Here's a list of common tourist scams in Vietnam and how you can avoid making these mistakes.
Vietnam is a stunning country with friendly people who are always willing to help you. At the same time, the country has a few antisocial elements that might take advantage and ruin your trip.
We've compiled all the most common Vietnam tourist scams you might come across on your journey and steps to avoid them.
A few hotels will charge really low rates online but when you arrive they will claim that the room you booked is unavailable and that the only room available is a high-end room which you have to pay extra for. During check-out, they might also ask you to pay for the extra amenities in the hotel. Some hotels will even refuse to return your passport if you don’t pay the extra charges.
Book your hotel through a trusted website and bring your confirmation mail with you. Also, don’t forget to take back your passport after check-in is done.
Riding a cyclo and a moto-taxi (xe om) is an essential part of being a tourist in Vietnam. But some drivers will scam you by telling you to pay after the ride is over and later ask for an inflated price, sometimes even more than a taxi fare, after the journey has ended.
Negotiate and settle on a fixed price before getting on the cyclo. Or better yet, ask your hotel or tour guide for a reliable driver.
Fake taxis are unfortunately common in Vietnam. These fake taxis are painted to look like the officially licensed taxis. The easiest way they scam unsuspecting tourists is by using a meter that runs faster than a normal meter. In some extreme cases, they will take tourists to a remote area and rob them of their belongings.
Get into a taxi from a reputed taxi company. Do not get swayed by any taxi driver who claims that they will give you a ride for cheaper than the normal fare. You can also book taxis using Grab, a ride-sharing app, or rent a car.
Most street vendors you meet in Vietnam are nice. But there are a few that will take advantage of unsuspecting tourists especially in bigger tourist cities like Hanoi. These vendors will ask you to take a photo of them and then ask for money. If you refuse they will follow you till you are forced to buy their wares.
If you want to take a photo of street vendors, ask them politely beforehand. If they ask you to take a photo of them, give them a firm “No” and walk away.
Read about how you can prepare before you start your Vietnam trip with these 5 travel tips.
Food is a huge part of Vietnamese culture. The country is blessed with so many good restaurants and street food vendors. But occasionally there will be a few restaurants that will try to scam you. They will give you a menu without the price and later ask for an exorbitant amount.
Anytime you step foot into a restaurant, ask for the price list first before ordering anything. If they refuse to show it to you, walk out of the place and find another restaurant.
A lot of places in Vietnam often quote in US dollars. So if a vendor says “5”, it can easily mean $5 or 5000 VND ( about $0.21). This confusion can lead to tourists getting scammed out of their money.
Always ask which currency they are using. If you want to pay in USD make sure you double-check the exchange rate and calculate on your own to avoid getting scammed.
These are just a few of the commonly found tourist scams in Vietnam. However, don’t let this list deter you from visiting and enjoying all that this beautiful country has to offer.
Read about the best things to do in Vietnam to get a few ideas about what you can do when you visit Vietnam.
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