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.
Vietnam sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Cambodia (30 against 43), but the gap is small enough that the practical difference comes down to category-by-category detail rather than the headline. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Vietnam scores 2/5 against Cambodia's 3/5. 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) | 43 / 100 | 30 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Increased Caution | Exercise Normal Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) | 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 |
Cambodia vs Vietnam: common questions
Is Cambodia or Vietnam safer to visit?
Vietnam has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 30/100 vs 43/100 (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: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Vietnam: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).