When I filmed this video, Uber was still in South East Asia. However, now they have been bought out by Grab and there is no Uber in Vietnam. Just thought I should mention it since everyone keeps pointing it out!
Greetings alison!! American man planning trip to Vietnam for vacation this year. Come across you great video here. Would love to email Facebook what ever for continued tips with English speaking folks allready in country. As I might would retire to Vietnam in about 5 years. I am over the north America blizzards and snow storms. Had my full lol. Jprater73@yahoo.com
i'm vietnamese and i'm really sorry for anyone who got scam, but if you do feel like you got scam you can call 113(national security), you can speak english there i guess but give it a try. We are also try to reduce scams here right now thanks
Don’t trust them, you could get scam and got rob easy. My friend got rob when he tried to take his money out and pay. Lucky for him he called me to lend him the money. I guess it rare to see foreigners got rob but they are the easy target. Most importantly, watch out for your important documents such as passport.
Call 113 hahaha, yea goodluck with that, they hang up on you or just simply ignore you, thats IF you live in HCM or Hanoi, where you MIGHT get lucky and they speak English, any other city, they just simply dont answer or hang up in your face because they dont speak English
Another thing about the taxi I’ve experienced is that when they hear you speak English they sometimes assume you don’t know ur way around so they’ll intentionally take the longest route or pretend they’re “lost” this happened to me in Vietnam, I’m Vietnamese, but I was with my cousin who didn’t speak Vietnamese so we spoke in English in the car and we realized it was taking twice as long to get there as usual and the streets didn’t look familiar, so I spoke to him and he said “he was going the right way” I let it go but the realized we were going in circles and he said he was “lost” I immediately told him to pull over because he was still driving in circles so I asked a local and she told us directions and the taxi driver argued with her about it. My 10 min drive took over an hour and was EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. just wanted to warn you about some taxis, but vietnam is an amazing country I’m very proud to be from.
Ash B Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry this happened to you. At least other people can learn from this. Safe travels wherever else you end up going! :)
That happened to me years ago, I got out of the taxi and refused to pay. He got antsy and a lot of Vietnamese came over and helped. I missed my show, thank God I now have google maps. I map out the journey before I start and make a point of showing the map to the taxi driver.
Thank you! I was in India about two years ago and learned a lot about street level scams. (To be honest, there are a couple that are so smart, I can't even be mad. More impressed.) I'm now in a position that I can be a digital nomad and Saigon is on my radar. I'm very excited.
@fitboy 86 no need to apologise my friend, there are plenty of scams in the West too but they feel legitimate by being called "white collar crimes" or "corporate fraud"!
wow I’m Vietnamese, I live in Hanoi but some of your tips sound brand new to me! thanks for the Video, this will help me and my friends a lot when we go to other cities in Vietnam.
They will switch your bill with a counterfeit bill, and give you another fake bill, and keep your valid bill. Try to pay in small bills, and snap your bills serial number.
When I went to Vietnam it was so fun! The only thing I was worried about was when my dad and I went on a scooter and road to a restaurant. It was hectic! But my dad’s friend said “ they always look forwards not back” which I found pretty funny!
xX/Mards_Sachiko\Xx Haha yeah, it seems hectic to us non-locals, but the locals there seem to have a system of driving there that we don't understand. Glad you made it back safe!
I used to live in Hanoi for more than a year. Thank God never of these happened to me.I still consider Hanoi as a safe place to live in. I can not just say that all of the street foods are clean
Good advice about the tour guides Alison. On our first trip to Saigon six years ago my wife and I fell victim to the notorious cyclo scam. A pair of cyclo riders approached us as we left Ben Than market. Offered us a 'free' ride back to our hotel to drop our shopping at our room before the paid tour. They dropped us off around the corner - not in front of the hotel. When we returned they wouldn't allow us to take a photo of them. Would not give us a price - said it was "cheap". Toured around for about 2 hours. Then dropped us a block away from the hotel demanding 10 times the price it should have been - even had a brochure with the scam price which they forcefully thrust at us. All the while shouting they would call the police if we did not pay. If you want to do a cyclo tour, book it through the hotel. You pay the hotel and they pay the cyclo tour guides. We did this on a later trip to Saigon and it was great. It's a fun way to see Saigon but be careful!
