Thieves, robbers and any other species of them...

MarkinNam wrote:

We live in strange times my friend, The virus is pushing people to new lows. the amount of people who have lost respectable income source has created a new norm. Be very aware of your surroundings and step into door ways or shops when being distracted.

I don't believe in the virus (only) story. The world economy was slumpering already since years and financial crisis predicted.
Most governments also overreacted and ordered nationwide shutdowns, whilst local shutdowns were likely to bring the same results.
Now the virus is just a good varnish for everything.
In my eyes the virus was just the most welcome "reason" die hide the economical crisis, because it's always good to blame someone else ..

SongwriterUK wrote:

Some 'old boys' here make it sound like it is your fault if you get ripped. It is not.

They are thieves and were thieves before CV 19 and will be thieves after. No excuses for them. They steal from anybody local and foreign. In fact most theft is from locals (which is obvious given their numbers).

Yes, there is some common sense be aware and careful ... but looking at our phones while looking for directions is a must. Step away from the curb? They DRIVE on the curb LOL. If not they are parked there.

I have never had anything stolen in 3 years. In Da Nang, HCM and some smaller, lesser known places. It is not that rife.

Yep, you are right. It's not really ones fault. Ones you are menu, then you are, no matter which precautions.
I think it's more just refers to those, creating the opportunities (phone, map, wallet in hand, shiny necklace ...), unknowingly and on top having little sense of their surroundings, e.g. a shop, a soup stall, where one could wait out a ugly situation.

I also feel pretty insecure / uncomfortable (nope, I still can walk without shaking), when in other areas, especially when I am without my dog(s), a lot worse than in my local area.

Sadly to hear about it , in my 19 months living here I've been lucky of no having any incident like that but I can't say the same of many of my friends.
Be safe , to be foreigner is for them a symbol of having money and we'll always be a target for them.

Good luck

We as foreigners often are not aware of what goes on. I always feel safer in a foreign country because I can not understand the language much. Whereas in my mother country I am bombarded with the bad news.
But some terrible bad vicious things happen here on a regular basis. For example the road bandits that operate at night. The will make a block aid on the road, stop people while wielding clubs and knives and rob the. Just recently in one major city they accosted and stabbed a Grab motorbike taxi. My in-laws friends 10 year old daughter was snatched, disemboweled and the cavity stuffed with 10m vnd. And the list goes on.