Wiring and fraud in Vietnam

Vietnam is a wonderful, interesting and safe country. But, unfortunately, experienced tourists and travelers have long known that the number of wiring and all kinds of tattoos in order to take money from tourists here is incredibly large. Perhaps no other country in Southeast Asia can "boast" of so many ways to get a few extra dollars from a tourist for nothing. And it is not only about the ingenuity and number of these methods, but also about the scale of this phenomenon. And these scales are simply enormous, erected into a method of doing business: they try to impale everywhere and always, from government agencies to travel agencies. And those tourists who believe that they visited Vietnam and no one deceived them, in fact, simply do not know that they were deceived.

However, it is worth saying that, fortunately, the wiring in Vietnam is mostly small, not violent. You will be forced to buy something at an inflated price, will be required to pay a couple of dollars for a non-existent service, will accidentally charge your credit card twice the amount for dinner and the like. No one, as a rule, tries to take everything from tourists to the last thread, although this happens. But, whatever it was, the sediment even from the smallest wiring remains, especially when you understand that, despite the fact that Vietnam is considered a very inexpensive country, a tourist sometimes has to pay for everything twice, or even three times.

The main cure for wiring in Vietnam, in my opinion – attentiveness and arrogance. Mindfulness will allow you to recognize in time that they are trying to impale you or have already Impaled you, and with your arrogance you will be able to return your money, and not just modestly wave your hand: "let them choke on my couple of dollars". Do not be afraid to make a scandal and demand to return your money, refuse to pay for anything, if you are right and the situation is not too dangerous. If you see that the situation is too dangerous (and this happens), then it is better to silently leave your feet. Another tip-always negotiate the price in advance, make sure that there are no "misunderstandings" between you and the seller. So that fifteen dollars does not suddenly grow into fifty (fifty); so that it is discussed what you get for your money and so on. Sometimes you should not be ashamed and agree on the price on paper, so that everything is clear to everyone: you should not believe the words in Vietnam anywhere.

Here are some pretty popular scams in Vietnam:

• Plastic card Commission. When paying with a plastic card in a restaurant or travel agency, a commission of several percent per transaction (up to 10%) can be additionally removed from the card without warning. To combat this, before buying, check whether there are additional commissions.
• Substitution of bills. When paying in cash instead of 100,000 VND (see Vietnam currency, exchange rate) you can get 10,000, and instead of 500,000 even 20,000. These bills are very similar in color, so carefully check the numbers.
• Double withdrawal from a plastic card. Your card is rolled and said "Sorry, this terminal is not working. Let's pay on the other". In this case, money is debited from the card twice. To fight, you need to closely monitor the status of the account, and even better, connect an sms alert. If you have already withdrawn twice, the problem is quite easily solved by contacting your bank.
• Divorce from the rocker. One of the most classic wiring. Makashnits with a rocker stick to tourists with an offer to be photographed with their rocker, and then demand money for it.
• Toll bridges. For passage on some bridges (supposedly private, family) may require a fee of several dollars. Of course, there are no signs that this is a toll bridge. The easiest way to get rid of-just pretend that you do not understand anything in English, answer in Russian and leave.
• Factories for the disabled. It is necessary to help disabled people, especially if they try and work. But in Vietnamese factories where disabled people work and where tourists are usually brought (they make paintings, sculptures, etc.), prices for some reason are almost twice as high as for the same products on the market.
• Expensive toilet. Usually, a visit to a public toilet in Vietnam costs 2,000 VND. But if you give a bill of 5 or 10 thousand VND, you most likely will not receive change. You will simply be told that the price for foreigners is higher, or they will pretend that they do not understand anything. The same applies to other services such as parking for motorcycles or cars: if you do not ask prices in advance, you will be charged everything they can.
• Additional fees during excursions. If you buy a tour for $ 50, this does not mean that the guides during the tour will not try to squeeze another dozen or two dollars for entrance fees, food and so on. Check before buying a tour, what is included and what is not included.
• Paid parking. There are parking lots where they will really look after your transport and give you a ticket for payment (the average price is 3000 VND for parking a motorcycle). But sometimes if you put a motorcycle where there is no official parking, the nearest dealer will demand money from you for parking. Moreover, it will be demanded when you return, and unrealistic amounts.
• Inflated prices in public transport. For travel in local transport, you may be charged two to three times more than with local ones. This is especially popular on City Bus Route #1 – Da Nang-Hoi An, where instead of 17,000 VND you will be charged up to 50,000. Therefore, do not give the conductor large bills (you will not get change) and bargain.
• Involuntary guide services. In the temples, you may come across young men who pose as temple servants and will accompany you. Then for their services they will ask for donations for the temple, and they will name a specific amount (I must say a lot for such services). In fact, these crooks have nothing to do with the temple, and they put donations in their pockets. You can send such helpers or throw donations into a special donation Box (Donation Box), which is in each temple.
• The false Red Cross. Young people walk the streets of Vietnam, who introduce themselves as employees of the Red Cross and collect money from tourists. They pick up a "victim" in not too crowded places and begin to tediously tell for a long time how bad everything is for them and show all sorts of lists with the amounts given by other tourists. There is a strong suspicion that they are just beggars and crooks.
• Students with questionnaires. If the Vietnamese come up to you on the street and offer to take a survey and fill out a questionnaire, then know that this is just an excuse to attract your attention. After filling out the questionnaires, there will be begging for money to restore temples, monuments or to help the poor Vietnamese people in the person of these young people.
• Wiring in Halong. Halong Bay when you dock at the floating village, the guide will tell you that a boat ride will cost $ 2 and after that will disappear. But when you already sit in the boat (and it is quite difficult to do this, since the boat swings a lot), you will be charged at least $ 5. So negotiate the price with the boaters before boarding yourself.
• Bring him to the train. At the railway stations of Vietnam, at the entrance to the platform, an officially dressed false employee will "roll up" to you, who will check your tickets and guide you to the car. Of course, then there will be a demand to pay a couple of dollars.
• Bicycle rickshaws. For a trip of several meters, a bicycle rickshaw can roll out a bill for you as for a taxi ride across the city. Before boarding, be sure to agree on the price. Bicycle rickshaws are generally very crooked and work in whole gangs, they can just lead to A Quiet Place and demand a lot of money.
• Klofelinschitsa. There is nothing to explain here, everything is the same as everywhere: I picked up a girl, woke up in the morning without money and pants.
• Dear girls. Popular worldwide wiring: you pick up a girl and she takes you to a restaurant or cafe. Then for a couple of glasses of beer you are billed a hundred dollars, because you did not look at the prices on the menu.

Given the inventiveness of the Vietnamese, this list can be extended indefinitely. If you have something to add and share in this question, write on the Forum.