Brett Burns Oh wow, that sounds like a bad experience. Sorry that happened to you and thank you for sharing with us! Booking with the hotel does seem like the way to go. :)
A very common one is the offering of drugs. One guy sells it and not long after a police men comes. This happens a lot on Koh Phagnan where you can buy yourself out for 2-5,000 EURO
One thing I learned that is vital to have when travelling in poorer countries, or places with high theft rates, is to have pants or jacket with zip pockets preferably something on the INSIDE. I.E. a jacket with inside breast pocket. I never EVER leave my phone in my back bum pocket, or obviously out. I even have sneaky compartments for money or i.d. or anything major. So if I'm sleeping somewhere public that I could have major items stolen, I keep my passport/money/phone in hidden pockets. Kathamandu store is good for stuff like these, as they specifically make things to be hidden.
Also look out for mobile coconut vendors ( carried on their shoulders) .... started opening the coconuts and forced us to take the coconuts saying it’s free for sample testing .... ended up paying 5 x more than original price because he was rushing us and we failed to convert the cost in our currency fast enough...before we realized the actual price he had already disappeared..... this happened in Ho Chi Min City
JP P Oh yeah! Thanks for pointing that out. That almost happened to us a couple of times in Hanoi, but the ladies were selling baked pastries. Sorry that happened to you. Thanks for sharing though!
I am being extra wary of this scam on my visit. As a coconut 🥥 drinking and eating sort of guy, this has quickly become my litmus test for any decent country
The snatch and run theft happened to my GF and I while living on Samui in Thailand.. this was done by snatching her back while we had to slow down in a curve and a 500cc crossmotor came out of the dark behind us. The catch was good... 2 iphones, the month rent (which my GF took to the Full Moon Party) and a bottle of Jack Daniels .... haha
IQ CREATIVE Oh wow! I’m sorry that happened to you guys. Some of these people are skilled. It’s hard to be on the look out all the time, but if you’re aware, it makes you more cautious. Safe travels!
Just in case you're unlucky enough and a thief is trying to rob you, if you're not obviously bigger than them who can 100% snatch your stuff back, let it go because a lot of them have knives. Those drug addicts ain't scared of nothing
Aji Bang You just need to make sure to have a good contract and maybe even go through a renting agency. I had some great people help me with the rental process in Saigon. Check out Honey Comb rental if you’re looking for a place in Saigon.
I've heard so many horror stories about a theft that I've always been super careful with my stuff. The other night when I was waiting for a grab I got my phone out to check where it was and in that split second a motorbike rode post and snatched it. No matter how careful you be It can still happen.
i was super uncareful with my phones 4 times now nothing got stolen even in small alleys near bui vien, if you don't look like an easy target they don't try.
If u were wondering Vietnam is rlly safe I'm Vietnamese and u should watch "15 things u didn't know about Vietnam" it's with Chinese, Asia, and Japan idk if there was Asia I forgot but ya and wut I meant by its with Chinese, Asia, and Japan I meant it's like Vietnam is expected to be Chinese, Asia, and Japan
When I lived in Cannon Beach , Oregon there was a group of young kids ( 20’s) they would wait tables on the coast all summer to earn the money to spend the winter in Vietnam.
Becareful when you go to Saigon, there are some guys selling coconuts. They are scammers, the coconuts are really small and not that delicious but they sell them with 150.000 - 200.00 dong. Like you could get a more big and delicious one than those with just like 30.000 or 40.000 dong. I'm a Vietnamese so ik it
that was the "worst" actual scam, asked for the price understand 40k gave him 100k he told me 140k. Told him to f. of. But in the end that was the price of a Cheeseburger i "over" paid him.
Last night 16/06/2019 i faced this scam... Someone snatched my phone... Nd ran away.... I never expected this in Ho Chi Minh city..... Vietnam..... Thts not good..
Bachitter sandhu Aw I’m sorry to hear that. :( it is very common in the city. I hope you’re experience gets better in Vietnam. It’s a beautiful country!
should carefully about taxi ,pay,sell,people,bad guy is everywhere ...everyone don't matter old or young,poor or rich, adult or children,girl or boy. also carefully your wallet.
You hit the nail on the head regarding taxi scam. The taxi driver switched my money 500,000 dong to 20,000 dong at midnight on me once when I paid the taxi ride.
KL taxi even worst....you give big note like RM50, no change to you. The taxi fare was RM33.00 If you ask for change, the taxi driver tell you the balance is the tip to him or the balance is cover the return to their main pick up point. And the worst, the taxi driver tell you, he didn't have small change...RM2 to RM5, give him to buy coffee.
