WARNING- Be careful with your mobile phone

One week ago I was in HCMC. My girlfriend saw a young man grab a women's purse and jump on the back of a waiting motorbike. He was gone in seconds.

i probably lost my phone last night, can't find it home, hope i left it at work.

Just be careful guys!  Crime happens in all major cities, but I've never heard such outrageous stories as they take place in HCMC, Vietnam.

I have two phones with me usually, a Nokia 3310 and iPhone. Usually people don't bat an eyelid when I use the Nokia. I only take out my iPhone when it is really urgent or when I am relaxing in a safe environment. Nothing to do with personal experiences thou, just heard too much stories. I witness a robber making off with a smartphone while this lady was talking on the phone while riding a bike, take skills to pull it off thou...lol, the robber just sped up, then breaking almost instantly, and with a really calm and accurate swoop, took the phone off and sped away...all over within 2 seconds... instead of fellow commuters trying to help the lady, I only heard an older woman scolding the victim stupid, but she's half right thou... talking/riding is dangerous.

I've come to the conclusion that the amount of phones you lose is equal to the years you've been in Vietnam.  I'm up to 7, I'm due for another pickpocketing in 3 months.

Cheeha - You made my day!  Thanks...made me laugh. 

I'm still using my almost 4 year old iPhone 3GS. Yes, that's 4 years. In Vietnam. I'm careful. But they can have it now.

Ah no, why did I ever buy my fiance the Iphone 5s???  Even worse, I heard that the 5s is the most highly sought after phone in VN, selling for $2000+

O_o

Mikeymyke - just tell your partner to be careful with the phone.   

i LOST my laptop too, so sad

thanhmai - Did you lose your laptop OR was it stolen?  Those are two different events.  Sorry to hear about that by the way (btw).

T.T

it was stolen, sometimes I dont know what did police do in these cases

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

To all expats and friends living in VN.

This is the 2nd time I've heard from a friend in the last month that their mobile phone was STOLEN while walking with it in HCMC.  I just want to let you guys know that you need to be extremely vigilant when carrying your smartphone (iPhone, Galaxy S, etc...)  Put it in your pocket, store it away in your motorbike, put it in a safe locked area. 

Please stay alert!  There are too many thieves out there trying to steal these smartphones for quick money.

Sad really that I have to write this warning.

T.T

This is only your 2nd time?  It happens everyday.  An iPhone or smartphone can fetch 5-10 bucks to a fence.  Just snatch 2-3 of these a day and you'd be making more money than a factory worker...hence the popularity of thieves doing this line of work instead of the honest trade.

Foreigners are used to their home-world environment where thievery is uncommon.  It's no problem for you to walk around Miami with a purse (not you specially, a girl okay) and using your iPhone since it's a safe environment.  You get complacent because you're accustomed to being in a carefree zone.  The brain hasn't wired itself to be protective and probably doesn't know how to be wary or aware of your surroundings.  When tourists come to Vietnam, their brain hasn't figured out to turn on survival mode.

This, the thieves know, and exploit.

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

Just be careful guys!  Crime happens in all major cities, but I've never heard such outrageous stories as they take place in HCMC, Vietnam.

You should bookmark a few Vietnamese newspapers and read them everyday.  They're your eyes and ears to give you a sense of what you're getting into when you move here.

Tuổi Trẻ and Thanh Niên are two easy to read ones that have an English section.  Vietnam Net is also a good one too.

iPhone 5s sells for 2 grand? hmmm I need to bring a couple 5s on my next trip back to Vietnam.

And yeah Vietnam is rampant with thieves but at least you won't have to worry about someone pulling out a gun and randomly shooting you.

Just be vigilant of your surroundings. I always have my hands near my pocket whether in Vietnam or Canada. And if you're walking with a girl you take the side of the sidewalk closest to the street so motorbikes don't grab her purse.

Feeling uneasy when Vietnamese people stare at you? Well stare back at them and stare at everybody. When the thieves see you see them they will less likely make you a target and move on to an easier more gullible target.

khanh44 wrote:

iPhone 5s sells for 2 grand? hmmm I need to bring a couple 5s on my next trip back to Vietnam.

