Vietnam Scams to Avoid: How Overcharging Works and How to Dodge It

Vietnam is a friendly, low-crime country, and the honest summary of “scams” here is far less dramatic than the headlines suggest. What visitors actually run into is overcharging: a price that was never said out loud, then said afterwards, and higher than a local would pay. It happens most where tourists are densest, at airports, around the busiest sights and on a few well-known streets.

This page is about money. It walks through the situations where overcharging happens, what to say and do in each, and the small habits that remove most of the risk. For the wider picture of personal safety, see our guide to whether Vietnam is safe; for health and etiquette, the dedicated pages cover them in full.

The one principle behind almost every overcharge

Nearly every overcharge in Vietnam rests on the same gap: the price was not fixed before the service started. A ride, a meal, a boat trip, a shoulder massage, a bag of fruit. Once the service has happened, you have no leverage, and paying quickly to end an awkward moment is human nature.

So the whole defence is one habit. Before you get in, sit down, climb on or accept, ask: “How much?” Get a number, in dong, and repeat it back. If a seller will not give a number, that is information in itself.

A second helpful idea is that fixed-price channels exist for almost everything. Ride-hailing apps show the fare in advance, tours booked online are paid up front, and restaurants with a printed menu cannot change the price at the end. Choosing those channels, where they are available, removes the need to negotiate at all.

Understanding the numbers: dong in big figures

Part of the problem is arithmetic. The Vietnamese dong is quoted in large numbers, and a tired traveller at midnight can easily misread a figure.

• Roughly 28,000 VND to 1 EUR and about 26,000 VND to 1 USD in mid-2026, drifting slowly downward. Always attach the year to a price: the figures shift.
• So 50,000 VND is under 2 EUR, 100,000 VND is a little over 3.50 EUR, and 500,000 VND is about 18 EUR.
• The Vietnamese dong is the legal currency. The US dollar is not legal tender, and a seller who quotes you a price in dollars is choosing the exchange rate.

A practical trick: drop three zeros and divide by about 28. A price of 150,000 VND becomes 150, divided by 28, so a little over 5 EUR. Do this before you agree, not after.

Beware also of look-alike notes. The polymer notes use similar colours, and the blue 20,000 and the blue-green 500,000 are easy to confuse in poor light. When you hand over cash, say the amount aloud, take a moment, and look at the note. Our money in Vietnam guide explains the denominations and ATMs in more detail, and the cash question covers when cards are enough.

Taxis: the most common source of trouble

The meter that does not run

The classic version is a taxi from the airport or outside a hotel with a meter that is “broken”, or one that runs unusually fast, or a driver who quotes a flat price that is double the metered one. Most drivers are honest, and large, well-known taxi companies are generally reliable. The trouble is usually with look-alike cars that borrow a famous colour scheme and name.

What to do:

1. Prefer an app. Grab, Be and Xanh SM show the fare before you confirm, give you the plate and driver’s name, and take the payment out of the discussion. This is the single most effective measure in this whole guide.
2. Otherwise use a metered taxi from a recognisable company, and watch that the meter starts at the beginning of the ride.
3. If the driver refuses the meter, walk away. There is always another car.
4. Know the route by following the map on your phone. A detour that adds a few kilometres is a favourite way to increase a metered fare.

Our guide to Grab and taxis in Vietnam goes through how to set up the apps, pay by card or cash, and pick a pickup point.

Airport arrivals

Airports are where newcomers are most tired and least informed. In Hanoi, Noi Bai is 25 to 35 km from the centre, so a metered ride takes 45 to 70 minutes and is a substantial fare; in Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat is only about 7 km out. Neither airport has a rail or metro link, so a car is needed in both cases.

Drivers inside the arrivals hall sometimes offer a “special price” before you have looked at an app. Ignore it, walk to the official taxi rank or order a ride on your phone after connecting to the airport wifi or an eSIM. If you prefer certainty, a pre-booked transfer fixes the price at home: see our pages on Hanoi airport transfers and Ho Chi Minh City airport transfers. A local data connection also helps everything else here, so consider an eSIM or local SIM before you land.

Motorbike taxis (xe om)

A xe om is a motorbike taxi, and a perfectly good way of crossing a congested city. It is also unmetered, so everything depends on an agreed price. The app versions (the motorbike options in Grab, Be and Xanh SM) show the fare in advance. If you flag one on the street, agree the price in dong before you put on the helmet, and agree that it is for the whole journey, not per person. Many locals simply open an app, even for a short hop.

