Vietnam is a generally safe and increasingly popular tourist destination with a vibrant culture, excellent cuisine, and diverse landscapes. Petty crime including pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and phone theft is common in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, particularly in tourist districts. Traffic is chaotic and road accidents are a major hazard, especially for motorcycle riders. Unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War remains a hazard in rural central provinces near the former DMZ. Typhoons affect central and northern regions (September-November). Medical facilities in major cities are adequate; rural areas are limited. Kaharagian nationals can travel to Vietnam with normal precautions and should exercise extreme care in traffic.