Camera Safety in Vietnam?

<p>Hi Guys<br>

I am visitig Vietnam next month (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Sapa Hoi An)<br>

I have recently treated myself to a Canon 5DmkII + a few good lenses and I really eager to use them on this trip.<br>

However, I have been a little put off after reading certain guide books as to the safety of carrying anything around with you especially in the streets of HCMC. My passion is really street photography so I know I will be compelled to use my camera in the streets... am I being naive in thinking all is good and travellers are unlikely to have their cameras snatched from them in the streets?<br>

Regards Rowena</p>

<p>Nobody even looked at my camera in Vietnam, except kids in some remote mountain villages who didn't appear to have seen one before. I took a Mamiya 7 and some lenses, not a small kit, and it was nothing to them. I didn't hear of any crime against travelers while I was there.</p>

<p>Saigon is a lot dodgier than the smaller towns, but it's not so bad that you should be afraid to use your camera. Simply keep it strapped around your chest (rather than hanging off one shoulder) with the camera against your body in front of you, and you should be fine. Don't have a loose strap hanging in a place that's easy to grab, and you should be safe from "snatch and run" thieves. Exercise reasonable caution, but don't let paranoia interfere with your trip. Vietnam is a great place for photography.</p>

 

<p>I was in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Sapa in April with my Sony A900 and didn't have a problem at all. At first I was intimidated to bring it out and use it but there were a lot of tourists with DSLRs. In HCMC it's easy to take street photography. I usually ask first and they always oblige. In Sapa it's a different story. They usually want a little cash before they let you take a picture of them. <br>

Here's a link to my flickr site with some sets of Saigon, Hanoi and Sapa...<br>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shummy">http://www.flickr.com/photos/shummy</a></p>

<p>Popular stunt in Saigon is grabbing stuff from a motorcycle while you are walking on a sidewalk. Quite rare but still happens. (A friend of mine who has lived there since '95 says if you hear a 2-stroke motorcycle rev behind you, you are about to be robbed.)<br /> The simple solution is to wear your bag on the shoulder furthest from the road. I have spent quite a bit of time in Vietnam and never had a problem. I also lived in Cambodia for a long time and never had a problem there either. You are more likely to be robbed by backpackers than locals IMO.</p>

<p>I had no issues in northern Viet Nam four year ago - http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=525200. But then again, I was a 250 lb black man. Still a black man but, now about 190 lbs :-)<br /> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3699520-lg.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Ian,</p>

<p>At what point in your travels in HCMC or Hanoi do you not hear a scooter revving up close by? Agree you are more likely to be robbed by fellow travelers though.</p>

<p>Anyway, Rowena, common sense and a thought for your gear and you should be fine, don't be too concerned it is great fun.</p>

<p>It's not a scooter, it's a 2-stroke motocross. Not nearly as common.<a href="http://www.travelizmo.com/kawasaki-kx-450f-motocross-dirt-bike-2008.jpg"> (i.e.)</a></p>

<p>Thanks guys for all your replies, I really appreciate it and you have put my mind at ease!<br>

Everything will be insured anyway - and afterall.... it's just a camera!<br>

Thanks for sharing your stunning images too. I am eager to photograph the tribal people of Sapa - disappointed that they now expect cashola though!<br>

I am planning on taking the 16-35 mm and 24-105 mm. Do you think I need anything longer? - and if so which lens would you recommend?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>What rubbish, thieves are as likely to rob you from a street legal four stroke Honda than a two stroke non street legal Kawasaki. But I am sure Rowena does not want to hear scare stories or go on a motorcycle recognition course before she goes.</p>

<p>Rowena,</p>

<p>Sounds like a good lens choice to me. Don't get weighed down with anything longer. If you can try and get to Hoi An too, very very photogenic and a world heritage site.</p>

<p>Have fun, Scott.</p>

<p>Insurance?</p>

<p>I think the 24-105 is long enough. I only brought a 20/2.8, 35/1.4 and 50/1.7. 85% of my shots were taken with the 20/2.8. I brought a gorilla pod and I only used it once. I'm not sure how you're going to carry your gear but if you plan on doing the trek in Sapa, bring a waterproof stuff sack for your gear. When I went, it rained for 2 days straight and we were trekking in mud and there were quite a lot of slipping and falling. Also a guy in front of me slipped on an edge of rice paddy and did a back flip into the paddy below and was wet and muddy for the rest of the day. I only pulled out my camera when we stopped to look at the scenery. I never kept it around my neck while trekking.</p>

<p>"Rubbish"? Nice dude.<br>

A friend of mine over their just lost their laptop in exact same scenario, although he was in a pedicab. 2 guys on a 250cc motocross. The chances of it happening are low, but it does happen. I am not being alarmist. I have spent a good chunk of the last 20 yrs in that part of the world and it is the one scenario I watch out for.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Thailand/10345241.html">A very high profile case of this from BKK a couple weeks ago. </a></p>

