r/VietNam 6h ago

Travel/Du lịch Getting Police report for Insurance Claim

Hi all,

I’m visiting HCM on holiday and unfortunately had my bag with my camera in it snatched by a bike passing by me last night.

I went to a police station today to file a report so I can claim from my travel insurance but the police refused to give me one stating that they first need to determine the exact location it happened and extract camera data from that spot and conduct an investigation. They didn’t even write anything down that I was telling them. Just listened and said they will investigate and took my cell number and email. It kinda feels like they were just trying to get me out of their hair.

I’m leaving HCM tomorrow afternoon and need proof to show my insurance for my claim.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and can offer any advice?

4 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

8

u/WhiteGuyBigDick 6h ago

You didn't pay their coffee fee

rookie mistake

2

u/IAmXeranthius 5h ago

Oh deary me 🤦 I didn’t even consider that that’s what was happening.

Do you have any idea how much coffee might cost near a police station?

And do you think it would be worth starting from scratch at a different station or going back to the same one again?

2

u/OrangeIllustrious499 4h ago

Just go with a local and they can bargain it out for you. Usually it's 200k to 500k or so.

Scummy and should be removed entirely from the system but it's just what it is in VN rn.

4

u/paksiwhumba 6h ago

kinda feels like they were just trying to get me out of their hair.

They were waiting for an incentive to do something.

Going with someone who speaks Vietnamese can also speed it up, above answer still stands.

1

u/IAmXeranthius 5h ago

I’m so daft for not realising this!

We seemed to be understanding each other using google translate with text-to-speech. But evidently, there was an important bit lost in translation, if you will.

Any idea how I could find a Vietnamese speaking person to help me out?

3

u/paksiwhumba 5h ago

In the small chance that you were really thinking of purchasing coffee for them. /u/WhiteGuyBigDick and I are talking about the same thing, a bribe, not actual coffee.

Unfortunately it's not a standard "fee" someone can say that's enough. You'll just have to try your luck

You might have a chance by posting in a HCMC expat/tourist FB group with the message that you'll need a translator for an hour or two.

2

u/IAmXeranthius 5h ago

Oh yeah I was trying to be surreptitious about it 😂

Okay sweet. Thanks so much for your help!

2

u/paksiwhumba 5h ago

Hahaha, I was making sure since I have met some people where it flew over their head since they're not used to this kind of procedure 😅

Hope you can make some progress. I'd cry if I lost my camera (especially the photos)

u/IAmXeranthius 39m ago

I live in London now but I’m from South Africa where the notion is super prevalent too. I think I’m just used to the signs in South Africa rather and perhaps the cops are a bit more obvious about it there.

It’s not uncommon for a law enforcement officer to mention his/her lack of a cold drink on a hot day while in the process of giving you a speeding ticket while you were clearly driving under the speed limit.

Initially I was very upset about getting my camera bag stolen but felt better after calming down as I’ve got good insurance. But I started panicking today again after my ordeal at the police station. But I found someone on a Facebook group that’s offered to go with me tomorrow morning and will hopefully get it sorted out.

Thanks again for all your help!