10 Scams in Vietnam and How to Avoid Them | Vietnam Travel Guide 

I have been in Vietnam for almost 1 month now and I feel that Vietnamese people are among the most genuine I have ever met! It’s always good to be alert wherever you travel though 🙂

If you ever do encounter any situation like Van expresses here. Don’t be afraid to yell out or call out for help from the locals. They will immediately help you. Their culture is all about family, safety, and taking care of anyone in need of help or assistance.

Grab is the safest. It like uber with set price and you get to pay driver at the end

From the airport please just take the local bus 152 It picks up in the airport complex and drops you in D1 at Starbucks new world. It’s just 5k

Don't feel bad about talking about this. None of these scams are unique to Vietnam. Charity scams are super common in Paris. Overcharge scams happen in every major city on Earth. And rental car/bike scams are a big issue in a lot of places, especially in Central America. It's always good to have a reminder to be on your toes when travelling.

Thank you. I lost over $5,800 by trusting a tour company that takes Vietnam Veterans to visit battlefield sites (and cities) in Vietnam. My main goal was to visit two sites including one (Phou Nhoi) where 34 of my Marine brothers died. The tour company (they advertised in a military magazine called Vietnam) did not get permits and blamed the Vietnamese military when we were escorted out of the area. It took an investigation by Ambassador Marc Knapper of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi to expose their lie. This Texas-based tour company does not accept negative reviews making it impossible to warn Vietnam Veterans.

Thanks Van! I enjoy your channel and all the tips. I leave for HCMC in Feb. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for the scams you mentioned.

Thanks for sharing your tips about travelling in Vietnam.

Thank you. Those advices are very helpful.

Thank's for sharing this video Vanvu Very informative Stay safe always🙋🙋🙋

Hi Van, thanks for making this. While gathering these were uncomfortable, you will undoubtedly save many foreign tourists from unnecessary frustrations. PS. Ha Noi & Hai Phong were great! I need to be firm and say 'no' to #8 when I visit those two cites again. PSS. I love 'Bun Cha' & 'Quay'.

Thank you very much for alerting us all, very beautiful video❤❤❤❤❤❤

thank you for doing that video! It's very important to know all these common scams to thruly be able to enjoy a destination. looking forward to visit Vietnam !!

Thank you so much for sharing this valuable info.

Thanks for your local knowledge, thats only second to you being my local tourguide😊😊. Seriously you are helping others with your information of vietnam. Watching your videos also make people fall in love with Vietnam as a beautiful destination.

Thank you for all this usefull information. It is extra info for the trip i am planning.😊

Thank you. Please keep us up to date with the latest scams in Vietnam.

I hate to admit it but we got scammed by the coconut guy in Ho Chi Minh on our very 1st Vietnam visit. Just so you all know this guy would not take no for an answer. He wouldn't stop following us until we carried his goods on that bamboo pole with a basket on each end, If there is a name for that please tell me. Anyway he was selling coconut first he let us carry and take pictures then he cut 2 coconuts and we paid through the nose. So like the lady says, if you want a coconut ask the price, pay the price then walk on. I still love Vietnam, we are going back in FEB 2024 this will be our 4th time. FYI we only got scammed that 1 time. Thanks for the refresher.

Excellent video. Great information.

Thank you so much. I will prepare everything you suggest.

Great video! Thank you very much for your great tips! 😍

well presented Pho

Very informative. Thank you , Van

When I applied for mine through the Vietnam embassy in Washington DC, I made the same mistake. The next day I was notified and made the corrections and 5 days later I had my visa and didn't spend an extra penny. 😊

Hi van , thanks for your useful comments in pointing out some of the problems! Appreciate 👍

Tanks for this information

very informative Thank you

There must be a lot of scams in Vietnam now, because Van is even making a video now. When out walking, never bring passport, or wallet. Leave in your room safe. Only bring the equivalent of $30. Don't be stupid while taking photos with your phone. Keep it in a zipped front pocket while not in use. If alone look angry and Say no loudly if approached. Try not to use your debit or credit card too much. They scam you that way also. Oh and btw. Van is very beautiful ❤❤

I'd like to mention the opposite experience I had in Hanoi last year, where I found a fantastic place selling Bun Cha. The price was insanely low (even with a beer). I tried very hard to offer a tip, and it took about 5 people to confirm that they were allowed to take it. Went back a few days later and went through the exact same process!

Thank you for educating me about these scams ! You are extremely fluent in the English language, and an excellent speaker and communicator ! You have a clear and pleasant voice, and are very lovely ! Peace & Love💕🌸

Thanks for the info! I would love visiting Vietnam one more time.

