10 Scams in Vietnam and How to Avoid Them | Vietnam Travel Guide
Summary
TLDRIn this informative video, Vanu from Vietnam sheds light on the less-discussed side of traveling in Vietnam, highlighting 10 common scams targeting tourists and offering practical advice on how to avoid them. From fake travel agencies and rigged taxi meters to overcharging street vendors and motorbike rental cons, the video equips viewers with knowledge to safeguard their experience in Vietnam. Vanu also emphasizes the importance of using a VPN for online security and suggests reputable resources for booking accommodations and tours.
Takeaways
- 🚨 Be wary of fake websites and travel agents offering cheap packages that may disappear after taking your deposit.
- 🏨 Research and use reputable sources for booking accommodations and tours to avoid scams.
- 🚕 Use only reputable taxi services like Mai Linh or Vinasun and be prepared with small bills to avoid overcharging.
- 🛵 When renting a motorbike, choose reliable shops and thoroughly check the bike for any defects.
- 📸 Be cautious with street vendors and potential photo scams; ask for prices before engaging.
- 🍽️ To avoid overcharging at restaurants, ask for prices beforehand and consider using food review apps.
- 💳 Protect your personal information online by using a VPN, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks.
- 💰 Always keep copies of important documents like passports and ID cards.
- 🎒 Be vigilant against pickpockets, especially in crowded areas, and consider travel insurance for added security.
- 🍹 Be cautious at bars, especially when intoxicated; always check receipts and prices before signing.
- 🌍 Despite the potential for scams, Vietnam remains a beautiful country with much to offer to its visitors.
Q & A
What are some common scams to watch out for when using travel agents in Vietnam?
-Travel agents in Vietnam may scam tourists by creating fake websites or offering cheap tour and hotel packages. They might ask for a 50% deposit upfront, after which they disappear with the money. Scammers may also impersonate airline or train ticket agents to sell cheap tickets and send fake booking codes to create trust.
How can you avoid falling for taxi scams in Vietnam?
-To avoid taxi scams, use reputable taxi companies like Mai Linh or Vinasun, pay attention to the taxi logos to avoid copycats, bring small bills for payment, and be aware of confusing currency denominations like the 500,000 VND note versus the 20,000 VND note. Alternative services like Vngo, Grab, or taxi apps can also be used for a safer experience.
What should you do if you encounter a coconut seller offering free coconut water at an exorbitant price?
-If offered free coconut water at a high price, politely refuse and walk away. If you wish to purchase, ask for the price first, pay, and then take the coconut to avoid being overcharged.
How can you protect yourself from Wi-Fi scams and potential hacking in Vietnam?
-To protect against Wi-Fi scams and hacking, use a VPN like Surfshark to change your IP address and protect your personal information. Avoid using unprotected networks and be cautious about sharing sensitive data, especially when using public Wi-Fi.
What precautions should you take to avoid theft and pickpocketing in crowded areas in Vietnam?
-To avoid theft and pickpocketing, be aware of your surroundings, keep your belongings in front of you, use an anti-theft bag, split and hide your valuables in different places, and make copies of important documents. Travel insurance can also be beneficial.
How can you avoid being scammed by vendors who invite you to take pictures with them?
-To avoid photo scams, ask the vendor for the price before taking a picture and pay upfront. If they demand more money afterward, firmly decline and walk away.
What should you be cautious of when renting a motorbike in Vietnam?
-When renting a motorbike, choose reliable rental shops, check the bike thoroughly, take photos before renting, and ask if support is offered in case of breakdowns. Be wary of bikes with fake or defective components and potential scams involving bike theft and forced compensation payments.
Why is it not advisable to give money to children in Vietnam?
-Giving money to children in Vietnam can incentivize them to quit school and rely on begging for income. It's better to support them through legitimate organizations or initiatives that promote education and self-sufficiency.
How can you avoid being overcharged at food stalls, markets, or souvenir shops in Vietnam?
-To avoid overcharging, always ask for the price before ordering or buying anything, research online, use food review apps to find reliable restaurants, and don't be afraid to bargain. A local friend or guide can also help you avoid getting scammed.
What precautions should you take when enjoying Vietnam's nightlife?
-When enjoying Vietnam's nightlife, go to reputable bars recommended by friends, check receipts or prices before signing anything, and be aware that some bars may take advantage of intoxicated patrons by charging unreasonable amounts.