...And if you're walking with a girl you take the side of the sidewalk closest to the street so motorbikes don't grab her purse.

...

Sidewalk?  What's that?  You mean the area next to the street designated for vendors hawking wares, places to park your motorbike, or the area that motorbikes use as a driving lane during rush hours?  Never heard such a term as a sidewalk. 

Your girl shouldn't be carrying a purse AT ALL.  You be a man and buy her a stylish backpack or a purse-like bag that straps over her shoulder's like a backpack with good strong straps. 

It's your job to protect her and letting her carry a purse is like "hey robbers, check out my girl here...come on by and grab it off her shoulder.  In fact, just ram us with your motorbike and take her purse.  It's an easy take".

Wonder why Vietnamese women don't wear purses....

khanh44 wrote:

iPhone 5s sells for 2 grand? hmmm I need to bring a couple 5s on my next trip back to Vietnam.

Just don't bring 50 of them....and if you do, always declare to customs and pay the import duty or ELSE!

http://vietnambreakingnews.com/2013/09/ … w-iphones/

I meant those shoulder bags they carry around. They put the purse in the shoulder bag.

And what should I call that area that is supposedly an area for majority of people to walk through instead of walking on the street. Or do I have to describe that area every time with a paragraph.

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

Sidewalk?  What's that?  You mean the area next to the street designated for vendors hawking wares, places to park your motorbike, or the area that motorbikes use as a driving lane during rush hours?  Never heard such a term as a sidewalk. 

Your girl shouldn't be carrying a purse AT ALL.  You be a man and buy her a stylish backpack or a purse-like bag that straps over her shoulder's like a backpack with good strong straps. 

It's your job to protect her and letting her carry a purse is like "hey robbers, check out my girl here...come on by and grab it off her shoulder.  In fact, just ram us with your motorbike and take her purse.  It's an easy take".

Wonder why Vietnamese women don't wear purses....

I just want to remind you all that take care your 'under garments'! You shouldn't bend. If so you will lose it. Don't laugh. It will happen sooner because of the 'sleeping police policy'! Mobile phone? Laptop? Those things we can buy but the above? That too in front of a big crowd in this city?
Yesterday I went to 23/9 park again and heard a happy/sad news from one of my acquaintance, another Indian guy who usually come to park to do jogging with his wife, that 4 bags snatched again!
Tailpiece: If you lose something inside this park or near Ben Thanh market which you really want to get back (even pay money), just walk nearby streets which selling used items May be you can find it there!

khanh44 wrote:

I meant those shoulder bags they carry around. They put the purse in the shoulder bag.

And what should I call that area that is supposedly an area for majority of people to walk through instead of walking on the street. Or do I have to describe that area every time with a paragraph.

Tran Hung Dao wrote:

Sidewalk?  What's that?  You mean the area next to the street designated for vendors hawking wares, places to park your motorbike, or the area that motorbikes use as a driving lane during rush hours?  Never heard such a term as a sidewalk. 

Your girl shouldn't be carrying a purse AT ALL.  You be a man and buy her a stylish backpack or a purse-like bag that straps over her shoulder's like a backpack with good strong straps. 

It's your job to protect her and letting her carry a purse is like "hey robbers, check out my girl here...come on by and grab it off her shoulder.  In fact, just ram us with your motorbike and take her purse.  It's an easy take".

Wonder why Vietnamese women don't wear purses....

I was joking.  In the US and Canada, it's officially called that but here, that area is not for pedestrians.  People just use it for non-walking purposes...like driving on them.

A Dutch guy recently got ran over for using the "lane for pedestrians" by not ONE motorbike, but TWO! 

thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20130924- … treet.aspx

Not sure if this is actually a crosswalk or really the sidewalk area.

   "Sidewalk" ???  "Footpath" ???   I always thought in Sai Gon, those where just extra areas for street vendors and an extra place to ride you bike when things got too impossible on the actual roads

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

but I've never heard such outrageous stories as they take place in HCMC, Vietnam.

