contaminated plates.
Here’s how to stay safe:
- Stick to food that’s freshly cooked or deep-fried. Heat kills bacteria.
- Avoid uncooked vegetables if you’re not used to the local bacteria.
- Eat at shops with visible kitchens. There are plenty of places in Da Nang where the kitchen is right up front, so you can see exactly how your food is being prepared.
For extra peace of mind, you can read this guide from the CDC on food and water safety while traveling.
Mosquitoes
I didn’t have any problems with mosquitoes in Da Nang, or in Vietnam in general, except for one time while waiting for a coconut basket boat tour in Hoi An. It was a perfect storm for bites: forested area, water everywhere, and rain. I had to wait for the storm to pass, and the mosquitoes had nothing to do but find me.
Even though it didn’t affect me much, mosquitoes are still something to be aware of in Vietnam. Diseases like dengue fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya are present in the country. Vietnam reports thousands of dengue cases every year, especially during the rainy season.
That said, if you’re staying in the city and sleeping indoors, you probably won’t even notice them. But if you’re heading out into nature or doing any outdoor activities, bring mosquito repellent. If you forget, you can buy it cheaply from any local convenience store or pharmacy. There are both sprays and lotions available.
Weather
Da Nang is warm year-round, with average temperatures around 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F). It’s generally comfortable if you wear light, breathable clothes and check the forecast before heading out.
Rainy season usually runs from September to December, with October and November being the wettest months. Showers can come quickly, so it’s a good idea to carry a small umbrella or raincoat.
If you visit a place like Ba Na Hills, be extra careful. The weather there can change fast. It gets misty, windy, and cold, very different from Da Nang city below. I saw a lot of people get sick there, likely because they didn’t dress properly. To stay safe:
- Wear warm layers or bring a jacket
- Avoid staying in wet clothes after it rains
- Take breaks indoors if you feel chilly
You can check daily forecasts from sites like AccuWeather.
Pollution
Air pollution in Da Nang is a bit of a hidden issue. On paper, the air quality looks okay, sometimes even good. But in real life, it doesn’t always feel that way.
The last time I visited in early February, the AQI level showed 80, which is considered “moderate.” But the sky was cloudy and grey, and after walking around outside for a bit, I developed a slight cough. It felt exactly like what I experience in Bangkok on a day with high pollution, the kind of irritation you get when you don’t wear a mask.
And I’m not the only one. I was once on a group tour in Hanoi with over 20 people. The official AQI said the air was “moderate,” but the sky looked hazy, and many of us felt like the air was polluted.
So this is just my personal experience, but I don’t fully trust the air quality data in Vietnam. If the sky looks unclear or your throat starts to feel dry or irritated, it might be a polluted day, even if the numbers say otherwise.
It’s a good idea to wear a mask on days like that, especially if you’re sensitive to air quality or have respiratory issues.
Road Safety
I found road safety in Da Nang to be much better than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. The roads are wider, cleaner, and better organized. And most importantly, there are way fewer motorcycles.
I remember the first time I visited Ho Chi Minh City. I was trying to cross the street at a proper crosswalk, and the pedestrian light was green. But motorcycles just kept coming — non-stop. I was stuck there for a while until a kind Vietnamese person noticed me and helped me cross. It was stressful.
But I’ve never had that problem in Da Nang. It’s so much easier to cross the street here. Traffic is calmer, and drivers are generally more respectful of pedestrians.
However, if you rent a motorbike or drive, be aware, especially on the roads to Sơn Trà Peninsula (Monkey Mountain). The road condition is good, but the terrain can be tricky. One American tourist recently died in a motorcycle accident there. It’s a sad reminder that even scenic routes can be dangerous if you’re not cautious.
That said, not everything is perfect. Some smaller streets have potholes, and sidewalks in certain areas are uneven. Still, compared to other big cities in Vietnam, walking around Da Nang feels much more relaxed and safe.
Noise
Noise is something that surprised me in Da Nang. One time I booked a hotel right in the city center. Everything looked great in the pictures, and the location was perfect. But what I didn’t notice was that the hotel was right next to a nightclub.
The music was blasting until late at night, and I barely got any sleep. The worst part? The hotel was fully booked, so I couldn’t even ask to change rooms.
After that, I went back and carefully re-read the reviews, and sure enough, a lot of people had complained about the noise too. I just missed it the first time.
Also, in some places, people may turn on loud music until around 10 pm. It’s not constant, but it’s something you should be aware of, especially if your accommodation is near residential areas or open spaces.
In fact, I think this is kind of a nationwide issue in Vietnam, especially if you stay inside a city. I experienced something similar in Ha Long Bay. One night, someone nearby was blasting music for hours. It finally stopped around 10 pm, but if you’re trying to relax early or go to bed early, it’s definitely noticeable.
So, if you’re booking a place in Da Nang or any Vietnamese city, take a few extra minutes to read reviews carefully. Look for mentions of noise. If multiple people complain about loud music or bars nearby, it’s probably not worth the risk.
Good news: The good news is that traffic noise isn’t really a problem in Da Nang. Since the city isn’t packed with motorcycles and cars like Hanoi or HCMC, you won’t be hearing honking or engine noise all day.
Emergency Contacts in Da Nang
General Emergency Services
- Police: 113
- Fire: 114
- Ambulance: 115
- Tourist Police: +84 236 3822 544
Hospitals
- Family Medical Practice Da Nang: +84 236 3582 699
- Hoan My Da Nang Hospital: +84 236 3650 676
- Da Nang General Hospital: +84 236 3821 118
You can call these numbers directly, or ask your hotel to help you if you’re unsure. Most large hospitals also have English-speaking staff, especially Family Medical Practice.
Final Verdict: Is Danang Safe?
Da Nang is one of the safest cities in Vietnam, both on paper and from personal experience.
- Crime rates are very low, and I’ve walked alone at night without ever feeling unsafe.
- Scams do happen, especially at the airport, but they’re easy to avoid by using apps like Grab or arranging hotel pickups.
- Petty theft isn’t common, but like anywhere, it’s smart not to leave valuables unattended , especially on the beach.
- Food hygiene here is good. I ate everything, including street food and raw vegetables, without getting sick.
- Roads are safer than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, and crossing the street feels less stressful.
- The only real issue I had was noise, some hotels near nightlife areas or residential zones can be loud until around 10 pm.
Overall, with some basic precautions, I’ve found Da Nang to be a very safe city to visit or live in.
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