Vietnam is a country that offers travelers thrilling memories, but it's also a country that can catch you off guard, and one small mistake can ruin your first memories, especially if it's your first visit. Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson by sharing the story of how I turned into a hobo in just five minutes after arriving in Vietnam.
First meeting at the airport: a good start
The moment I landed in Hanoi, Vietnam, my friend and I walked out of the airport with excitement. We vowed to ourselves, "This time, we're not getting screwed!" After checking the distance from the airport to our hotel, we realized that the Grab I turned on the app and saw the estimated fare: 122,000 dong (about $6,000). It was a very reasonable price, and everything seemed to be going according to plan.
Then, inside the airport, several taxi company employees started approaching me and offering to take me to my hotel. The fare was 350,000 dong (about $17,500). Naturally, we laughed and declined, saying, "We use Uber or something. We don't get ripped off!" and walked out of the airport.
The wrong choice: a taxi hawker's sweet offer
As I walked out of the airport, a taxi driver approached me and said, "If the Grab fare is VND122,000, I'll take you for that price." It sounded so natural and reasonable. In a split second, I thought, "I don't have to wait for the official app," and we got into his car.
The problem arose not long into the car ride. He offered to help me exchange money, saying "it would be more convenient if you paid in local currency." I had a small amount of dollars with me, and figured it wouldn't hurt to exchange them for Vietnamese dong. But that was the beginning of all my problems.
Currency exchange scams: Where did the money go?
The exchange process was really confusing: he handed over the dollars, then ran around and pretended to be busy doing something. After a while, he handed me back a mix of Vietnamese dong and dollars. The problem was, when I counted the money, $100 of the $300 was missing.
When I questioned him, he nonchalantly grabbed the money, saying, "I never took it." Meanwhile, another driver approached and told me I needed to switch cabs, and the situation became increasingly chaotic. I ended up in an embarrassing situation in the middle of the airport, being taken advantage of as a foreigner.
Money in the end: Mentioning the police changes attitudes
In the heat of the moment, I tried to defuse the situation by yelling, "Police! I'm calling the police!" and his demeanor changed drastically. Eventually, he gave me back some of my money, along with the money he had dropped at my feet. Fortunately, I got most of my $300 back, but my feelings were already hurt.
Lesson: Next time, do this
- Use the Grab app
Use the app to see your bill in advance, and set up automatic payments - on-site payments are more likely to cause unnecessary conflict. www.grab.com - Prepare local currency
Consider exchanging a small amount of local currency in advance; using foreign currency increases the risk of fraud. - Currency exchange is available at authorized exchange offices.
Only exchange money at verified exchange locations, such as airports or banks. Never exchange money between individuals. - Check and record taxi numbers
Write down or take a picture of the license plate number before you get into a taxi. This will be useful evidence if something goes wrong. - Always be suspicious
Be wary of anyone who approaches you in a friendly way, especially if the taxi driver offers you an overly favorable deal.
Wrapping up: Traveling is a learning experience
The experience was horrifying at first, but ultimately taught me a great lesson. Vietnam is still a beautiful country, with many good people. But as with all travel destinations, you can have a safer and more enjoyable trip if you stay vigilant and do your homework.
I hope your next trip is much more successful than mine, with a vow not to be a dick on your next trip.
TimeetWe hope you have a scam-free journey with us.
English 
한국어 
日本語 
ไทย 
Tiếng Việt