What is the importance of using a VPN like Surfshark when traveling to Vietnam?
-Using a VPN like Surfshark is important for protecting your online security while traveling in Vietnam. It changes your IP address to prevent scammers from tracking your location, has an antivirus program to protect against hacking, and can create alternative identities and emails for online registrations to safeguard your personal information.
Outlines
🚨 Common Scams in Vietnam and How to Avoid Them
This paragraph discusses the various scams that tourists may encounter in Vietnam, despite it being a generally safe country for travelers. It highlights the importance of being aware of common scams such as fake travel agencies, taxi drivers with rigged meters, and overcharging by street vendors. The speaker provides advice on how to avoid these scams, including using reputable companies, checking credentials, reading reviews, and utilizing trusted websites for bookings. The paragraph also mentions the sponsorship by Surf Shar VPN and the importance of using a VPN for online security.
🔒 Protecting Your Information with VPN and Avoiding Theft
The second paragraph focuses on the risks of using public Wi-Fi networks in Vietnam and the importance of using a VPN to protect personal information from hackers. It emphasizes the features of Surf Shar VPN, such as changing IP addresses and providing antivirus protection. The paragraph also discusses the issue of pickpocketing and theft in crowded places, offering practical advice on how to safeguard valuables, including using anti-theft bags and not displaying expensive items. Additionally, it suggests purchasing travel insurance and provides tips on how to avoid photo scams and issues with motorbike rentals.
🍽️ Dealing with Overcharging and Enjoying Vietnam's Nightlife Safely
The final paragraph addresses the issue of overcharging by vendors and food shop owners in Vietnam, who may take advantage of tourists' unfamiliarity with the local currency. It offers strategies for avoiding this scam, such as asking for prices beforehand, using food review apps, and bargaining. The paragraph also warns about scams involving children and homeless people in tourist areas, advising travelers not to give money directly to children. It concludes with a caution about excessive bar bills and the importance of visiting reputable bars and checking receipts. The speaker expresses concern for the listeners' safety and encourages thorough research before traveling.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Scams
💡Travel Safety
💡Accommodation
💡Taxi Scams
💡VPN
💡Pickpocketing
💡Travel Insurance
💡Currency Exchange
💡Motorbike Rentals
💡Nightlife
💡Bargaining
Highlights
Vietnam is generally safe but scams, thefts, and frauds can still occur.
Fake websites and cheap tour packages are common scams by travel agents.
Scammers may impersonate airline or train ticket agents to offer cheap tickets with fake booking codes.
Taxi drivers may try to convince you that your booked hotel is full and offer a different, potentially unsafe, accommodation.
Use reputable taxi companies like Mai Linh or Vinasun and bring small bills for payment.
Avoid street vendors offering free coconut water, as they may charge exorbitant prices.
Be cautious of public Wi-Fi networks, as they can be hacked to steal personal information.
Use a VPN like Surfshark to protect your online activities and personal information.
Thieves target visible valuables, so be aware of your surroundings in crowded places.
Make copies of important documents and consider travel insurance for electronic goods.
Be wary of photo scams where vendors may demand payment or overcharge for pictures.
When renting motorbikes, choose reliable shops and check the bike thoroughly to avoid scams related to breakdowns or theft.
Avoid giving money to children in tourist areas to not encourage them to quit school.
Be cautious of overcharging in food shops, especially for tourists unfamiliar with currency conversion.
Research and use food review apps to find reliable restaurants and check prices before ordering.
Bargaining is common in Vietnam, so don't be afraid to negotiate prices, especially with the help of a local.
Be cautious when partying in Vietnam to avoid being overcharged or scammed at bars.
Always check receipts and prices before signing anything or making a payment.
