Teacher Trekker

One of the first questions people ask me about Vietnam is, “is it safe?” Personally, I have never felt that physically threatened or at risk for my life at any point while I traveled throughout the country. It’s not one of those countries where tourists should be concerned with being robbed, kidnapped, murdered and left in a dark alley or some combination of these scenarios. Crime rates are low compared to many countries. and that includes the United States. Most are petty crimes against tourists that more likely involve pick-pocketing and other forms of petty theft. They want your money. It’s as simple as that. The same can be said for the scams below which are attempts to solicit more money out of unsuspecting tourists. If you pay attention to your surroundings and know what to look out for, you have little to worry about. Overall, Vietnam is quite safe for foreign travelers.

In my experience, there were only a handful of incidents that involved foul play, and all were attempts to steal or solicit money. Only one involved the threat of escalating violence. Actually, none of them were directed at me, but rather at people with whom I was traveling, and none of the perpetrators got away with it. On the other hand, the scams are very trial by fire. Sometimes you get burned. I will discuss those silly tales throughout the article as I present them in my order of least to most obnoxious scams. Some you can’t really avoid, but you can reduce their likelihood if you take the proper precautions. Each scam is broken down with an explanation and suggestions to prevent them from happening to you. Some images are not available as I cannot simply photograph beggars and scammers without avoid any hassle.

# 15 – Local v. Tourist Prices

The reality is that this is not as much a scam as it is a reality of traveling outside of the Western world. I have been to many countries, particularly throughout Southeast Asia where there are two different prices for everything. There are the local rates and the tourist rates. In many ways it is difficult to work around. You are a foreigner, and you don’t know the language. You can’t communicate quickly and get the best deal.

Suggestion: Knowing key phrases and words are very beneficial when negotiating. It will significantly cut down your costs. Learning basic numbers and other phrases can allow the negotiating process to go much more smoothly. This isn’t always possible when traveling to places for a short time. Better yet, get a local friend or someone who speaks the language to negotiate for you.

# 14 – Fake & Counterfeit Goods

If you’ve ever been to any market in Southeast Asia you know that you can find all the counterfeit goods that you can imagine. The same can be said for Vietnam, but there is something that sets them apart. The North Face has major factories in Vietnam. One bus ride I got into a conversation with someone who knew a great deal about their operation.

According to my source, the factories are on total lockdown. The fabrics and materials used in the construction of authentic trademarked products never leave the premises. Sometimes the counterfeiters can obtain the same materials, but the products are still unlicensed. One thing that does leave is the workers who construct these products. Some of them end up leaving and working at counterfeit factories to reproduce goods and sell them across Southeast Asia.

I know The North Face products very well. I’ve had more jackets, fleeces and bags than I can count. There are ways to know if it’s real. I have searched every market and have not seen any that are real. More often they use cheap material that looks like The North Face but doesn’t read as advertised. For example, there are the plastic jackets that keep the rain off your body, but make you sweat like you’re in a sauna suit. The stitching on the zippers and seams of the bags is often not reinforced and instead a cheaper thread makes a single pass. Don’t expect any of it to last as long as the original. They are simply inferior products.

When traveling to Hoi An or other places that make custom clothes beware of cheap synthetic material. Make sure to test the material first. Pass a flame over the edge of the fabric and watch it burn. If it melts then you know it’s synthetic. Cotton and silk threading will smolder, so choose those fabrics. Reputable tailors like Bebe (I & II) will let you conduct the burn test. Make sure to ask and don’t forget a light. I found a variety of fabrics that the tailors at Bebe II turned into 4 long sleeve shirts, 2 short sleeve shirts and 2 pairs of cargo shorts. I constantly get asked where I got my shirts when I go out. They never expect my answer.

Suggestion: You know going in that the vast majority of the goods at markets are counterfeit. Keep that in mind when purchasing anything. Also be suspect of products like silk, precious metals and jewelry. I only used The North Face as an example, because I was familiar with their products, and it’s brand so prevalent in Vietnam. I’m not saying don’t buy a bag, but negotiate for a better deal. I bought a small bag after searching countless stalls looking for the best quality and price. It’s only going to last a few months after wear and tear, so I paid accordingly. Do the same.

# 13 – Fake Vietnam War Paraphernalia 

Throughout Vietnam you will encounter everything from vendors in market stalls to guys on the side of the road with countless war related paraphernalia. Literally, you could find medals, Zippos, dog tags, helmets and anything else you could think of. There’s just one problem. It’s all junk. The Vietnam War was many years ago. There was definitely a time when there was all of the above mentioned, but that era is long past. Everything now is made to look authentic, but it is not.

