I bought a coconut for $10. It must have been a temporary mistake. Everyone is lucky for me. But today, let’s talk about the bad and the ugly.
Don’t get me wrong, Vietnam is generally safe. The country has ranked as one of the safest for travelers. However, scams still happen here in Vietnam or any other country if you’re not careful. So in today’s blog, I’m going to tell you 10 common scams in Vietnam and how to avoid them. Thank you. Let’s begin and discuss this topic later.
Travel Agent Scam
When planning a trip to Vietnam, you might choose to go to a travel agent or an independent operator. Some of them might scam you by creating a fake website or offering cheap tour and hotel packages. They’ll tell you to deposit 50% upfront, and once you make the payment, they vanish with the money. Scammers may also impersonate airline or train ticket agents to offer cheap tickets. They will often send you fake booking codes to create trust, so be careful.
If you’re new to the city, taxi drivers may try to convince you that the hotel you booked is full or has shut down and they can take you to a different hotel with a cheaper price. This is a scam. Don’t fall for it because you might end up staying at an unsafe accommodation, having fast food, and experiencing sloppy service.
My advice to avoid the scam is to carefully check their credentials before booking. You can read reviews on Google or TripAdvisor. You can ask friends who have traveled to Vietnam before, and you can also use reputable websites for airline tickets. I recommend looking through Booking.com, Traveloka, or Skyscanner. For accommodations, you can use Agoda or Airbnb. If you don’t know where to start, you can have local experts customize your trip.
Taxi Scam
After landing in Vietnam, you will feel like a celebrity being surrounded by taxi drivers who offer you rides to your hotel. Once you agree to ride with them, you might get into a car with broken or rigged meters, get driven in circles, or in the wrong direction, then end up paying a fortune. They often target anyone new to their local area, from unsuspecting Vietnamese to foreign tourists, and are located at airports, train stations, bus stations, and tourist sites.
However, the good news is that it’s easy to avoid this scam. First of all, you need to use reputable taxi companies. The most popular taxi companies in Vietnam are Vinasun or Mai Linh. Pay attention to the logos because they might be copied. If you see anything similar but slightly different, like “Vinasong” or “Thai Linh,” don’t get in.
Second, bring small bills to pay taxi drivers. Some drivers don’t have enough change if you give them big bills like the 500,000 VND note. Be careful about using the 20,000 VND and 500,000 VND notes because they have similar colors.
I suggest you use other ride-hailing services if you can, like Be or Grab, because they are more affordable, you know the exact amount you need to pay, and you know what route they’re taking. It costs around 100,000 to 150,000 VND to go from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. If you ride with a taxi, the price might be double. Though I always prefer more cheap and popular option which is public transports.
Street Vendors Scam
Not all street vendors are scammers. In fact, many of the amazing vendors are very friendly, genuinely nice, and love to entertain. A great example is the mango and apple singing vendor who you may have seen floating around the internet.
However, if you encounter a con artist who offers you free coconut water on a hot summer day, he may charge you 10 times more than the normal price. If you don’t pay, he might follow you until you do. A coconut for $10 wasn’t worth it.
To avoid this situation, you might politely refuse and walk away. If you really want to buy, unlock your phone, show them the price, give them the money first, take the coconut, and walk away.
Online Scam
Wi-Fi in Vietnam is everywhere and is super fast. However, it is not always safe. You need to be careful because people can hack your account and steal your personal information on unprotected networks. Sometimes, when they know your phone number and the destination you went to, scammers will pretend to be police officers, claiming that you’re carrying illegal items to Vietnam. They will ask for your passport number and card numbers to pay fake fees.
To protect yourself, I highly recommend using a VPN. I’ve been using Surf Shark VPN for over two years now, and I’m very happy to partner with them in this video. Using a VPN will change your IP address, so scammers won’t know your exact location. Furthermore, if you accidentally download links from unwanted ads that contain viruses, Surf Shark VPN has an antivirus program that can protect you from being hacked.
What I love most about Surf Shark is that it creates alternative identities and emails for online registration, protecting your personal information. If your email, credit card, or ID is linked in a breach, it will alert you right away. Besides using Surf Shark for my online security, I also use it to watch my favorite shows overseas, and it gives me many options.
Pickpockets
These thieves usually work alone or in groups and typically show up in hot spots like main streets, markets, night markets, and clubs. They target anyone carrying visible expensive jewelry or valuable items such as phones, cameras, wallets, etc. Thieves may reach into your bag from behind or cut your bag to take your belongings. Some thieves even rush by on motorcycles to snatch your phone, wallet, purse, or bag in a split second.