Transcripts
a coconut for $20 it must have gold in
it hi everyone it's vanu from Vietnam
welcome back to my channel where I
usually talk about the good of Vietnam
but today let's talk about the Bad and
the Ugly shall we don't get me wrong
Vietnam is generally safe the country
has ranked as one of the safest
countries for travelers however Patty
thefts and scam can still happen here in
Vietnam or any other country if you're
not aware of them so in today's video
I'm going to show you 10 Common scams in
Vietnam and how to avoid them thank you
Sur Shar VPN for sponsoring this video
and we'll chat about them later all
right let's get
started when planning your trip to
Vietnam you might choose to go through a
travel agent or an independent operator
some of them might scam You by either
creating a fake website or offering
cheap tour and hotel packages they'll
tell you to deposit 50% up front and
when when you successful make a payment
they vanish with the money scammers may
also impersonate an airline or train
ticket agent 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 will try to
convince you that the hotel you booked
is full or had shut down and they can
take you to a different hotel with
cheaper price it's a scam don't fall for
that because you might end up staying at
an unsafe accommodation having bad food
and experiencing sloppy service my
advice to avoid this scam is to
carefully check their credentials before
booking you can read reviews on Google
or trip advisors you can ask your
friends who had traveled to Vietnam
before and also you can use reputable
websites for Ali tickets I recommend
booking through booking.com travel Loca
or Skyscanner for accommodations you can
use aoda or ABNB for tours I have listed
accredited tours in my ebook so you can
check it out and if you don't know where
to start you can have local experts
customize your Vietnam trip go to my
website at what the vm.com for more
details after landing in Vietnam you
will feel like a celebrity being
surrounded by taxi drivers who offer you
rid to your hotel once you agree to ride
with them you might get into a car with
broken or rigged meters get driven in
cires goals or in a wrong direction then
you 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 or tourist
sites however the good news is that it's
easy to avoid the scam first of all you
need to use reputable taxi companies the
most popular taxi companies in Vietnam
are Ming or venina
pay attention to the taxi logos because
they might be copycats if you see
anything similar but with a slight
difference like milin or vam don't get
in it second bring small bills to pay
taxi drivers some of the drivers don't
have enough change if you give them big
bills like the 500,000 bank note and
please be careful of confusing 500,000
Vietnam Dome with 20,000 Vietnam D
because they have similar color I
suggest you use other healing services
in Vietnam such as V gojack or grab
because they are more affordable you can
know the exact amount of money that
you're going to pay and you're going to
know what route they going to it costs
around 150,000 Vietnam D plus 25,000
Vietnam D airport fee from International
Airport to District Juan hoan City if
you ride with a taxi the price might be
double
not all Street vendors are scammers in
fact many Vietnamese vendors are very
friendly genuinely nice and love to
entertain a great example is the mango
pineapple banana singing vendor who you
may have seen floating around the
internet is it me you looking for I can
see it in your eyes mango pineapple
banana however please be careful if you
encounter a coconut man 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
$20 it must have gold in it to avoid
this situation you might politely refuse
and walk away and if you're really
thirsty and want that coconut water you
can ask them for the price give them the
money first take the coconut and walk
away
[Music]
Wi-Fi in Vietnam is everywhere and it's
super fast however it's 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 officer saying that you're
carrying illegal items to Vietnam and
they will ask for your passport number
your card numbers to pay fake fees to
protect yourself I highly recommend
using VPN I've been using surf shark VPN
for over 2 years now and I'm very happy
to partner with them in this video today
using a VPN will change your IP address
therefore scammers won't know your exact
location furthermore if you accidentally
download links from unwanted ads that
contain viruses so shark VPN has an
antivirus program that that can protect
you from being hacked what I love the
most about surf shark is that it creates
alternative identities and emails for
online registration so it can protect
your personal information in case your
email credit card or ID is leaked in a
breach is going to alert you right away
besides using Sur Shar for my online
security I also use it to watch my
favorite shows overseas and it gives me
so many options get an exclusive
discount with the Sur sharp Black Friday
deal enter my promo code F pH to get up
to six additional months for free I'll
leave the link in the description box
below so you can check it
out these thieves usually work alone or
in a group and they usually show up in
crowded places like main streets markets
KN bars and clubs they target anyone who
carries visible expensive jewelry or
valuable able items such as phone
cameras wallets Etc thieves May reach
into your back from behind or even slash
your back to take your belongings some
thieves even Rush by on a motorbike and
snatch your phone wallet purse or back
if they see an opportunity if the SE
Works in a gang oh it's going to be more
complicated they're going to try to put
you in specific situations to distract
you like fake accident and then after
that they will steal your belongings my
advice is to be aware of your
