If you are the victim of a crime in Vietnam, you can report it to the police at the ward or commune where it happened, or at any police office, which must receive the report and pass it to the body with authority to handle it. Ask for a record of your report, keep copies of evidence and, if you plan to claim insurance or compensation, ask for written confirmation you can show. As a victim you have the right to be informed about the handling of your report, to present evidence and to claim compensation.
Foreigners are most often victims of phone and bag snatching, pickpocketing, fraud in rentals or purchases, online scams, and occasionally assault. Reporting can feel daunting when you do not speak Vietnamese, and it is tempting to skip it, especially for small losses. This guide explains where and how to report, what happens next, how victims take part in a criminal case, how compensation works and what to do if you have to leave Vietnam before the case ends. It sets out principles; procedures and time limits are set by the Criminal Procedure Code and may change, so confirm details with the police or a licensed lawyer.
Where and how to report
Since the police reorganisation of 2025, which removed the district level, commune and ward police have become the main point of contact for residents, while criminal investigation is carried out by investigation units of the provincial police. In practice, you can walk into the ward or commune police station nearest to where the crime happened and make your report there. Police at any level are obliged to receive reports of crimes and forward them to the competent investigating body.
In an emergency, such as an assault in progress or a serious injury, call the police emergency line or ask a local person to call, and get medical help first. For non-urgent matters, go to the station as soon as practical, since delays make evidence harder to gather and make investigators wonder why you waited. Some localities also accept reports through electronic channels, but a visit in person is usually more effective for foreigners because you can show evidence and answer questions.
Bring your passport or a copy and your visa or residence papers, any evidence you have, and an interpreter if possible: a friend, a colleague or a hotel staff member who speaks Vietnamese well. The police will take a statement and prepare a record of receipt of the report. Read or have read to you everything before signing, and ask for a copy or a written confirmation that the report was received, with the date and the name of the receiving unit.
For thefts of passports, report to the police first, because the embassy and immigration authority usually need the police record when issuing a replacement and when you leave Vietnam.
Evidence that makes a report useful
Police in Vietnam, as anywhere, act more readily on reports that come with concrete material. Collect what you can as early as possible.
- The exact time and place, with a pin from your phone's map history if you are unsure of the address.
- A description of the people involved: clothing, build, vehicle type and colour, and the direction they went.
- Photos or videos taken at the time, and the names of any witnesses with a way to contact them.
- Information about nearby cameras: shops, cafes and buildings often have them, and footage may be overwritten within days.
- For fraud: the full chat history exported, transaction records, account numbers you paid into, receipts and any contract or advertisement.
- For injuries: medical records, photos of injuries and receipts for treatment, gathered from the first visit to a clinic or hospital.
- For stolen items: serial numbers, IMEI numbers for phones, purchase receipts and photos of the items.
If money was transferred to a Vietnamese bank account in a scam, contact your bank immediately as well as the police. Banks can sometimes act on a fraudulent transfer quickly, and the account details you provide help investigators trace the people behind it.
What happens after you report
The investigating body checks the report to decide whether there are signs of a crime. This verification stage has time limits set by the Code, which can be extended in complex cases. At the end of it, the investigating body decides either to start criminal proceedings, not to start them, or to suspend the matter, for example because the offender cannot be identified. You are entitled to be informed of the outcome, and a decision not to start proceedings can be challenged by complaint.
Some offences are prosecuted only at the request of the victim. These include certain cases of minor intentional injury and some other offences where the law gives weight to the victim's wishes. For these, the victim's request is what allows the case to proceed, and if the victim withdraws the request, the case is generally closed, except where the withdrawal was made under pressure. If you are injured, ask the police or a lawyer whether your case falls into this category, because it affects what you need to sign and when.
Expect to be asked to give further statements, take part in identification, provide medical assessments for injuries or valuations for stolen property, and attend confrontations with suspects in some cases. Each of these steps should be conducted with an interpreter if you do not speak Vietnamese. If the case reaches court, you will be summoned as a victim and may attend the trial.
Your rights as a victim
To be informed. You have the right to be told about decisions in the case that affect you, such as whether proceedings were started or the case was suspended, and to receive copies of relevant decisions.
To present evidence and make requests. You can submit documents and objects, request expert assessments, and ask for changes of investigators or interpreters if you have reasons to doubt their impartiality.
To have a lawyer or representative. You can engage a lawyer to protect your interests as a victim, or authorise a representative, which is especially useful for foreigners who may have to leave Vietnam.
To claim compensation. You can claim compensation for losses caused by the crime, including property loss, medical costs, lost income and, in some cases, mental distress. The claim is usually decided in the same criminal case.