Suggestion: Walk away! I’ve looked through countless piles hoping to find an authentic Zippo that I could return to a family, but they are not there. Don’t waste your time and money. Purchasing these products from my perspective is exploitative and disrespectful.

# 12 – Shoe Scams

There are number of tricks that the shoe shine boys use to lure naive tourists. I think they’re pretty funny to be honest, but to the unsuspecting it’s not very friendly. The first involves the shoe shine. For a very cheap price they will polish you shoes regardless of whether you are in need of one or not. They actually coat your shoes with a glue solvent. They wait for it to dry and crack over the next few days. Then offer to fix your shoes for you, but it’ll cost you. Another involves cutting the stitching while you’re not looking and then they offer to fix them for you also for an extra fee.

Finally, there is the glue trick. Imagine standing at a street corner and lifting your flip-flop, but your foot comes out because your footwear has been glued to the floor! At some point when your foot was up they slapped a solvent on the ground. For a fee they will use a solution that will free it from the ground. I witnessed a variation of this that was simply mind bending. It was clever, crafty, horrible, but hysterical. Once again imagine yourself on a street corner, but this time with your heel raised up and out of your flip-flop. You proceed to walk, but you notice your flop isn’t flipping. Why is the sole of your foot stuck to your flip flop? That’s because someone decided to glue them together. For a fee they will solve your problem. (Solvent! Get it?) The same goes for sneakers and shoes so beware.

Suggestion: Just Say No to the shoeshine boys! Perhaps if my sneakers weren’t beat up already and waiting to be destroyed more on the days ahead, I would have considered it and fell prey to their tricks. If you’re sitting down, don’t make eye contact. Say no firmly and then repeat yourself when they approach your shoe. When walking around or standing on corners pay attention to your surroundings. Be conscious of a teenager or two with something that looks like an open toolbox.

# 11 – The Good Old Bait & Switch

You may find something that you fall in love with as you walk through markets and stores in Vietnam. Merchants may show you a particular product only to put an inferior quality copy in the bag while you are looking for your money or pulling out your credit card. I got worked and didn’t even realize it until hours later.

I wanted to purchase a number of t-shirts before I left Vietnam at the end of my first visit. My last night in Ho Chi Minh City, I went to the Ben Thanh Night Market and shopped round for t-shirts. To make a long story short, I shopped around until I found a vendor that had the majority of the designs and colors I wanted, but a few I simply couldn’t find anywhere until her husband came out and told me he could get them for me. After waiting fifteen minutes he came back with the exact color and designs I wanted. He showed me the size tag and everything seemed to be in order. Excellent!

When I made it back to my hotel room I opened my package only to realize that the guy spent 15 minutes cutting the actual size on the label off to replace it with a sticker that so seamlessly fit on top that you couldn’t tell while the t-shirt was in the plastic wrapper. They were all two sizes too small, and I was not a happy camper. It wasn’t the money, as much as the principle of the thing and the fact that I was leaving in 2 hours and had no opportunity to go shopping again and/or find the vendor to give him a piece of my mind. You live and learn. Looking back, it’s pretty funny, and I have since turned the t-shirts into wall art. This is my t-shirt example, but it could happen with anything to anybody.

Suggestion: Take all clothing out of the plastic wrappers and try everything on again before purchasing anything. Don’t give the vendors the opportunity to pull the bait and switch routine on you. Don’t walk away. Don’t turn around. Make sure you watch exactly what you are purchasing, and that it is properly wrapped up and packaged for you. Yes, that even includes a t-shirt being placed in a plastic bag.

# 10 – Currency Confusion

The Vietnamese Dong is a funny currency with more zeros than you can sometimes keep track of. At times it feels like you have Monopoly money in your hands. This can lead to a number of scams. The first can occur anywhere. All of the different denominations are a different color. However, a number of the bill notes are similar enough to each other that they can be confusing to people new to the currency. The most problematic is the 20,000 ($USD 1) which is blue and the 500,000 ($USD 25) which is a light shade of blue. That’s a big difference! At times, people may give you incorrect change.

Other times, vendors and cab drivers will claim they do not have the correct change. If you don’t have proper change, you will most likely end up eating the difference. Be aware of how much you have on you before going into a cab or going to the markets. You need small denominations like the 20,000 and 50,000 much more than the larger notes that come out of the ATMs.