Probably because you are focusing on HCMC... as you say it happens all over the world.
Londoners rarely report it online, but it happens there just as much as here, report it to the police, claim it on insurance, job done.
ok here's a little different in getting it reported to the police.

3 years in, I lost a phone early on, but that was my own stupid fault, I did track it down online, but figured they could keep it (read I didn't fancy going to the district it was in at that time of night!).
I've two high end phones since then and no problems, but I'm sensible and don't make myself a target, read that as I'm aware of my surroundings.
That imo is the key, don't be stupid, don't flash your valuables and be aware of what's going on around you.

laidbackfreak - You made some valid points about being alert of your surrounding. 

My main question is:  What happened to living to a place where you can walk freely with a mobile phone without the fear of having it stolen?

Point:  I have walked openly and freely with my smart phone in Miami for years and never once have it been stolen.  Additionally, nobody I know have had their phone stolen in Miami by someone driving by or riding by snatching it. 

Question on deck:  Why is it so prevalent then in VN?  More importantly, why should I be so fearful of having my phone stolen in that city?

It is communial property. Everything belongs to everybody.
It is the same in the States, where you wont leave your keys in your car anymore.

Answer on deck, becoz they can get so much money for it. Easy payday for the thieves.

wrote:

Question on deck:  Why is it so prevalent then in VN?  More importantly, why should I be so fearful of having my phone stolen in that city?

If you are Not very careful ...  You have to buy a new one...     1 x i phone 5 robbing= 1 month no more Need working.... ( for the robber )    Very easy....

The reason to be careful is fundamental. A cell phone is a commodity that can be exchanged for cash. VN is no different than any developing country where the populous lives in semi poverty. A stolen phone can be worth almost 1 months salary. Hence it is worth the risk of getting caught which is practically non existent.

If you were walking around Miami with a commodity value of $2000 USD and it was basically unprotected believe me you would not have it long!!!

Many situations in life is relative.

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

laidbackfreak - You made some valid points about being alert of your surrounding. 

My main question is:  What happened to living to a place where you can walk freely with a mobile phone without the fear of having it stolen?

Point:  I have walked openly and freely with my smart phone in Miami for years and never once have it been stolen.  Additionally, nobody I know have had their phone stolen in Miami by someone driving by or riding by snatching it. 

Question on deck:  Why is it so prevalent then in VN?  More importantly, why should I be so fearful of having my phone stolen in that city?

To answer your main and secondary question:  Although officially over 38 years ago, the aftermath/effects of the Vietnam War (or called The American War locally) still goes on. Click here for my explanation on another thread.

Our best contemporary equivalent is the situation in Iraq.  The war was over but it's still not a safe place to freely walk with your smart phone. and not worry about it being stolen.

Or...why don't you try walking in downtown Miami at the middle of the night and see what happens to you and your smart phone?

Theft is more prevalent in Vietnam, because something like an Iphone, is considered a luxury item, worth several months salary, whereas we could buy it with a few days salary.

In Canada/USA, Iphones are everywhere.  Seriously, whenever I sit in a classroom or at work, more than half the people there have Iphones.  When you live in an affluent country, theft is not prevalent.

It's sad that when in Vietnam, you're constantly reminded to watch out for your belongings and be vigilant, and for me, it took a lot of getting used to because growing up in Canada, although I'm always told to be careful, you never see anyone needing to worry or fear for their stuff when walking down a street.

And honestly, I don't think Vietnamese are immune to theft either.  Even they don't have anything valuable, I know almost everyone I know in Vietnam has been a victim of theft.  They will take anything they can get their hands on.

"Freedom, Independence, Happiness"
They enjoy all benefits by exploiting and they know well that what will happen when they caught here!

Anh THD

I just walked in the middle of the night with my smartphone and I am still using it.  I still have it.   Your point anh?

May be you were lucky that day But don't think that you will get that 'help' always, everywhere!

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

I just walked in the middle of the night with my smartphone and I am still using it.  I still have it.   Your point anh?

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

Anh THD

I just walked in the middle of the night with my smartphone and I am still using it.  I still have it.   Your point anh?

Maybe downtown Miami is safer than I imagined.  I usually have negative images of run-down slum areas as downtown places.  You mean there's no mugging/robbies/hold-ups in Miami?

