Legal problems that can occur while traveling

Taking photos, filming, touching exhibits, or looking after things for strangers can all get tourists into legal trouble when visiting a strange place.

When traveling in strange lands, tourists should learn and master some rules to protect themselves and those traveling with them, avoiding troublesome situations that are difficult to resolve. Reader Trinh Hang shares about these things.

Look after things for strangers

Most travelers know not to carry things for strangers, but few understand that even a split second of holding luggage for a stranger or touching luggage that is not theirs can lead to trouble. You never know who the stranger is or whether there are any prohibited items in their luggage. So kindness in this case can have unpredictable consequences. Even with security cameras, travelers can still get into trouble, sometimes losing their entire trip.

It is best for travelers to keep their own luggage, not to leave or accept other people's belongings, and to limit touching things that are not theirs. You should also be careful when using food and drinks offered by strangers. Be polite and say thank you and buy food yourself from reputable places.

Don't look after strangers' things in strange places. Photo: NVCC — Don't look after strangers' things in strange places. Photo: *NVCC*

Do not carry identification documents with you

Many tourists think that passports and personal documents should be left at the hotel to avoid losing them when traveling. In fact, there are many cases where you need to use your documents when the authorities check. And if you do not present them, you will get into trouble. In addition, many tourist attractions or public transportation require you to present your documents when purchasing tickets.

Therefore, put your documents in a small, discreet bag and always carry it close to your body to avoid loss, damage and to be able to use it immediately when necessary.

Dishonest about age

Lying about age when buying tickets for family members is a method that many people have used to save on travel costs. Many tourist attractions have policies for exempting tickets for children, the elderly and some other groups.

However, tourist areas often have random checks, and if they find a loophole, the small amount of money you think you saved can cause big trouble. If you can’t afford the full price of the ticket, or if you don’t think the attraction is worth the money, choose another place. Being honest when buying tickets is the way to enjoy the fun and peace of mind when traveling.

Too much alcohol

Traveling is the time when tourists let loose and indulge in fun. Alcohol, beer and stimulant abuse are the leading causes of tourists losing control of their behavior and easily getting into legal trouble. Some people even drive after drinking because they think that at night or in a deserted place, there is no authority to check.

To ensure safety, once you have decided to "go all out" on the trip, stay with sober, trustworthy relatives and do not go out when you are not clear-headed.

Take photos and videos anytime, anywhere

Some religious establishments, museums, exhibitions, and relics only allow visitors to visit, but do not allow photography or filming. Many places do not allow touching artifacts to ensure the longevity of the heritage. Usually, these places have warning signs in prominent locations, and there are always security personnel and surveillance cameras.

However, there are tourists who are carefree or addicted to filming and taking photos, so they still take photos as a hobby, even climbing and sitting on artifacts to take photos, and then when reminded, they react negatively. It is best for tourists to respect the rules of the places they visit, because any negative reaction can cause trouble, even fines or detention.

The Taj Mahal is one of the famous places where photos are only allowed outside. Photo: NVCC — The Taj Mahal is one of the famous places where photos are only allowed outside. Photo: *NVCC*

Help the victims

A common paradox is that tourists who help victims on the road are held legally responsible. In some cases, tourists do not have expertise in that field, so their help can cause more serious consequences, or be misunderstood as a helping act, or even be exploited for personal gain. Being far from home, tourists will have many difficulties in dealing with the situation.

It is best to save emergency phone numbers (police, medical , fire) of the local area you are visiting. When traveling abroad, save the phone number of the Vietnamese embassy or consulate. If you encounter someone in distress, contact the rescue agency immediately, instead of helping directly.

Littering, animal abuse

If you throw garbage in the wrong place, you can also be warned or even fined by the authorities - that is the truth that many people carelessly ignore when traveling to strange lands. Contact with animals, a seemingly harmless pastime in many tourist destinations, you also risk getting into trouble if you joke too much.

Some countries have strict regulations on animal protection, while others have a custom of worshipping animals. Therefore, many actions of tourists can be considered animal abuse or religious insult, leading to unexpected legal consequences. Therefore, before traveling, you should equip yourself with knowledge about the culture and laws of the place you will visit and should respect the surrounding environment, including the landscape, people and animals.

Trinh Hang

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