These are the tourist scams Trzly has documented across Vietnam, grouped by destination. Each one is real, with a clear way to stay safe. Read before you land.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Touts at Da Nang airport approach arrivals claiming to be your booked ride-hailing car, or show an inflated 'VIP' price on a phone; a short trip that should cost around 50,000 dong is quoted at several times that.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Book in the app, walk to the marked ride-hailing pickup point, and match the plate and driver name before getting in. Ignore anyone calling out 'taxi' or 'Grab' inside the terminal.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Some street taxis use a fast-running meter, take a longer route, or claim the meter is broken and name a high flat fare once they know you are a visitor.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Use only well-known firms like Vinasun (white) or Mai Linh (green), watch the meter, and follow the route on your phone map. A ride-hailing app removes the problem by fixing the fare in advance.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Some seafood restaurants, especially along the beach, display no printed prices, then charge a very high 'market' rate by weight or slip extras onto the bill after you have eaten.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Eat where per-kilo prices are clearly displayed, agree the exact weight and total before the food is cooked, and check the itemised bill. Busy places full of locals are usually safer.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Stalls and vendors without displayed prices, or those selling fruit, drinks and souvenirs near the sights, may quote foreigners several times the normal price.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Ask the price before you buy, agree it clearly, and have small notes ready. A quick check at a nearby shop or convenience store shows you the fair rate.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Dong notes carry many zeros and the 20,000 and 500,000 notes look similar, so it is easy to hand over or be given the wrong note, sometimes to a vendor's advantage.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Learn the note colours on arrival, count cash slowly, and keep large and small notes separate. Paying the stated amount and checking your change openly avoids almost all mistakes.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Some taxis use a meter that runs fast or take long detours, and unofficial drivers wait at the airport claiming to be your booked ride-hailing car, then charge far more.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Book through a trusted app and match the car plate and driver name before getting in. In a street taxi use only well-known companies, watch the meter, and start a route on your phone.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: A shoe shiner grabs your shoe or 'fixes' it unasked and then demands a high fee, or a street vendor lets you hold their carrying pole and photograph fruit, then charges a large sum for a small bag.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Politely decline unrequested services and do not hand over your shoe or pose with a vendor's goods. If you want fruit, agree the price and see it weighed first.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: A cyclo (pedal trishaw) driver quotes a low price, then claims it was per person, per minute or in a different currency at the end, sometimes with the help of others.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Agree a clear total price and route in writing or on a calculator before you sit down, carry small notes, and pay only the agreed amount calmly.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Some venues add dishes you did not order, charge for 'free' snacks or wet towels placed on the table, or inflate the total, especially for groups after drinks.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Check prices before ordering, refuse extras you did not ask for, and go through the itemised bill before paying. Choose places that print clear prices.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: At Cam Thanh, touts flag you down claiming the official dock is closed or offering a 'VIP' ride, then lead you to a private spot and charge several times the real price. Rowers may also demand extra money to spin the basket or a large tip at the end.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Book a fixed-price basket-boat ticket online or through your hotel in advance, walk past the hustlers and show your booking. Agree clearly that spinning and any tip are optional, and settle on the total before you get in.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: A tailor quotes a low price, then substitutes cheaper fabric than the sample you chose, adds charges at pickup, or delivers a poor fit with no time left to fix it before you leave.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Use an established shop with reviews, confirm the exact fabric and final price in writing, and pay a deposit rather than the full amount up front. Allow a day or two for fittings and alterations, and inspect the finished garment before paying the balance.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: A cyclo driver offers a cheap-sounding tour of the old town, then at the end demands a far higher fare, claiming the quote was per person, per hour, or did not include certain streets.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Agree the full price, the route and the duration before you set off, ideally writing the number on a phone screen so both sides see it. Hand over only the agreed amount and keep small notes ready to avoid change disputes.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Boat sellers along the river quote a per-person price to tourists that is several times the normal per-boat rate, or start the ride and then ask for more to go further or to include lanterns.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Remember the boat is hired as a whole, not per head, and agree the price and length of the ride first. Buy floating lanterns separately at the stated small price, and do not pay extra once you are already on the water.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: A freelance motorbike or car driver waiting near the old town or the beach quotes a vague price and then asks for much more on arrival, especially late at night or in the rain.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Use the Grab app, which fixes the fare in advance, rather than flagging a driver on the street. If you do take a street ride, agree the exact price clearly before getting on and have the correct change ready.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Because Cam Ranh airport is about 35km from the city, some drivers quote a high flat fare, avoid the meter, or approach you inside the terminal with a 'special' price that turns out to be well above the normal rate.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Use only the official taxi rank outside arrivals, agree the fare before setting off, or take the far cheaper Route 18 airport bus. A ride-hailing app fixes the price in advance and removes the argument entirely.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Island-hopping tours sold on the street or by touts can carry hidden extras, skip promised stops, or turn out to be a cramped party boat quite different from what was described, with snorkel gear or the 'seafood lunch' charged again on board.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Book through a hotel or an established operator with clear reviews, get exactly what is included in writing, and confirm the boat, stops and any extra fees before you pay. Be wary of a price that looks far too cheap.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Some seafood restaurants, especially near the beach, do not display prices, then charge tourists a very high amount per kilo, inflate the weight, or add dishes and drinks nobody ordered to the bill.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Eat where prices per kilo are clearly shown, confirm the weight and total for live seafood before it is cooked, and check the bill against what you ordered. Busy local places are usually both better value and more honest.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: Walking beach vendors offer a cheap massage or manicure, then keep adding extras and quote a far higher total at the end, or a spa advertises a low price that balloons once you are inside.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Agree the exact service and final price before anything starts, and say no clearly if you are not interested. Booking a fixed-price treatment at a reputable spa avoids the pressure altogether.
Jinsi inavyofanya kazi: The dong runs into the hundreds of thousands and the notes look alike, so it is easy to confuse a 500,000 note with a 20,000 one or to be handed short change by a vendor counting on the mix-up.
Jinsi ya kuuepuka: Learn the note colours on arrival, count your change before walking off, and keep small denominations handy. Paying the stated amount slowly and openly avoids almost all confusion.