Vietnam tackles crime

KHANH HOA, 24 October 2012: The provincial People’s Committee is considering installing cameras at strategic locations to protect foreign tourists from petty crime and pick-pockets.

The province’s Nha Trang City’s Police head, senior lieutenant-colonel, Nguyen Van Ngan, said in the last two years many foreigners, mainly Russian holidaymakers have been robbed.

“However, police  have rarely caught criminals due to shortage of personnel and language problems when interviewing the victim.”

He claimed travel agencies failed to cooperate with the police to provide detailed information of their customers to assist in investigations.

He added: “We have a plan to guarantee more safety for holidaymakers in Nha Trang City, which depends on tourism as its main economy and the main elements include installing cameras.”

So far  this year, the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has welcomed 383,000 tourists, a year on year increase of 27%, with 50,000 Russian tourists making up the largest group from any one country.

Tourism is booming in Vietnam, but the downside is the pressure it places on services and infrastructure including security services and police. Most of the crimes are petty theft, opportunist in nature.

Incidents could be reduced if travel agents warned their customers to be careful with their belongings and not wear a big sign on their forehead advertising their wealth.

Throughout the Mekong Region, crimes against tourists are on the rise. Tourism increases in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia  and destinations that were off the tourist map now gain the attention of international tourists and with that comes the risk of more crime.

Sourced: ttrweekly