5 Ways You Can Get Arrested In Vietnam

Vietnamese people often turn a blind eye to the many ignorant and inappropriate things foreigners do in their country, but the authorities won’t hesitate to punish those they perceive to be threats to social norms and/or the existing power structure. Many of these are loosely enforced, but you should still be aware of them so you don’t unwittingly get yourself thrown into a scary prison.

* Drugs

We might as well get the obvious one out of the way. Vietnam has a heroin problem, so the government has stiffened their penalties for drug offenses over the last few years, and anyone caught with heroin faces the death penalty. Traffickers are pretty well guaranteed long prison sentences at the very least. The Australian government alone reports that 20 of its citizens are in Vietnamese prisons for trafficking charges. You’ll definitely encounter drugs in the expat and backpacker scenes in Vietnam, but you need to decide if the risks are worth it.

* Prostitution

Despite the somewhat overt nature of prostitutes in Vietnam, it is in fact illegal. Police conduct raids from time to time, and don’t expect any leniency with your plea of ignorance.

* Taking pictures of demonstrations

Authorities have zero tolerance for anything that even faintly smells of anti-government action, and unsanctioned demonstrations are an easy target. If you hear about or see a protest, don’t hang around—and certainly don’t start taking pictures. Vietnam has opened itself to trade and tourism, but it still wants nothing to do with your notions of freedom.

* Posting political stuff on social media

This one is a bit of gray area, especially if you’re a member of any expat groups on social media where people often rant and rave about corruption and inept policies. By law, these posts are illegal. Authorities have tended to focus on local bloggers rather than foreigners, but if you want to guarantee your safety, stick to cat videos and selfies.

* Gambling

You’re only allowed to gamble in state-sanctioned casinos. Betting money on anything else in Vietnam is illegal. Your game of poker in your hostel probably won’t get shut down by a riot squad, but be aware of who’s around you.