Be aware of conversion rates. Many prices are listed in both $USD and Vietnamese Dong. When they said 10 did they mean $10 USD or 10,000 dong? Make sure you are both on the same page. Make sure you know the exchange rate at the restaurant you are eating before your meal. Pay with whatever currency gives you the best rate.

Suggestions: You can avoid all of these problems if you pay attention to your money. Always have small denomination notes. Become familiar with the currency and conversion rates. Learn the bill notes. Avoid anyone trying to exchange money with you on the street. Go to reputable exchange locations and shop around. Check the exchange rates yourself. Use your own currency converter like the XE.com app and calculator. If converting from $USD to Vietnamese Dong make sure you are aware of and agree upon the conversion rate before making any transaction. Check you change.

# 9 – Street Solicitors

Everywhere you go you will encounter someone standing on the side of the street or walking down it to try and sell you something. It really depends on where you are at the time. Near the Opera House and shopping malls, expect a woman to try and sell you a fake Gucci bag. Sitting at a bar people watching, expect a child or woman to try and sell you bracelets, gum, hand wipes and nail clippers. I always wonder why they sell nail clippers in a country where the locals need the nail clippers more than the tourists, but more on that in another post. The most annoying thing is you can’t avoid them. They travel to you and/or follow you. They are also very persistent.

Suggestion: Be more persistent and say no. Never make eye contact. They make you and hunt you down like a heat seeking missile. Don’t feel bad. Don’t let someone guilt you into purchasing something you don’t want or need. That is unless you want something and then negotiate until you get their bottom dollar.

# 8 – Free Sample Solicitations

This form of solicitation comes across as different from the Street Solicitors who are very obvious about their intent to generate business. They walk up to you, ask you to purchase something and stick whatever they want to sell right in your face. The Free Sample Solicitors offer you to try something or offer a service for free and then they expect and sometimes demand you to pay them afterwards.

As you walk down the street all sorts of vendors will offer you anything you could imagine and some you can’t. If you’d be willing to buy it, they would peel the clothes off their own bodies and sell it to you. There are a few examples I can think of that fall into this category. The first are the street food, fruit and pastry ladies. They offer you a free sample, which you try, and they attempt to sell you an entire bag. People will ask you to take photos of them and/or with them, and then will demand you pay them. One guy took my camera out of my hands, placed a snake on me and proceeded to snap away. I didn’t ask for this, but I didn’t mind. He gave me my camera back, and I said thank you and walked away. The last example is the female boat operator who placed a conical hat on my head to hide my head and neck from the blistering sun, only to tell me an hour later than she wanted me to pay her for it. To the woman who asked for me to take a photo and the other woman who placed the hat on my head, I thank you both, but I did not ask for your services, so please do not expect me to pay for something that I didn’t seek out myself.

Suggestions: Ignoring all the possible vendors you encounter while walking down the street or around major tourist attractions always helps. Like I’ve said and will continue to say, avoid eye contact, smile or interact with them. (Pretend you are a native New Yorker. We don’t make eye contact with anyone if we can help it. We practice ignoring everyone while being aware of everyone around us from childhood, especially on the subway.) Yes I know it sounds so cold hearted and mean, but it’s just a way to attempt to not be the person they target. Don’t be guilted into unwanted and unwarranted solicitations. However, if you want to take the photo or wear the conical hat, please pay the nominal fees.

# 7 – Thieves

The biggest petty crime to be concerned with in Vietnam is theft. Thieves come in many shapes, sizes and occupations throughout the country. They include children working alone or alongside their family, taxi and motorbike drivers, prostitutes and anyone else looking to get ahead the fastest way possible. Now the only reason I have thieves in the middle of the list and not higher towards # 1 is because you are more likely experience the problems #1 – 6 and get bothered than get robbed in Vietnam. It’s the biggest problem tourists face, but it’s a small problem. I have a few stories and examples.

When tourists float through the night markets, vendors will walk around open areas and shoot a neon LED toy that spins pretty high up in the air. That’s just long enough for a child to try and reach their hands in your pockets when your attention is towards the sky. At times they are working in tandem and can even be the children of the adult vendors.

Late one night a friend and I were traveling on the back of two motorbikes when I noticed that her driver got his hand in her bag, pulled out her wallet and was trying to take money out of her purse. I spotted this and made both drivers pull over. I recovered the wallet from him. He claimed her wallet was about to fall, and he wanted to prevent it from falling in the street. Yeah right, her wallet jumped out of her bag, but you caught it and had it in your lap attempting to take money out of it. Right! Sure buddy! After I got her wallet back, he actually had the audacity to ask us to get back on the bikes to finish his fare. No thanks! We walked back to the hotel.

