Matthew Pike, a writer for travel website The Culture Trip, shares his perspective on the problems tourists will encounter when coming to Vietnam. This country has many beautiful landscapes and friendly people. However, as tourism develops, so do scams. Here's how to spot them and protect yourself from them.
Snatching
Don't sit on the sidewalk and watch the street.
Picture this scene: you are sitting in a cafe or chatting on a street corner. A scooter zooms by. The person on the scooter grabs your bag and speeds off. Tourists walking on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City are easy victims of these types of people. How to avoid it? Use a bag with a clasp or a sturdy shoulder strap. If you are sitting in a street cafe, loop the strap around the leg of your table and do not sit on the side of the road.
Faux leather
Shops in Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City are famous for their handmade leather goods, especially handbags, belts and shoes. Usually, the window displays will use high-quality genuine leather to attract potential customers. Pre-order items are often partial fakes - with leather ones but with plastic linings or insoles. Before paying, inspect your garment carefully. If you suspect it is a fake, heat a piece of metal with a lighter and hold it to the plastic, it will melt. Then ask the seller to make a real replica for you.
No cheap tickets for tourists
Check ticket prices carefully before buying.
This scam is particularly common at concert venues in Hanoi. While queuing to buy tickets for a show, you are told that all the cheaper seats have been sold out and you have to buy a much more expensive one. Always politely but firmly ask the ticket seller to double check – and if in doubt, politely tell them you don’t understand. Then ask a local for help in buying what you need – the Vietnamese are very willing to help tourists.
Note the USD exchange rate
Prices in Vietnam are often abbreviated and sometimes quoted in US currency – so 10 could be 10 USD or 10,000 VND (about £0.35). Make sure you check the exact amount you're asked for – especially in tourist-frequented bars and restaurants. And if you're paying in dollars, make sure you're getting the correct change – both at the current exchange rate and in denominations.
Fake travel agency
A well-known tour company or hotel will often spawn a series of imitators with nearly identical names. For example, a reputable business called Lotus Tours may create a string of much less professional businesses called Lotus Tour, Lotus Guest Tours, or Lotus Touring. These often work in partnership with local drivers. Be sure to check the address of the genuine establishment and share it with your taxi driver before giving out the name of the business.
Bicycle swapping
Check the bike before buying and after making the contract.
If you are in Vietnam for a while, buying a bike and selling it when you leave makes a lot of sense. But beware of faulty bikes, dodgy paperwork and parts swapping. In this situation, you will be shown a bike, then they will take it to the workshop to be repaired and then swapped for an older, inferior version of the same model. Test ride it, check the paperwork and verify the registration beforehand.
Buy SIM from official network
Buying a SIM card for your smartphone in Vietnam is easy with all stores from official to retail. You do not need to provide personal information to own one. Most tourists can buy SIM cards online at wholesale stores at very cheap prices. However, they are all old SIM cards and expired data packages.
Money swap
Motorcycle taxi drivers do this all the time. They use the trick of converting whatever amount you give them into a smaller denomination, and then they show dramatic outrage – to make it seem like you’re the one trying to extort money from them. The most common scenario is to exchange a 500,000 VND note for a 20,000 VND note, which is an easy trick to exploit because both are blue. The best way to avoid this is to pay in smaller bills. Split your large bills at convenience stores, restaurants, or other reputable businesses.
Fake taxi
Use reputable official taxis.
The two best taxi companies in Vietnam are Vinasun (white) and Mai Linh (blue) – with a few exceptions, their drivers are honest. Unfortunately, the other companies use identical color schemes. Their trick is to adjust the meter so that your fare increases suspiciously quickly, much faster than it should. Be careful when paying: taxi drivers, like xe om drivers, will often try to scam you out of money. To be safe, stick with reputable companies like Vinasun or Mai Linh – or use a reputable app, like Grab or Uber.
Rip off tourists
This happens mostly in Hanoi. Street vendors with coconut baskets will ask you if you want to use their bamboo baskets for taking pictures. But while you are taking pictures, they will chop up coconuts and sell them to you at a very high price. If you do not agree to buy the coconuts. Be prepared for crowds to gather and shout accusations against foreigners for cheating honest Vietnamese.