Cyclos and other rides with no price fixed in advance

A cyclo is a three-wheeled pedal rickshaw, and it is a gentle way to see a historic quarter, but it is a ride where the price is negotiated before you start, never after. The usual problems:

• A quoted price that turns out to be per person rather than for the whole cyclo.
• A price for “one hour” that becomes much more for the “full tour”.
• A stop at a shop or a pause for photographs that is charged as an extra.

The cure is plain. Ask for the total price for the whole route, for all of you, for a stated duration, and agree it in writing on your phone’s calculator if the language is a barrier. Then pay exactly that amount, with a small tip only if you want to give one. If you would rather not negotiate, a guided Vespa and cyclo tour in Hanoi comes with a fixed price and a set route.

Restaurants: menus, prices and the bill

Most places eat honestly, and the best food in the country is on the pavement, but a few habits protect you from the exceptions.

• Look for a printed price list. A menu with prices, or a board on the wall, is the best protection. A restaurant that cannot tell you the price of a dish in advance is one to skip.
• Ask before you accept anything that arrives unrequested. Wet wipes, extra plates of peanuts, fruit and bread may be charged. It is fine to say no, and equally fine to keep them if the price is small and agreed.
• Ask for prices of “by weight” items. Seafood and some meats are sold by weight, and the bill can be much bigger than expected. Ask the price per kilo and confirm the weight when it is shown to you.
• Check the bill line by line, especially in tourist zones. A calculator on the table is normal.

In areas aimed at visitors, you may also see two sets of prices, or a menu with higher figures than the one on the wall. A friendly “same price as the board, please” is usually enough. On the pavement itself, a plastic stool and a pot of broth are very rarely the problem. Our Vietnamese street food safety guide covers the food side, and a private street food tour in Hanoi is a calm way to learn what a fair price looks like. If you prefer to book in advance, this private street food walk in Hanoi is paid online, so there is no bill to argue about.

Markets and shops: bargaining without conflict

At markets such as Ben Thanh in Ho Chi Minh City or the stalls of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the first price is a starting point. This is normal commerce, not a trick, and a sale usually ends with both parties smiling.

A few practical points:

• Look at the price first, not just at the goods. Many stalls have no label; ask and listen.
• Counter calmly. A common approach is to offer a little more than half the first quote and meet somewhere in between. If a price is clearly too high, say thank you and walk on; a better offer often follows you down the aisle.
• Do not start a haggle you do not mean to finish. If a seller agrees to your price, you are expected to buy.
• Check what is sold. Goods described as silk, leather, “authentic” brands or fine tea can be anything. If the quality matters, shop at a fixed-price store or from a reputable workshop. See our Old Quarter guide for where shopping is easier, and souvenirs worth buying for what is worth the money.
• Fruit sellers with carrying poles. In some tourist streets, a vendor places a shoulder pole in your hands for a photograph and then asks a high fee. A polite “no, thank you” and a step back is enough; do not take the pole in the first place.

Fixed-price convenience stores and supermarkets have no bargaining at all, and are a calm place to buy water, sun cream and basics.

Small change: the simple habit that saves the most

Carry small notes. In practice this means keeping 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 VND notes handy, away from the large ones. Reasons:

• A 500,000 VND note, about 18 EUR, is hard to break at a small stall, a motorbike taxi or a roadside cafe.
• A seller with no change may suggest rounding up, and the difference is in their favour.
• Having exact change makes the amount visible and the payment quick, which reduces the chance of a mix-up.

Break big notes at supermarkets, hotels, convenience stores or larger restaurants, and keep a separate pocket for small notes so you are not pulling out a thick roll at every stop. As for tipping, it is appreciated but is not a rule: see how much to tip in Vietnam.

Tours and activities: pay a fixed price, in advance

Where overcharging is most easily avoided is the booked tour. A price paid online, in advance and in full, with an itinerary, leaves no space for a surprise at the end.

• Boat trips and cruises: on the water there are few alternatives, so agree the whole price first. A fixed-price overnight cruise such as this overnight cruise among the limestone islands of Lan Ha Bay states what is included, including meals and the transfer from Hanoi. Our Ha Long Bay cruise guide explains how to read the inclusions.
• Optional extras: drinks, kayaking and tips are the usual add-ons. Ask what is included, and decline the rest politely.
• Day trips: a tour such as the full-day Hue Imperial City tour from Da Nang lists entry fees and transport in the description, so you know what is covered before you leave.
• Street offers: a stranger who offers a “free” trip, a shortcut or a special deal is usually working on commission, and the price will appear later. Decline and book in a normal way.