If thieves work in a gang, it becomes more complicated. They may try to put you in specific situations to distract you, like staging a fake accident, and then steal your belongings. My advice is to be aware of your surroundings in busy areas. Always keep your bag or purse in front of you. Put all your valuable belongings in an inside pocket or bag. Don’t keep your money and valuable items in the same place; try to split and hide them in money belts or hidden pockets in your clothing.
Also, make sure to make copies of important documents such as ID cards and passports, and carry them with you just in case. If you’re worried about pickpockets in Vietnam, you should purchase travel insurance. I suggest using SafetyWing since they have an add-on to their nomad insurance policy that covers electronic goods such as smartphones, cameras, and you can get reimbursed up to $1000. Better safe than sorry.
Photo Scam
Vietnam is a beautiful country with unique conical hats and vendors selling colorful fruits and flowers in their baskets. While you’re out exploring, vendors might invite you to take pictures. Don’t fall for that because they may demand payment or force you to buy their products at an inflated price. These vendors often target foreign tourists and you may find them at beaches, markets, or any prominent tourist destination.
Photo scams don’t only happen in Vietnam; a similar thing happened to me when I was randomly walking in Times Square in New York. I accidentally took a picture with Mickey Mouse and was asked to pay, and I don’t even like Mickey Mouse.
So how can you avoid this photo scam? If you really want to take pictures with the vendors and their beautiful baskets, ask them for the price first and then give them the money upfront before taking the picture. If they continue to follow you and ask for more money, politely say no with a smile and walk away.
Motorbikes Scam
Many travelers rent motorbikes and drive across the country to enjoy the landscapes along the way. It can be a unique and fun way to experience authentic Vietnam, especially the highlands. However, please be careful when renting a bike, especially for long rides, because some bikes may look like they’re in good condition but might break down later. These bikes may have fake or defective components, and you may be forced to pay for repairs. Sometimes, owners may even hire someone to steal your rented motorbike and then force you to pay for the compensation. If you don’t pay, they might keep your passport.
To avoid this scam, you should choose reliable motorbike rental shops. Even asking your hotel reception for recommendations is a good idea since accommodation owners would want the best for you. You should also check the motorbike thoroughly and take photos before renting it. It helps if you can get a local friend to accompany you when you rent a motorbike. Finally, remember to ask if the motorbike rental shop offers any support in case the motorbike breaks down. If they do, it’s a good sign.
Kids Scam
When you travel to Sapa or Ha Giang, you might see kids following you around and asking you to buy souvenirs. In larger cities, you might see homeless people faking a disability or carrying babies around to take advantage of your kindness. In crowded tourist areas, you might be asked to buy lollipops, flowers, or pens as a donation for official or non-profit organizations.
Please don’t give children money because it incentivizes them to quit school and make money in an easier way. If you are approached and asked for money, shake your head, don’t make eye contact, and walk away.
Overcharging
Vietnamese food shop owners can often be very friendly and hospitable. You might run into some exceptionally kind food shop owners here and there. If you’re lucky, they might give you extra food or invite you for a drink and a chat about life.
On the other hand, overcharging is still a common scam in Vietnam. Vendors might take advantage of you if you’re not familiar with the currency conversion exchange rate. For example, some restaurants do not display prices on their menu and then charge unreasonably high prices after your meal. This type of scam can often occur at small food stalls, tourist markets, or souvenir shops. Sometimes, they jack up the prices for services such as renting bicycles or booking a tour as well.
So, how do you avoid this scam? Make sure you ask for the price first before ordering or buying anything. You can also research online or use review sites to choose reliable restaurants and check the prices in advance. Also, don’t be afraid to bargain in Vietnam because it can be part of the fun. You can try to bargain at least 50% of the offered price, or better yet, go with a local friend who can help you avoid getting scammed. Alternatively, you can hire a guide or book a food tour if you want to enjoy local street food with peace of mind.
Nightlife Scam
And has some of the best nightlife spots, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon. However, you should be careful when you’re out partying. Recently, an Australian man was scammed with a bill of $45,000 after visiting 2 bars in the city. According to the article, the staff told him that he did not need to enter his PIN, and they couldn’t provide receipts because of issues with their payment system. In Vietnam, confirming transactions with a PIN code is uncommon, and most transactions are validated with a signature instead. Many bars take advantage of intoxicated customers and charge unreasonable amounts. So make sure you go to reputable bars recommended by your friends, and remember to check the receipts before signing anything.
These are the most common scams that you should know before traveling to Vietnam. To be honest, it doesn’t feel good talking about the dark side of the country, but I care about your safety so much. That’s why I want to make sure you stay safe and sound while traveling. Vietnam is a beautiful country with flaws here and there, just like any other country. Scams can happen anywhere if you’re not careful.
So make sure you do thorough research before visiting any country, download a trusted VPN, and also comment below if you know any other scams that we should be aware of before coming to Vietnam. I’ll see you in the next blog. Bye for now!