Ah yes! The wet wipes. 😂 That's why I always end up bringing my own tissues or depending on the restaurant, I'll ask for paper tissues. Usually it's free haha.
Not only Vietnam is a third world slum, the people and the culture reveal they are liars, cheaters, scammers, and they will do anything to rip you off. Even the food that you think might be safe, but it’s full of cheap, toxic, and absolutely, unsanitary. The Vietnamese got no sense of honesty whatsoever! I’m screaming as loud as I possible can, so the people can steer away from going to Vietnam. What a third world slum Vietnam is!
What a shame you can’t even write a proper English sentence, let alone reasoning your stupidity. Admit you’re stupid and go get some education, will you?
Scams in Vietnam are really common, I think especially in Thanh Hoa, we were paying for an item but then the seller said that we didn’t give them enough money yet, luckily, my brother was recording when we gave the money, so we didn’t get scammed. Nowadays, scams are everywhere so it’s best to keep an eye on your stuff.
Great tips when traveling anywhere! Westerners tend to stick our more so in Asia. My Mom is Asian and my Dad is a Westerner so they have their stories about traveling in that area. New subscriber here!!
Good video, good job. Good to know. Another You Tuber recommends Uber. I guess Uber was bought out by Grab. The meter business is annoying. I hate arguing with cabbies. You are good with your videos, no hems or haws. One has to watch out for scammer tour guides all over Asia. Thanks
Shag Wellington Thank you! Yes, I recommended Uber or Grab as well. But you are right, Grab bought out Uber. Way better to use instead of a taxi though!
The tour guide scam is common. Whenever a total stranger with a BIG smile chats you up, it's going to lead to money in one way or another.
5 лет назад
same in cuba, we ended up asking them for money first before they had the chance, it was so fun that the last couple fo days we were there we just walked the street looking for scammers to prank.
You can also get scam online so , in Vietnam for me , it is still safe ! There are many scam methods out there , this are only few methods , they can scam you even on TV or they visit your house and say that something is on sale and it's cheaper than normal. But it is actually more expensive than normal , etc ... scammer everywhere , you always have to look out !
The shoeshine men are a big one. The shoes I was wearing outside Ben Thanh market I did not even need a shine. But two young men approached me even though I said no. Then I figured why not help these poor men earn some money. They tried to remove my shoe but I won't allow. Then I asked how much.. he wanted 450,000 dongs about $20. I gave them the equivalent of $8. One looked angry but you don't expect a shoeshine to be $20. I could buy a new pair of shoes in Vietnam for that amount of money I'm sure. So last time I went back I was in Hanoi and a shoeshine man approached me. I said no. Who knows maybe he was a real shoeshine man and not a scammer? But that is the price people pay when others are dishonest.
I just won't bother with them. I ran into one in Hanoi and I told him "no." When I first went to Vietnam I thought these were honest, hardworking men who are trying to make an honest living. So that is why I allowed them thinking for few dollars I do my part to help others who are less fortunate. I didn't need any shoeshine. Now if a genuine shoeshine man approaches me I won't know the difference and I won't patronize them.
It's terrible a few took advantage of your generosity. The shoe shiners/repairers are like the local gangsters. Ignore them. Most Vietnamese people are honest and friendly people, like people in other countries. They will always a few bad apples.
Sometimes you try to help others who are less fortunate than you but end up becoming a victim. I had heard of scams in Thailand, Philippines, etc so I was ready for those countries. But I never did research about scams on Vietnam or came across this until after it happened to me. A lot more people are traveling to Vietnam these days and word will get around. I think if they were honest they could still make money charging a flat rate and most tourists will give them a tip on top of that. That way then can make money honestly. When I was in Hoi An there was a young lady selling Christmas cards that when you open them up there is pop up of an artwork. I told her I already sent out my Christmas cards and I don't need any. It was a few days before Christmas last year. She told me she is a student and is trying to earn some money. So I gave her $1 and told her it's a donation to her education and keep the card. But she insisted and gave me the card. One of the people on my tour was with me and noted her honesty. I agree. I took the card not because I needed it but because she did not want to come across as a beggar or pan handler just looking for donations. She wanted to earn it. So she is a bright, shining example of a virtuous person and makes up for those two shoeshine scammers outside Ben Thanh market.