Always read what is and is not included, such as entry tickets or lunch, to avoid being asked for a second payment.

A different kind of risk: phone snatching from motorbikes

This is not an overcharge, and it deserves its own line. In Ho Chi Minh City, bag and phone snatching from passing motorbikes is the most common crime visitors report. A thief rides by and grabs a phone held at the roadside, or a bag hanging on the kerb side of the shoulder. It is quick, but it can cause a fall and injury.

Simple precautions:

• Walk with your bag on the side away from the road, and keep it across your body, not hanging from one shoulder.
• Do not use your phone at the edge of the pavement, and avoid holding it up for a photo near moving traffic.
• In a car or on a motorbike taxi, keep the phone inside and the window closed or the bag in front of you.
• Keep valuables, passport and spare cards in separate places, and carry only what you need for the day.

Phone theft, traffic and the wider picture of personal safety are covered in our safety guide, and the Ho Chi Minh City destination page has local detail on districts.

If it has already happened

Sometimes you only notice afterwards. Staying calm costs nothing and usually works better than anger.

1. Do not argue at length. Say clearly that you agreed a price, show your phone with the app fare or the written number, and offer the agreed amount.
2. Pay the agreed amount and leave if the dispute is small. A few euros is rarely worth a long confrontation, and a hostile scene never ends in your favour.
3. Use the app. If the ride was booked through Grab, Be or Xanh SM, report the trip in the app; they have complaint and refund processes.
4. Ask the hotel for help. Reception staff can often speak on your behalf, call a driver or arbitrate a dispute about a nearby taxi.
5. For a serious problem, such as threats or theft, call 113 for the police. The emergency numbers are 113 police, 114 fire and 115 ambulance.

Keep the receipt, or a photo of the meter, until the end of the trip, in case you want to compare with the fare shown on a map.

A quick checklist before you go

• Install Grab, and if you can, Be and Xanh SM, and link a card before you arrive.
• Get a local eSIM or SIM so that you can use maps and apps from the moment you land.
• Learn the conversion: about 28,000 VND to 1 EUR in 2026, and drop the three zeros.
• Keep small notes in a separate pocket, and break big ones early.
• Ask the price before every unmetered ride, meal or purchase.
• Pay in dong, not dollars.
• Keep your phone and bag away from the road side in Ho Chi Minh City.

For budgeting and what things should cost, see the Vietnam travel budget guide and whether Vietnam is expensive. For manners, including how to say no politely, Vietnam etiquette and customs is the place to start.

Scams in Vietnam: frequently asked questions

Is Vietnam full of scams?

No. Most travellers go home having been overcharged by a small amount at worst. The problems cluster in a few places, such as airports, the busiest tourist streets and some night-time spots, and they nearly all concern price rather than violence.

How do I avoid being overcharged by a taxi in Vietnam?

Book a car on Grab, Be or Xanh SM, where the fare is shown before you ride, or take a metered taxi from a reputable company and check that the meter is running. If a driver refuses the meter, get out and choose another vehicle.

Should I pay in US dollars in Vietnam?

No. The legal currency is the Vietnamese dong and the US dollar is not legal tender. A seller who quotes in dollars is usually setting a rate in their own favour. Pay in dong, which you can withdraw from ATMs.

Is it normal to haggle in Vietnam?

In markets and for unmetered rides, yes, and it is expected to be good-humoured. In restaurants with a printed menu, supermarkets, convenience stores and for app fares, prices are fixed and haggling is not done.

What is the exchange rate in 2026?

Roughly 28,000 VND to 1 EUR and about 26,000 VND to 1 USD in mid-2026, drifting slowly downward. Always check a live rate before a large exchange, since the figures move.

Is phone snatching common in Vietnam?

It happens mainly in Ho Chi Minh City, where thieves on motorbikes grab phones and bags from pedestrians or passengers near the kerb. Keep your phone away from the road side, and do not hold it out at the edge of the pavement.

How much small change should I carry?

A handful of notes in the 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 dong range is plenty for a day. Big notes are hard to break at small stalls, and a seller who has no change can quietly keep the difference.