Good information for foreigner tourist. Thanks VV👏👏👏

love the way you speak, so clear and aritculate!

Thank you, Van, for another informative video! I really want to go back to Vietnam with my husband and daughter. It's been 11-12 years now.

Thanks for the warning, a lot of the scams are similar to scams in Thailand, I will watch out when I visit Vietnam!

Very good advice to keep in mind whatever country you travel to. Thank you. 🥰😎

Thanks so much for your experience sharing

Thank you, very informative. :)

So,it is nice to visit your place next month we will check our schedule ,thank you.

Hello Van, thank you for sharing the scams information, it does helpful. 👍

Thank you for your advice. 👍

Hi! Van. Thank You for sharing ❤️

Thanks for this video. You are the best

Thank you so much.... I'll look you up when I visit

Thanks for the heads up. Quite common scams in Asia but still daunting to know. Feels like you need to be on your toes all the time! 😅

thanks for the info, the bike rental one is crazy

Hi! Van thank you very much for sharing.

Thanks! ❤ from the PH 🇵🇭

Agreed their are plenty of scammers on LA and NY too

As someone who travelled to Saigon in November of 22' I was a little apprehensive being a solo traveler and arriving closer to midnight. The first taxi I took drive around the airport and then returned back to the airport saying they needed to change drivers; I felt uncomfortable so I returned into the airport and booked a taxi at one of the inside booths. I overpaid for my fair but the driver was nice and took me to my lodging in District 1 without issue and I tipped him as well. Overall after the first few days I was able to relax a little more and I was cautious about using my phone in public or crowded places but never felt like anyone was targeting me. I was often out with locals or other travelers so that gave me a little "peace of mind." Overall I didn't experience many of the scams that were listed but I was vigilant in not wearing anything expensive, only pulling out my phone off of crowded streets or coffee shops and carrying small amounts of cash on me. Like any country the majority of people don't want to harm or take things from you only the few that make a bad impression. My recommendations are to land during the day time (as apparently I was unable to take a Grab unless I was outside of the airport zone), exchange your money near Bin Thanh Market (there is a gold store there) with good exchange rates, don't carry large bills and avoid the tourist traps where predator's might be waiting.

Thank you so much for sharing this information 🙏🌸👍

Thank you for an informative video…your channel really helped me prepare for my first Vietnam trip last February 🙏 Allow me to please add to your list of scams. In addition to children begging, I had several times where women who looked like grandmothers, had infants or toddlers that they tried to force into my arms, including one time when I was about to get on the back of a grab motorcycle taxi. The scam is that if you take the baby into your arms, they won’t take it back unless you give them money! Also, there are on men who want to shine or clean your shoes and are very persistent. One time I was walking in the rain, wearing old and ugly sneakers and a man literally wrapped himself around my left leg and insisted on cleaning my shoes. I had to force him off. He actually hurt me a bit because my knee has a torn meniscus 😞 Just like you, I feel bad mentioning this because my visit to Vietnam was so wonderful and life-changing due to the kindness and generosity of The Vietnamese people I met… I hope to return

The video is very informative. We have been to Vietnam in the first week of March this year and was there for 2 weeks. The services rendered is meticulous and the stay is comfortable, we enjoyed our stay in Vietnam, such a beautiful country.

Thx for youre informative video. Traveling to Vietnam the fist time in march :D Greetings from Vienna - Austria / Europe

hi vanvu. many thanks for the tips.. .have a good day traveling to ha long and Hanoi !

Hello...very interesting. loved it!

Thanks. Very helpful

This only happened to me in Saigon: guy says my shoe is broken and sometimes follows me. I often reply with I’m a hurry, I don’t have time. Onc, one of them “cornered” me near Saigon Center as the light for crossing was red and cars/bike were comming perpendicular to me. I just went through (it’s great that it happened when it wasn’t my first VN street crossing).

Absolutely Outstanding

Love to see you back🌹but travel to Vietnam feel safety worry 🌹

I went on a solo trip to Ho Chi Minh City last May after watching reviews from various RU-vidrs. I was really impressed with the hotel service there as they were extremely customer focused. I had made all the arrangements beforehand. So far, it has been a good experience for me, although I did encounter some issues with a street vendor who was trying to charge me a higher price. My next plan is to visit Danang.

Thank You for this video 😊😊😊😊

Great tips.

The craziest scam I just learned was someone booking a hotel on Booking and upon arrival at night realizing the hotel does not exist.