To complain. You can complain about decisions and actions of the authorities that you believe are unlawful, including a decision not to start proceedings or to suspend the investigation.
To protection. Victims and witnesses who are threatened can ask for protective measures. If you receive threats after reporting, tell the investigating body immediately.
Claiming compensation and dealing with insurance
In Vietnamese criminal procedure, the victim's claim for compensation is generally handled within the criminal case itself, so you do not need to file a separate civil lawsuit. You should state your claim clearly to the investigating body, with evidence of each item of loss. If the claim cannot be fully decided in the criminal case, the court can separate it for handling in civil proceedings.
Compensation depends on the offender being identified and able to pay. In theft and fraud cases, property recovered during the investigation may be returned to the victim, but where money has been spent or moved abroad, recovery can be partial or impossible. Settlements between the offender and the victim are common, especially in injury cases, and can be taken into account in sentencing. Make sure any settlement is in writing and reflects what you actually agree to.
For travel or property insurance, insurers usually ask for a police report or a record confirming that a report was made. Ask the police for a written confirmation that includes the date, the items reported and the receiving unit. If the record is in Vietnamese, have it translated by a certified translator if your insurer requires it, and check your policy for any time limits on reporting.
Online scams and fraud aimed at foreigners
Fraud has become the crime foreigners in Vietnam report most often after street theft. Common patterns include fake rental listings that ask for a deposit before a viewing, sellers on social media who take payment and disappear, investment or trading schemes promoted through chat groups, and calls or messages impersonating police, tax officials or a bank, claiming that you are involved in an investigation and must transfer money to clear your name.
Real Vietnamese authorities do not ask people to transfer money to personal accounts to avoid arrest, do not conduct investigations by video call and do not demand secrecy from your family. If you receive such a contact, end it, do not install any app you are asked to install, and report it. If you have already paid, act quickly: contact your bank to request that the transfer be stopped or the receiving account be flagged, then report to the police with the full transaction details.
When reporting fraud, organise your evidence in time order: the first contact, every message, every payment with its date, amount and receiving account, and any identity papers or photos the other party sent. Investigators can request information from banks and platforms that you cannot obtain yourself, so the account numbers and usernames are especially valuable.
Be realistic about recovery. Money that has passed through several accounts or been converted quickly is hard to trace, but reports still matter, because they allow the police to link cases involving the same accounts and people.
When you need a Vietnamese lawyer
For a small theft reported mainly for insurance purposes, you usually do not need a lawyer. A Vietnamese lawyer becomes valuable when you have been seriously injured, when you have lost a significant amount of money to fraud, when you are asked to sign a withdrawal of a request for prosecution or a settlement, when the police decide not to start proceedings and you want to challenge it, or when you need to leave Vietnam while the case continues.
A lawyer can register to protect your interests as a victim, follow the investigation, request evidence collection, prepare your compensation claim and represent you at trial. If you are leaving the country, a lawyer holding a properly prepared power of attorney can receive papers and attend sessions on your behalf, so that the case does not stall because the victim is abroad.
If you are unsure whether your situation justifies a lawyer, a short consultation helps you decide. You can describe the facts to a lawyer on AI Co Van for an orientation and then engage a local lawyer in the province where the crime was reported.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I report a crime in Vietnam as a foreigner?
Go to the ward or commune police station where the crime happened, or any police office, which must receive the report and forward it to the competent investigating body. In an emergency, call the police emergency line and get medical help first.
Can I get a police report in Vietnam for my insurance?
Yes. Ask the police for a written record or confirmation that your report was received, with the date, the items reported and the receiving unit. Have it translated by a certified translator if your insurer requires it.
Do I need to speak Vietnamese to report a crime?
No, but communication is easier with an interpreter. Bring a Vietnamese-speaking friend or colleague if possible. In formal proceedings the authorities should arrange an interpreter for participants who do not speak Vietnamese.
Can I claim compensation as a crime victim in Vietnam?
Yes. Victims can claim compensation for property loss, medical costs, lost income and in some cases mental distress, usually within the criminal case. Recovery depends on the offender being identified and able to pay.
What if I have to leave Vietnam before the case ends?
You can authorise a Vietnamese lawyer or another representative with a properly prepared power of attorney to receive papers, attend sessions and pursue your compensation claim, so the case can continue while you are abroad.
What can I do if the police decide not to investigate?
You can complain about a decision not to start criminal proceedings, generally to the investigating body and the procuracy that supervises it. A lawyer can review the decision and prepare the complaint within the time limits.