25/11/2023
Hey travelers to Ha Noi,
I keep seeing much more tourists got scammed when walk around Hanoi, in every monuments. Some donut sellers come and put a donut into their hand such as a trial, and then ask them to pay with x2, x3 or x10 expensive. I was there trying to give the tourists some hints about this Tourist trap, but couldnt change anything.
Here are some good tips for you to avoid scamming:
1. Nothing is free. When you are offered a free ride, free coconut, trial street donut, DON"T take it and DO IGNORE them and just walk away.
2. Don't wave taxis, grab bike on the street unless it's the right brand name that you get recommended by the hotel or tourguides, or booked them via the app Grab. Many taxis look the same, just one number is different and it's easy for you to get in a tourist trap. So please use GRAB to call a taxi, at lease you can track the price.
3. In Ha Noi, there's one common trap that I see everyday but I can't help: street vendors. They keep following you, helping you crossing the street, then pushing their basket on your shoulders, or put the conical hat on your head, helping take a "Vietnamese photo" of it because it's something authentic life, and then they charge you 500.000vnd for their "invitation". You open your wallet, they even extend their fingers into your wallet and help you take the right note, but always "wrong notes". Nothing is free and DONT let anyone look at your wallet.
4. CYCLO cycle (3 wheel pushing bike), they keep following you and state a cost for a ride. First they say 150, you keep asking "An hour??", they say yes. Then you are happy to get on. They will drop you off at a spot far way from your hotel and nobody is there but their men only, explaining they are not allowed to be in front of the hotel. They would say 150 USD dollars please. You say "No it is D**G". They say no and turn to be aggressive. What can you do in this situation? Nobody can help.
And a lot more scamming. So tourists, be clever and stay safe.