Scams and Annoyances in Vietnam

Tourist scams and annoyances involving money abound in Vietnam, and are the bane of numerous travelers, each of whom seems to have a story. Pundits have compared Vietnam to Greece (where, it is said, the national sport is ripping off tourists), or Egypt, home to the world's most aggressive touts.

Like Greece and Egypt, Vietnam is a beautiful country with much to see, and overall, her people are friendly, engaging, and honest. Pestering touts can skew one's perspective on the decency of the vast majority of Vietnamese people; your stay in Vietnam will be vastly more enjoyable if you identify scams and annoyances early, and walk away.

Essentially, the major issues are the culture of toutism, aggressive selling practices, multi-tiered pricing, pick pocketing and petty theft, and inefficiencies due to the lack of tourism training. We mention the latter, because you will occasionally make the mistake of thinking you're being cheated, when in fact, the individual involved was simply not doing his or her job, and had no intention of ripping you off.

Neither the tourism board nor local governments seem to think there's a problem, but there is. As Vietnam becomes a major player in world tourism, it will have to develop an efficient department of tourist police, as Thailand has, and develop a policy of educating the public on the value of not being annoying to visitors.

Let's take a look at the worst ...

The culture of toutism

Touts abound in Vietnam. At airports, train stations, bus stops, and on street corners, people will approach you with questions such as, "May I help you?", "Where are you going?", or "Where are you from?". Their job is to take you to a hotel or place of business where they receive a commission for your business, or to get you in their taxis or on their motorbikes for a tour.

Often simply walking away won't be enough, as you may be pursued. As a rule, don't respond to anyone approaching you; simply wave them off. Yes, you will miss out on the one or two percent who may be interested in meeting you, with no ulterior purpose. We think avoiding the 98% trying to get your cash is in your best interests.

Aggressive selling tactics

Everyone seems to agree that the worst are the old ladies selling ethnic clothing in the town of Sapa. Here, they get in your way, opening blankets in your face as you walk down the street, dogging your footsteps, and waiting for you, gesturing as you visit shops, eat breakfast, or look at a map. Their tactic is to reduce your mobility enough that you'll pay them just to stop pestering you. We never recommend touching anyone in an aggressive manner, but many visitors have had to physically push them away to get them to leave to pursue other prey.

Seven basic buying rules in Vietnam

1. Always ask the price of everything before you buy. This includes food, transportation, goods, and services.
2. Just about every price is negotiable. Expect to bargain on anything that includes a middleman, including the price of tours.
3. Always bargain. Offering a price 1/4 to 1/3 of the asking price isn't a bad way to start.
4. Ask a disinterested Vietnamese person what you should pay for a given item or service. This runs the gamut from taxi fares to ethnic goods.
5. Don't bargain unless you intend to buy. Ensure that you really want the item or service prior to discussing price.
6. Always count your change. Every time.
7. When buying a tour, always read your receipt to ensure what you've paid for is in writing.

The five most commonly found scams in Vietnam

1. "Tip for me" scam. You met a cute girl who served beverages on your tour boat, and you ordered a few beers. Each time, she showed you your drink total, and confirmed the price. Your bill arrives, 50,000 VND higher than your drink total. When you ask about the difference, she smiles, and says "tip for me." Smart travelers realize that a pretty smile can often disguise an avaricious heart.
2. Train baggage scam. Usually perpetrated on women who are hoisting their luggage onto trains. A friendly couple of guys will offer to help getting your stuff into the train compartment, then will demand 50,000 VND each, and refuse to leave until they're paid. Solution? If they refuse your insisting that they leave, yell for the conductor, who will evict them from the train.
3. Food stall scam. If you think that food at market stalls is cheaper, guess again. If you don't first ask about the price of your bowl of pho, you could easily be charged 50,000 VND ($3.50 USD), when the real price is 5,000 VND.
4. Package wrapping scam. Unless you're buying at a reputable shop, always watch your purchase as it's being wrapped before it's given to you. Avoid substitutions!
5. Email scams. You exchange email addresses with a nice Vietnamese young person. When you arrive home, your correspondent tells you a sad tale. After collecting money from classmates for a school tour, the money was stolen from her bag while she briefly parked her bicycle. Can you help by sending some money? Your best approach is to suggest she go to a temple and consult a monk, who can provide guidance. This will probably be the last time your email friend will contact you. Scammers like to compare notes on the foreigners they've tricked. Don't become one of their stories.