<p>Ian>> Thanks!! Just when I was feeling confident and also considering travelling with my M8! :-))<br>

Seriously - I would consider myself fairly street wise and we only intend on being in HCMC for 2 days before heading north to Hoi An etc. <br>

I feel like the 5D is very noticeable and it still feels to me like carrying a house brick around after working mainly with Leica M's for many years. I guess I will get used to it!<br>

Victor>> trekking in the mud isn't my scene! ;-)</p>

 

<p>Ian,</p>

<p>That was two countries away and there was no mention of a two stroke off road motorcycle. I am not saying theft doesn't happen, I think theft from motorised two wheeled vehicles was invented in Spain in the 70's, it is certainly still prevalent in many Mediterranean countries, and whilst it is sensible to be aware of such things don't blow it out of proportion and don't expect to not hear a two stroke motorcycle in Vietnam.</p>

<p>As we have both said, you are more likely to get robbed by fellow travelers.</p>

<p>Rowena, don't worry excessively just be mindful and have a great time, late afternoons in Hoi An when all the tourist buses have gone is beautiful.</p>

<p>I will be in VN in 2 months (either late Nov. or early Dec.) taking the 16-35 mm, 24-105 mm, 70-200mm and either 50mm f/1.4 or 24 mm f/1.4, and already been there several times without any problem, but lately - I read some news about tourists with large digital camera (no P&S) being robbed by guys on motorbike, so this time I will be extra careful, take out camera only when I ready to take picture, and put it back in the bag when I am done. Perhaps, the bad global economy finally impacted the local too!</p>

 

<p>Rowena:<br /><br />Just don't dress like a tourist. Try to blend in as much as possible. The less you stick out, the harder you are to spot.<br /><br />I've never had a problem traveling with my gear. I used to be a PJ stationed in the Middle East and was traveling all over the world covering niceties like conflict, organized crime etc. Then again I'm big, bald and quite muscular. But I have met many female colleagues over the years that all used to say that blending in and to "walk with confidence" was very important.</p>

<p>Most snatch theft cases I have heard involve women as victims. Well, true, women do carry handbags. But I believe women are preyed upon because they are thought to offer lesser physical resistance.</p>

<p><br /> <em>Just don't dress like a tourist. Try to blend in as much as possible.</em></p>

<p>Unless you look Vietnamese, you'll have a very difficult time blending in. Even my Thai friend was quickly recognized as a foreigner in Vietnam.</p>

<p>I've lived in Southeast Asia for over a decade, currently living in Bangkok. I've taken countless trips to VN with multiple cameras and have never had a problem with crime there (or anywhere else for that matter). I do think you have to exercise some caution however. Wear the camera across the chest works for me. Same with camera bag. No dangling straps. And be aware when crossing the street as that's where you're vulnerable to a motorcycle snatch. Crime exists everywhere and I use the same precautions regardless of location. VN is a great venue. </p>

<p>A last 'thank you' to all of you taking the time to reply to my thread.<br>

I am most excited about my forthcoming trip - just a little disappointed and sad for the people affected by the typhoon in central VN where we had planned to visit. Maybe do that part of the country next time! </p>

<p>Hallo Rowena,<br>

We visited all 3 the cities mentioned last year and all I can say is that the people all over Vietnam are fantastic and very friendly. We had no incidents whatsoever and yet we were also "Warned" If you have travelled before then you would just be as cautious as anywhere else in the world. leo Laksi mentioned that Crime exists everywhere in the world and he is so right. My husband and myself travelled to Vietnam & Cambodia doing a "Kill 2 birds with one stone" scenario and we came back with only great memories of how fantastic the people are in both countries. I off-course live in South Africa which is at present rated the 2nd (SECOND) Highest Crime Ridden country in the World and maybe due to this I cannot relax wherever I go on holiday-always clutching my handbag out of sheer habit or maybe we are just constantly aware-You are certainly going to enjoy your Trip and return home with a lot of beautiful memories-Enjoy-Warmest Regards-Johanna</p>

<p>Hallo Rowena,<br>

We visited all 3 the cities mentioned last year and all I can say is that the people all over Vietnam are fantastic and very friendly. We had no incidents whatsoever and yet we were also "Warned" If you have travelled before then you would just be as cautious as anywhere else in the world. leo Laksi mentioned that Crime exists everywhere in the world and he is so right. My husband and myself travelled to Vietnam & Cambodia doing a "Kill 2 birds with one stone" scenario and we came back with only great memories of how fantastic the people are in both countries. I off-course live in South Africa which is at present rated the 2nd (SECOND) Highest Crime Ridden country in the World and maybe due to this I cannot relax wherever I go on holiday-always clutching my handbag out of sheer habit or maybe we are just constantly aware-You are certainly going to enjoy your Trip and return home with a lot of beautiful memories-Enjoy-Warmest Regards-Johanna</p>