My point is to find you an environment equivalent to HCMC to get you to sense fear, unease about getting things stolen since it looks like you haven't experienced that.  Once your brain gets familiar with that sense of fear, then it knows how to trigger on it's defenses when you get in country.

Anh THD,

My parents and friends have visited Thailand (a 3rd world country like Vietnam).  None of them were fearful or felt that they were threatened. 

Question:  Can a 3rd world country be civilized?  Be respectful with others and their belongings?  Aka. Thailand?

How come VN can't learn from other countries like Thailand?  Take the good and leave the bad.  Ha ha I apparently have wishful thinking.

What are your thoughts about Thailand?

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

Anh THD,

My parents and friends have visited Thailand (a 3rd world country like Vietnam).  None of them were fearful or felt that they were threatened. 

Question:  Can a 3rd world country be civilized?  Be respectful with others and their belongings?  Aka. Thailand?

How come VN can't learn from other countries like Thailand?  Take the good and leave the bad.  Ha ha I apparently have wishful thinking.

What are your thoughts about Thailand?

Well then again, Thailand does have a GDP per capita of $10,800, compared to Vietnam's $3,500.  They're not exactly considered a developing country any more, in the traditional sense.  Someone in Thailand could afford an Iphone in about a month's salary.  If you want to minimize the theft, you gotta minimize the poverty.

I walk around HCMC at night and all hours, I don't think I've ever felt fearful of my surroundings.

I remember being in Perth, Australia a few years back now and felt more afraid then, than I ever have here.

Sure as others have said I am aware I am a high risk target, because being white I am deemed to be rich, and carry luxury goods with me. Aside from my phone I don't carry much cash and never any valuables other than my wedding ring. They can try and take that if they are feeling stupid.

The point is though anyone here with valuables is at risk. I was once in a Buddhist temple with one of my staff on one of her bi-monthly visits and she had a gold necklace (approx value $100 usd) snatched from her neck!

There are parts of London where I would never walk while openly talking on my mobile for fear of it being robbed. As others have said it's all about your surroundings.

tintinmiami2013 wrote:

Anh THD,

My parents and friends have visited Thailand (a 3rd world country like Vietnam).  None of them were fearful or felt that they were threatened. 

Question:  Can a 3rd world country be civilized?  Be respectful with others and their belongings?  Aka. Thailand?

How come VN can't learn from other countries like Thailand?  Take the good and leave the bad.  Ha ha I apparently have wishful thinking.

What are your thoughts about Thailand?

You seem to like provocative subjects to discuss or you are extremely naive.

I lived in Thailand for 4 years (Phuket & BKK). Rest assured I can take you places that you would say "Get me the frig out of here". In Phuket which is the number 1 tourist destination in SE Asia petty crime is rampant--purse snatching, phone theft, motorbike theft, ladyboys mugging male sex tourists.  Also research the Phuket Gazette for "suicides" there and you will be amazed at the number of deaths of foreigners. Same types of crime rates goes for Miami, LA, New York, Houston and oh yea the murder capital of the US--Chicago!!

You are a college grad so maybe reread Social Studies 101 to answer your minimalistic question.

Solo1 wrote:

.. In Phuket which is the number 1 tourist destination in SE Asia petty crime ...

How do Expats pronounce that city?  Is it like how I think it sounds?  Analogous to "Screw this, I'm atta here"

It's a timely warning because petty theft is rife. No denying it. Friends and colleagues are always saying 'be careful, be careful'. And I say it back to them...

But some implication above that it is aimed at foreigners is wrong eg Tran Hung Dao. It isn't, it is aimed at the item. Bag snatching, jewellery snatching etc also.

Be alert and careful, but being *fearful* is unnecessary. I haven't actually lost anything to theft and I carry cameras etc (touch wood). And perhaps don't be so unfulfilled as to needing the latest and biggest gadget to feel good helps too.

By the way: I am curious, Tran Hung Dao - why choose the name of a Vietnamese hero when you seem pretty critical of the place, stressing the problems and comparing it unfairly with the sacred USA.