Most informative and helpful for planning a trip. I look forward to reading your new book.😊

Thank you sweet heart for the useful information 🥰😘🥰😘

Thank you for this informative video. My son will be going to Da Nang in March as part of a school cultural excursion. The photo scam info would be particularly useful as he most probably will be taking a lot of pictures with his friends and with the group.

Good information!

Thank you!!

Thank you for your time and posting. I'm retired and really looking to retire somewhere in Southeast Asia. Great editing. 10% dark side, 90% light side... Anywhere. Thank you again.

Nice to see your video!

Thank you.... Vietnam is really a good country to visit

great video all true !

Hi Van!

Great video. You should do a dating scams video.

Thank you for the helpful video Van! I'm going to Hanoi and Hoi An this December, if you have any tips on specifically how to dress for the varying climates I think that would make a good video topic!

its so sad that all this stuff happens in Vietnam because it is such a beautiful country with lovely people.. but fact is Saigon is a growing city that inevitably attracts a lot of not necessarily honest people who will scam others.. its a city! (I only mention Saigon because its the only city I have experienced, been going there for almost 10yrs and lived there for months at a time in the past) I hope all this does not put people off as the Vietnamese are some of the loveliest people I have ever met.. you just need to keep awareness of whats going on around you while in any city...

😅 great contents every time - thanks

love about your true said

Yes, trust no one and always ask for the price first. A taxi driver befriended us on the first day at a hotel in Da Nang. For the next couple of days, we hired him for personal trips and tours. He took us to his extended family seafood restaurant and because we trusted him, we let our guard down and forgot to ask for the price first for the dishes. Boy, did we paid for out mistake....

very good idea

I love the tips🌹😜👍🏼👍🏼

so helpful, tks VV

👍 thank you.. van.. !! thats very useful advices and information. 👍 will remember it when in Vietnam.. 👏❤ cheers…!! ❤️

At the Ho Chi Minh airport, you can go to the taxi stand inside the building and pay up front. It will cost slightly more, but you won't get ripped off .

Thanks 🎉

All great tips , for the guys pickup a murse keep it front facing and make sure it has a locking latch so it can’t be easily opened , safe travels all

Got it thanks Van

Best way to avoid scams is 1) not to be airhead, and 2) to stick to recommendations of honest local experts, such as Van. :) Scams could happen anywhere, whether it US, Europe, or Asia. So you shouldn't extrapolate some bad experience on whole nation(s) or ethnicity(ties) - you just need to be aware, guys. Stay safe and take care, everyone!

On Hanoi Airport there is a Public Bus Station to Center. Line 7 or 17. Its just 9.000 VND and you will drive round about 1h.

Van once again provides one of the most important and 100% factual informative Videos concerning traveling not only through Vietnam but all throughout Asia and the World. I have traveled numerous times to Vietnam and never experienced any type of scam or hostility. Everyone was always very polite and helpful. Listen to every word she says. Anything can happen at anytime. Being made aware of these issues can enhance your trip substantially.

HCMC was a scary place. Tuktuk driver took me to a very far place - I wanted to go to the bus station - and then asked for 1000 dong 😔

Great video! Good job, mi amor.🔥❤️💕🇲🇽🇻🇳🍎🙏

I’m a creative introvert also. I like being around people but I don’t like to be the center of attention. I’m ok with teaching in South East Asia because the working environment is very friendly and peaceful. ☺️

Thank you Van Vu for your content, We fly into Hanoi on 2nd Dec & fly out of Saigon on 2nd Jan, your content has helped us plan our trip from accommodation bookings in Hoi An & Nha Trang, also thx to Max, Chris, Phuc Mac & above all YOU, we have a list as long as my arm on places to eat, what to order, things to do, places to visit, what not to do & things to be weary off, thx again & its really good to see you making content again. PS more content pls with your mother she is funny & adorable just like you ;).

I visited Vietnam in 2011 and despite the trash I saw in some areas of Hanoi, I liked the country so much that I said to my self that I will return one day, because there are some many beautiful places to see. And this will happen in April 2024 !

Thanks for the useful video, I’ll be flying to Saigon in January

Hello! I’m booking an Airbnb for our trip in March and was wondering is it customary for the host to ask for passport photos of everyone staying in the Airbnb?

As Indonesians, and coincidentally, we have the same time zone, to be exact, as my hometown. Thanks to you, I have a little knowledge about scamming in your country. Someday I want to travel to Vietnam to complete my wish list.

the first thing I want to say you are beautiful god bless you your information is very good for any country travel and was easy to understand thank you