surrounding in busy areas so always keep
your back or your purse in front of you
put all your valuable belongings in the
anti staff bag don't keep your money and
valuable items in the same place try to
split and hide them in the money belt or
your bags or hidden Pocket your socks
wherever you can hide them also make
sure to make copies of important
documents such as ID cards and passports
and bring them with you just in case you
lose the real ones well just in case
you're worried too much about
pickpockets in Vietnam you should
purchase travel insurance and I suggest
using safety Wing since they have an
add-on to their Nomad insurance policy
that covers electric Goods such as
stolen phones computers cameras and you
can get reimbursed up to
$1,000 better safe than sorry
[Music]
Vietnam is a beautiful country with
unique conical hats and vendors selling
colorful fruits and flowers in their
bamboo baskets while you're out
exploring the vendors might invite you
to take picture don't fall for that
because they might demand payment or
force you to buy their products and
overcharge you these vendors often
Target foreign tourists and you may find
them at beaches markets or any crowded
tourist Des destination photo scam
doesn't only happen in Vietnam but it
did happen to me when I was randomly
walking in Time Square in New York I
accidentally took 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 bamboo baskets you can
ask them for the price first and then
give them the money up front then take
the picture if they keep following
following you and asking for more money
firmly say no with a smile and walk
away many Travelers rent motorbikes and
drive across country to enjoy the
Landscapes along the way it can be a
unique and fun way to experience
authentic Vietnam especially the Hang
Lop however please be careful when
renting a bike especially for long rides
because some bikes look like they're in
good condition but they might might
break down later these bikes may have
fake or defective components and you may
be forced to pay to get it fixed
sometimes owner may even hire someone to
steal your rented motorbikes and they
force you to pay for the compensation
and if you don't pay for it they're
going to keep your passports to avoid
this scam you should choose the reliable
motorbike rental shops you can ask your
hotel receptionist or accommodation
owner to book one for you you should
also Al check the motorbike thoroughly
and take photos before renting it also
help if you can get a local friend to
come with you when you rent a motorbike
finally remember to ask if the motorbike
renters offer any supports in case the
motorbike breaks down if they do it's a
good
sign when you travel to Sapa or hang you
might see kids following you around and
asking you to buy souvenirs in largest
city you might see homeless people fake
a disability or carry babies around to
take advantage of your kindness in
crowded tourist areas you might be asked
to buy lollipops flowers pant as a
donation for offes and nonprofit
organization please don't give children
money because it incentivizes them to
quit school and make money in the easier
way if people approach you and ask for
money shake your head ad don't make eye
contact and walk
away Vietnamese food shop owners can
often be very friendly and hospitable as
well you might run into very kind food
shop owners here and there in Vietnam
they might give you extra food or invite
you for a drink and talk about life on
the other hand however over charging is
still a common scam in Vietnam vendors
might take advantage of you if you don't
know know the currency conversion
exchange rate for example some
restaurants do not display prices on
their menu and after that they charge
you unreasonably high prices after your
meals 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 riding
Cycles or booking a boat as well so how
to avoid this scam make sure you ask for
the price first before ordering or
buying anything you can also research
online or use Food review apps to choose
reliable restaurants and check the price
in offense also don't be afraid of
bargaining in Vietnam because it can be
a fun experience my tip is to bargain at
least 50% of the offered price or better
yet you can go with a local friend who
can help you avoid getting scammed you
can also hire a guide or book a food
tour if you want to enjoy local street
food with a peace of mind
Vietnam has some of the best nightlife
spots especially in hochan City AKA
Saigon however you should be careful
when you're out partying recently an
Australian man was scammed with a bill
of
$45,000 after going to two bars in
Vietnam according to the article the
staff told him that he did not need to
enter his pin and they couldn't provide
him receipts because of the issues with
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 you being drunk
and charge you unreasonable amount so
make sure that you go to reputable bars
that are recommended by your friends and
also remember to check the receipts or
the price before signing anything so
those are the most common scams that you
should know before traveling to Vietnam
to be hon honest it doesn't feel good
talking about the Dark Side of Vietnam
but I care about you guys so much so
that's why I want to make sure that 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 smart about it so make sure
that you do a thorough research before
coming to any country download your SAR
VPN and also comment down below if you
know any other scams that people should
know before coming to Vietnam also if
you want to know more about the tours
the ebooks and more information about
Vietnam go check out my website at what
the fan.com and I'll see you guys in the
next video bye is after the
meals for tours I have listed
accredited thank you for watching until
the
end
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