Another group to worry about is bar girls and prostitutes. Whether you realize it or not, many, if not most, of the local Vietnamese women hanging out or working in the bars and clubs at night are “working”. They may be looking to steal from intoxicated tourists whether they are male or female. Others may be soliciting drinks, attempting to have tourists pay for their alcohol. It’s sad that an unsuspecting dope is buying her overpriced drinks, but the trick is that usually it’s just soda, and he doesn’t know it. Some people may wish to take part in illegal yet consenting adult behavior behind closed doors. Yes, and according to stories I’ve been told, they will come back to the room and wait for the tourist to fall asleep only to rob them blind.

Suggestion: Don’t pay attention to the toy in the air or be distracted giving people an opportunity to take advantage of you. Watch out for clingy children and women that are looking for attention. Don’t count money in front of people like you’re advertising your stack. Carry your money in a travel wallet or an over the shoulder bag. Don’t keep your money and possessions in your side or back pockets.

# 6 – Motorbike Rental Scams

Renting a motor bike from a business is safer and smarter than someone standing on the corner looking to pawn his bike off on you. However, both options make you susceptible to a number of scams. If you rent a bike, someone can follow you and damage the bike while you are gone. You’ll be charged to get it fixed as well. Someone may even use a spare key to steal it. Then you’ll get charged for it being stolen while in your possession. Mechanical schemes are numerous, but somehow you could be blamed for damaging what was an already damaged or purposely damaged bike, and of course you’ll need to pay to fix it. Technically, tourists need a permit to drive, and if the police did stop you and impound the bike you would pay for it.

Suggestions: Only rent a motorbike from a reputable travel agency, vendor or through your hotel. Don’t just rent it from anywhere or anyone on the street. Be aware of all the responsibilities in the paperwork you are singing. Take photos of the motorbike in front of the rental worker before you leave. Leave your motorbike at trustworthy locations and behind a fence or gate if possible. Pray nothing happens. Better yet, don’t rent a motorbike as a travel option.

# 5 – Hotel Scams

Hotels can potentially do a number of things to rip you off. First, avoid the hotels closest to the transportation drop point, because the touts are playing middleman, and you will end up being overcharged and paying their commission. Also make sure that you are going to the correct location, because many hotels will use a similar, or in some cases virtually identical, name of a popular hotel to steal your business. Some places may charge to increase the price of your room during checkout claiming that the price they quoted was per person. Make sure to check the refrigerator once you check in, so you don’t get charged for something the previous occupant consumed. Leaving out your possessions while you are out is always risky and something may go missing. I’ve even heard about safes being broken into or simply missing from the room upon returning to the room.

Suggestion: Don’t stay at shady hotels and hostels. Sure they are cheaper, but everything comes at a cost. Stay somewhere nicer, and you are infinitely less likely to experience these problems. Another idea is to pre-book online using a Expedia or one of the many other online booking agencies.

# 4 – Motorbike Riding Risks

Maybe you don’t want to rent a motorbike and you just need a short ride somewhere. I love to negotiate and always drive the price down lower than the drivers want, but they always end up taking the fare or the guy next to them will. Be conscious of the fact that just because you are on a moving motorbike does not put you out of the way of thieves and scammers. I’ve seen motorbike drivers ask for gas money, but not mention that in the price. I’ve seen motorbike drivers try to overcharge upon arrival. In both cases I would just laugh and walk away. They wanted my fare. They weren’t about to let me leave and get paid nothing for half a ride.

Suggestions: Negotiate prior to getting on the motorbike. Lowball the price as best you can. Settle on a price and stick to it. Make sure all of your possessions are secure and in the correct pockets. Don’t make yourself an easy target to have something get stolen or fall out along the ride. Pay attention to your surroundings while sitting on the motorbike. Did you remember your small change or did you just get scammed?

# 3 – Taxi Scams

Taxis in all major cities pull the same scams. They may try to pull the “drive you around the entire city” scheme. They’ll probably tell you they can’t speak English well and got confused, but believe me they understand much more than they let on. Some drivers have rigged meters that overcharge you by significant amounts. Some try to force you to pay tolls like the one at the airport and will threaten you by leaving with your luggage still in the trunk so when possible keep it with you in the backseat. Some drivers will lie to you and tell you the restaurant or place you want to go to is closed, but they really just want to bring you to somewhere that they’ll earn a commission on you. Others “won’t have change” for you at all or will try to give you incorrect change like I mentioned in the Currency Confusion section above. They’re out to get you so be prepared.

