Travel safety comparison · Asia

Cambodia vs Vietnam: safety comparison

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Cambodia vs Vietnam: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

· How Warnely scores risk →
Vietnam carries a materially lower safety risk than Cambodia on the composite Warnely score: 23/100 against 42/100, a gap of 19 points. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Vietnam scores 2/5 against Cambodia's 3/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 2 advisory on Cambodia and a Level 1 on Vietnam. Drug law diverges sharply: Cambodia carries a tier-severe regime against Vietnam's more permissive framework.
🇰🇭Cambodia 🇻🇳Vietnam
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 42 / 100 23 / 100
Risk tier Exercise Increased Caution Exercise Normal Caution
UK FCDO advisory avoid all but essential travel to parts of country No active advisory
US State Department advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)
Global Peace Index rank #87 #38
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Death penalty possible
Women's safety rating Generally Safe Generally Safe
LGBTQ+ legal status legal legal
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency USD VND
Full guide

Is Cambodia safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Vietnam safe to visit in 2026?

Cambodia vs Vietnam: common questions

Is Cambodia or Vietnam safer to visit?

Vietnam has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 23/100 vs 42/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Cambodia or Vietnam safer for solo female travellers?

Cambodia is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Vietnam is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Cambodia and Vietnam?

Cambodia: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Vietnam: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).

More comparisons

Cambodia vs Thailand · Thailand vs Vietnam · Laos vs Vietnam · Myanmar vs Vietnam · Cambodia vs Malaysia · Cambodia vs Laos · Cambodia vs Singapore · Taiwan vs Vietnam

Planning the trip? Check Cambodia visa requirements and Vietnam visa requirements.

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