I have been to several countries Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, S. Korea, Singapore,Vietnam. Only in Vietnam we got scammed in the taxi. The meter was constantly running up even when the car was still.When we noticed this, we got off the taxi and just paid the amount. This happened in Hanoi Old Quarters. The Old quarters though is a nice place and I liked it more better than Bangkok. Just take the Hop on Hop off bus if you are in Hanoi for a few days. Avoid the Night Market, my wife lost here Iphone there. Safest places Japan & Korea.
Hi Alison, I enjoyed your informative heads up video. I would really love to visit there someday and your helpful info may very well be needed. Have a Blessed Week My Beautiful Friend ; . )
Too bad i did not catch your vid prior my trip as i was taxi scammed. I asked for meter rate at hanoi train station to old quarters. The driver covered the meter but assured it is going by meter. Ended up 350k to the old quarters. I angrily quarreled and settled for 100k in the end as my luggages were at the boot and i made him took them out prior paying. So viewers pls beware, dun follow my mistake. Grab taxi following through are all alright.
When you need to be so watchful in an environment, means there's no safety. In the States, you pretty much just walk and not think about these sort of things, that's safety. In South East Asia, generally you have to exercise caution 24/7.
Much Love Generally, I do feel safer in the States. However, my home got robbed in the States and I've gotten scammed out of concert tickets there. I never encountered any problems in Vietnam. But then again, I lived in the States for five years and Vietnam for only 8 months. I do believe you are targeted more as a foreigner in a different country so I think I always had my guard up in Vietnam and was very careful.
I've seen several home/store robbing and shooting news every week in the States, how is it safer? And scams are literally everywhere, from trading to promoting/advertising.. It didn't happen to you yet doesn't mean "safe", if you walk around poorer areas they could snatch anything from you in no time for drug money. Don't lie you guys don't even dare to walk out in the street as often as people do in VN, and downtown areas especially in big cities are full of panhandlers and sneaky robbers/stealers for drug money. Drug dealers are the money Queens in the States! Talking about being unmindful in downtown, are you joking?? I think VN should spend SOME BUT NOT MUCH MORE money for public security, because it's like paying to protect idiots who walk and chit-chat or play games without looking at the street or the surrounding. There are crooks everywhere, not even less in the States, and general local Vietnamese can't afford paying more for that stupid extra cost of having police everywhere (they prefer being mindful to protect their own properties.. as common sense and mindfulness are the most basic survival skills..), so if you want to have the luxury of being unmindful, go to high-class shopping centers and there, you're at "home"!
I heard that at the airport you need to tip (bribe) the customs officials by including some cash when you hand over your passport to them, is this true? I would hate to know what will happen to me if I don't "tip" them.
I hate customs officials the most when traveling to VN. They ask for gifts (quà) even though you did not do anything illegal entering or leaving the country. Very annoying so I learned to ignore them.
Like travelling to most of these countries just don't flaunt cash or jewels no one's impressed by your money or fancy watch if your westerners people there know you have money a friend of mine was in Asia and thought to impress girls he needed to flash cash and fancy jewlery no one was impressed .. I flashed my smile and charm and laid back attitude
Farley vision hahah this is true. The fact that you had the money to buy a plane ticket to travel to another country shows that you have more money then most people. Which is why a lot of foreigners are targeted even when they aren't flashy.
Be careful also of the currency exchange right in the airport. The Vietnam Dong currency is also confusing and they can take advantage of tourist by undervaluing your currency by 30% to 40%.
Remember I was drinking with this American bloke in hanoi, told me a few nights before he left a bar drunk and a guy on a motorbike drove past and swiped his phone
Sieg Mac I believe it’s mainly a language and cultural barrier. I noticed that people are very friendly in the Philippines and a lot of people speak English. However, English is not as common in Vietnam. I don’t think people there mean to be rude. It’s just a different culture then what we’re use to! I hope you end up having a great time there!
Good information. How do you feel about the relationship between Cars and Motorbikes on the road? When I was in Vietnam last year, the Cars were driving erratically, not caring about hitting Motorbikes. I felt scared for the Motorbikes getting hit.
Sang L. Yes, it's usually the larger the vehicle, the more power they have in the road. Big buses and trucks drive like crazy while smaller cars and motorcycles have to get out of the way. It's really dangerous actually, but it seems like everyone understands this system and flows with it. I don't drive in the city (Saigon), because I'm terrified haha. I also work from home so I don't need to drive everyday. However, Da Nang is a lot less crowded and easier to drive around.