My worst experience in a cab came on my first day of exploring Ho Chi Minh City only hours after my arrival. My cab driver was from one of the better rated companies that was arranged by my hotel, yet he drove me miles away from my destination as I was helpless to stop him until I walked out at a red light on the far edge of the city where I was the only foreigner in sight. I never paid him a dime, and he didn’t even try to get out and force me to pay. He knew I caught him. I made him lose face in front of other locals, and he drove off in shame. Fortunately, Burger King’s wifi and a receipt in English with an address did wonders for me to navigate my way back to my original destination. I was not prepared, but it was a good learning experience that I will never let repeat itself.

Suggestions: Carry a smart phone with GPS. It’s free and you can call out the driver if he tries to take the scenic route! Avoid shady companies like Taxi Du Lich, and if possible use Vinasun or Mai Linh, but there is never a 100% guarantee in Vietnam. These are the most reputable taxi companies throughout Vietnam. They may not always be around, so make sure to get their local phone numbers depending on where you are in the country. There are also apps that you can use to arrange to have them pick you up, but I have never done it.

# 2 – Tour & Ticket Booking Scams

In the major backpacker districts throughout Vietnam, there are more tour agencies than you can count. Shopping around for the lowest price may sometimes result in costs being cut behind your back and ruining your tour, travel ticket, and other things. Sometimes there is a reason one agency is offering the same tour for a few more dollars. Sometimes they are just trying to make an extra few dollars. The itineraries will list everything that comes with the tour, but it sadly doesn’t guarantee it. I’ve been on many tours where locations were left out, because of “time” or some other excuse. This is sometimes a crap shoot so be prepared for something to be left out, skipped or not included.

If you are booking something online make sure you know the company and its exact website. I traveled with a couple that purchased a 3 day / 2 night Halong Bay tour over the internet. It wasn’t cheap. Unfortunately, when they went to the boat, they were told there was no record of their reservation. It turns out they purchased the tickets from a website with almost the same name and an exact copy of the website. There was little they could do immediately, but purchase new tickets. Upon returning home they put an inquiry in with their credit card company to receive a full refund.

At bus and train stations, avoid anyone offering to help you outside unless you can verify they are employees, and then I prefer to speak with the agents at the booths. Make sure you understand the different classes available so that you don’t under or over pay and guarantee you’re getting the correct seat/sleeper at the time you want to depart. Sometimes it is easiest to have a travel agency book your transportation rather than navigating a foreign station. Finally, I know people who have bought fake tickets, and they were not pleased when they needed to purchase new ones (and for a cheaper price).

Suggestions: Only use reputable travel websites and agencies. Shop around. Create a checklist and ask the same questions to all the agencies. Compare and make a decision you’re comfortable with. Get receipts and make sure everything that is included on your tour or needed for your transportation is written on the ticket. Don’t be surprised when something still goes wrong, is missing, or ends up with you paying out of pocket.

# 1 – Beggars – Real, Fake, Whatever You Are

Sometimes it is impossible to sit down, enjoy a coffee or beverage and people watch with a beggar coming up to you asking for money. At least the street solicitors are hustling and trying to sell you something. They’re also more entertaining. Some of the beggars are fake, and some are truly homeless. There are the mothers with a baby in their arms. Some are the children of the mothers. There is the sick mother in the countryside story. I could go on and on. It’s honestly very sad, but giving them something promotes their actions and only exacerbates the problem.

Suggestion: Never make eye contact. Be more persistent and say no as many times as necessary. Ignore them and carry on with whatever you were doing. Don’t feel bad. Don’t let them guilt you into anything. Stay strong.

Conclusion

The truth is, Vietnam is very safe and one of the few things you should be concerned with is navigating your way through the plethora of Vietnam’s scams that are all aimed at ripping of unsuspecting tourists. Keep in mind that many of these scams exist throughout other countries in Southeast Asia. More accurately, they exist everywhere that tourism is prevalent. I’ve seen similar scams in Europe and growing up in New York City. “No Sir! I would not like to play Three Card Monty!” It’s everywhere! You’re probably familiar with some of them already and are now even more informed. The sad truth about travel is that regardless of where your journey takes you, there is always someone standing around looking to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. Keep your head up, your eyes open and pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t be the fish, be the shark! Happy Trekking!