SAFETY IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
SAFETY LEVEL
South East Asia is generally safe for travellers. Most issues come from scams, road accidents, alcohol or poor decisions - not violent crime.
4 COMMON SCAMS TO AVOID
TAXI SCAMS
-
Always use grab or bolt
-
Negotiate fares in advance
-
Beware of 'meter broken' excuse
-
Avoid taxis waiting directly outside tourist sports
SCOOTER RENTAL SCAMS
-
Photograph existing damage before driving away
-
Rent only from reputable shops
-
Never leave your passport as a deposit - insist on a cash deposit
FAKE TOURS
& TICKETS
-
Book bus tickets and excursions through your hostel when possible
-
If it sounds to good to be true - it probably is
ATM & MONEY SCAMS
-
Don't let anyone 'help' you at ATM's
-
Use ATM's inside banks for increased safety
-
Count your change before walking away (especially when buying drinks at night)
PICK POCKETING & THEFT
-
Use anti-theft backpacks or zipped bags
-
Don’t keep valuables in back pockets
-
Use hostel lockers
-
Avoid flashing expensive items
*Violent robberies are extremely uncommon - awareness is usually enough.
Alcohol
-
Drinks can be strong!
-
Don't accept a drink from a stranger - spiking can happen but is uncommon
-
Alcohol + high temperatures = increase chance of alcohol poisoning (stay hydrated)
*Drinking amongst backpackers is very common and generally safe - but stay aware!
DRUGS
-
Many Southeast Asian countries have extremely strict drug laws.
-
Prison sentences are severe
-
Some countries carry the death penalty
-
Police corruption can make situations worse, not better
-
The drugs could be laced
*Even if others are doing it, drugs are not worth the risk - even drugs you may believe to be harmless, like cannabis, can still get you the death penalty
3 POTENTIAL DANGERS TO BE AWARE OFF
3 EXTRA THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
1. HEALTH & MEDICAL SAFETY
Food poisoning, dehydration, heat exhaustion and scooter injuries are common occurrences in South East Asia.
Simple acts can seriously reduce the likelihood of these becoming a part of your journey.
Only drink bottled water, ease your way into street food, use suncream, stay hydrated and wear a helmet while riding a scooter.
*Travel insurance is strongly recommended
2. CULTURAL AWARENESS
A lot of problems come from not understanding local customs.
General rules:
-> Dress modestly in temples
-> Remove shoes when required
-> Avoid public displays of anger
-> Never insult the monarchy (especially in Thailand)
*Respect goes a long way and often results in locals helping you when you need it most.
3. SOLO & WOMAN TRAVELLERS
Southeast Asia is one of the best regions in the world for solo travel, including solo female travellers. However - there ARE still risks.
How to reduce risks:
--> Trust your instincts
--> Avoid walking alone late at night in quiet areas
--> Be cautious with overly friendly strangers
--> Share travel plans / location with someone back home
*It is incredibly easy to meet new people and make new friends out there, so if you are solo travelling and are worried about being isolated - fear not!
SCOOTER SAFETY
Scooters are a massive part of South East Asia and make the travelling experience 10x better.
However, as fun as bikes may be they're also the number one cause of serious injury (including death) for travellers in Southeast Asia.
A lot of the time accidents happen due to over confidence and / or riding when drunk
You don't need to have ridden a scooter before to hire one out there, and honestly, its pretty easy to get used to. HOWEVER, if you have not ridden a scooter before, or do not feel confident on it - it is always best to ask the people you are renting from to help you and show you the basics.
Legally a motorbike license for your country is required - along with an international drivers license (which you can get at your local post office). In big cities (like Phuket), police constantly pull tourists over and fine them for a lack of helmet and no license, then let you carry on. However, when you get to the more relaxed and less policed areas, being pulled over is very uncommon (like the southern islands - if we're sticking to the Thailand examples).
Here are 4 main points to stick by before hiring a scooter:
-
Make sure your travel insurance covers motorbikes
-
Always wear a helmet
-
Never ride drunk
-
Ride at your ability - don't try to go faster to catch up with a friend or to show off
If you crash without insurance, even a small accident can cost tens of thousands in medical bills.
EMERGECNY TIPS
--> Save emergency numbers for each country (our country guides supply this for you)
--> Know where your embassy is
--> Keep digital copies of your passport
--> Use Google Maps offline
--> Share your location with someone you trust
--> Have a print out of important documents in your bag
General Safety Overview
For most travellers, Southeast Asia feels safer than many Western cities.
-
Violent crime against tourists is rare
-
Locals are generally welcoming and helpful
-
Backpacker infrastructure is well established
-
Millions of travellers pass through every year without issues
Most problems arise from:
-
Overconfidence
-
Alcohol or drugs
-
Not respecting local customs
-
Ignoring basic travel awareness
If you use common sense, you’ll likely have zero issues.