Common Vietnam Tourist Scams to Recognise Calmly
Trouble is small and avoidable, and a calm reply usually ends it before it starts.
The tricks aimed at tourists in Vietnam are small and easy to defuse: a taxi meter, an inflated price, a ticket that is not real. Know the familiar ones, keep a calm sentence ready and use the app or official counter. That removes most of the risk.
How do taxi meter tricks work?
The usual tricks are a meter that runs fast, a driver who says it is broken and a quote that changes at the end. The fix is simple. Use a ride-hailing app: Grab operates in Vietnam1, and the app shows the route and fare before you set off. Otherwise choose a taxi from a marked rank and check that the meter is on.
Say, “Please use the meter or the app.” If the driver refuses, get out and take another car. A calm exit is better than an argument.
What about airport transfers?
Airports can feel confusing after a flight. Noi Bai is about 35 km north-east of downtown Hanoi2, so a poor transfer deal costs more there than a city ride. Public bus 86 runs between the terminals and the Old Quarter at a fare of 45,000 VND3.
Decide your transfer before you land. The Noi Bai versus city stay guide helps.
How do overpriced fruit and street food happen?
A seller may place fruit in a basket or on a carrying pole, weigh it and name a high price afterwards. The answer is to ask the price first, and to agree on the weight before anything is handed to you.
If the price still feels unfair, smile, say thank you and walk away. Do not take photos with a seller’s items if you have not agreed on what you owe.
How do you avoid fake tickets and tours?
Buy tickets at the official counter of the attraction or from a booking page you can trace to the operator. Be wary when a stranger on the street offers a discounted ticket, a “closed today” story or a cheap tour. Check the printed date, the operator’s name and what is included before you pay.
For stops that really close or pause for weather, see what happens when weather or closures disrupt a tour.
Why does the dong cause confusion?
Banknotes in frequent use run from 1,000 to 500,000 dong4. Some notes look alike at a glance, and the large numbers make change easy to miscount. Sort your notes by size when you receive them, and count your change before you walk away. The ringgit cost worksheet helps you get a feel for the amounts.
What should you do if something goes wrong?
Stay calm, keep receipts or screenshots and avoid arguing in a crowd. Tell your hotel, who can help you speak to the other party or call for help. For a crime or an emergency, the police number is 1135.
What is the next step?
Read how to spot and avoid tourist traps for the non-scam ways of overspending, and the responsible sightseeing basics for bargaining manners. More guidance is in Booking and travelling well.
If you want a route and booking plan that keeps these risks low, tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we can walk through the common trouble spots with you.
Common questions
Should first-time visitors worry about scams?
The common problems are small: an inflated price, a meter that runs fast or a ticket that is not real. Booking through the app, checking prices before you buy and keeping calm are enough to avoid nearly all of them.
How do I avoid taxi problems?
Use a ride-hailing app so the route and fare are shown before you go, or take a taxi from a clearly marked rank. Confirm that the meter is on. Note the company name on the door, and keep small notes ready so you can pay the exact amount.
What do I do if a seller quotes a very high price?
Ask the price before the item is weighed or handed to you. If the price feels wrong, smile, say thank you and walk on. A seller may drop to a fair price as you leave. Use the bargaining habit from our responsible sightseeing guide.
How do I confirm that a ticket is real?
Buy from the official ticket counter at the attraction, or from a booking page you can trace to the operator. Be wary of anyone who stops you on the street with a discounted ticket. Check the printed date, name and the operator's name before you pay.
What should I do if I am scammed?
Stay calm, do not argue in a crowded place and keep any receipts or screenshots. Report it to the hotel or the attraction's office. For a crime or danger, the police emergency number is 113. Your hotel can help translate.
Sources
- Grab operates in Vietnam; GrabTaxi first launched in Ho Chi Minh City in February 2014. Wikipedia
- Noi Bai is about 35 km northeast of downtown Hanoi. Wikipedia
- Hanoi public bus 86 runs between Noi Bai terminals T1 and T2 and the Old Quarter and Hanoi Railway Station, fare 45,000 VND. Wikipedia. Fare changes; check before travel.
- Banknotes in frequent use are 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 dong. Wikipedia
- Vietnam emergency number 113 is police. Wikipedia
Keep planning
If you want a route and booking plan that keeps these risks low, tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we can walk through the common trouble spots with you.