If you have never been to Vietnam before, Da Nang would be the city to visit first. It's a lot less crowded comparing to Hanoi and HCMC. You can stay at one of the high-end resorts and also visit a few historic sites. As for the car/motorbikes, no issues. They have their systems and it seems like it's working better than in the US. When I was there last year, I saw a Bentley surrounded by motorbikes. Some Vietnamese are very wealthy!
Tom Nguyen True! I will admit it is a dumb title for this video, but it’s what got people’s attention. Just wanted to let people know that Vietnam is generally a great place to visit!
Cheers Alison, enjoying your videos about your life in Vietnam. I'm an English teacher as well, sent you a message on your 'daily life in Da Nang video'....keep enjoyin' the good life! Ken
There are no such thing as "safe" in vietnam. You need to be cautious whenever you are traveling in vietnam, especially solo/group girl dont ever go for their massage services or prepare yourself for horror experience! They are not thailand!
First time I flew to Saigon I got over charged.... only finding out when I asked in the hotel the average price... then I flew to da nang and used vinasun the metre kept going when stationary .... luckily it was far to hotel .... country is full of rip off merchants
The chances of most of these happening to you in Viet Nam is very low. The only things here that have a good chance of occurring are the Taxi Scams, but just watch the meter carefully to avoid and the Wet Wipes thing in small eateries. Though the second one isn't a scam, it's just not something a tourist would expect to be charged for. The rule of thumb is, if you can be charged for using something, you will be charged for using it. Other than that, I found Viet Nam to be a very friendly and safe place.
Doug Scott I mostly agree with you! However, theft was more common then I originally thought. I've had a decent amount of friends and relatives who have had something stolen from them. But you just have to be aware and careful and you'll have an amazing time!
Lived all over Asia, two years ago discovered Vietnam. Found Ham Tiem beach, its between Phan Thiet and Mui Ne south of Saigon about 200K. Quiet, safe, great beaches. Not a blue water beach but very nice, the sand has some black in it. For me its the best place in all of Asia. One road along a 30K beach and mountains 5 minutes away. Not well known but a great place and good food. All of the wor
I'm glad you found this video helpful! I hope you check out my other videos also. I've done a decent amount of traveling around Vietnam and it is such a beautiful place to see. :)
Good video. I would say street smart, I sold clothing for about 12.years in Red Light Districts in The Netherlands and that made me streetwise. It does help when traveling abroad. Lots of scams in Vietnam though.
the wet wipes thingy. i think there's one too in singapore (or i'm not sure?). my mum and sisters were eating in this eatery and apart from their orders, wet wipes were also placed on their table and this pork and beans kind of food in a little bowl. they thought those were free so they didn't mind. but when they got the bill, they were charged sgd 6 for the three packs of wet wipes and another sgd 5 for the beans. sgd 11 is only a little over usd 8. it's not the hugest sum but still, why pay for something you didn't order, right...? but overall, i think, scams do happen everywhere. we just need to be extra careful and be 101% aware of our surroundings...
This is true. If you stand out a a foreigner, you are more likely to get scammed. This is why I made this video. For other travelers. Vietnam is a beautiful country! :)
Lena Le It's always good to be careful wherever you travel. I'm glad you guys are being smart about traveling. Best of luck with all your future travels! :)
Those wet wipes always get me haha! Great tips, luckily we've had good luck so far apart from the restaurant scam. Always super paranoid about my camera snatched so I hold on to it like a baby!
Thank you for the video Alison. The title is a little confusing though so people are not sure you are talking about the personal safety in Vietnam or how easily you are to be scammed there. Those are two completely different things.
Lost&found Hi, thanks for your comment. I guess I'm talking a little bit about both, but it is a little confusing. Vietnam is pretty safe in terms of personal safety. Scams can be common, but are not usually physically harmful.
How many annoying telemarketer scam keep calling peoples day and night on peoples cell and home phone in America. Even when you told them no the 1st time. Way too many.
It is pretty difficult, but if you're living there, it's a lot easier to pick up since you are using it more often. :) I hope you have a great time there!
When I filmed this video, Uber was still in South East Asia. However, now they have been bought out by Grab and there is no Uber in Vietnam. Just thought I should mention it since everyone keeps pointing it out!
wow. I was still using uber in February when i was in vietnam
Me too! I think it may have changed in March or April.
My first Grab ride is in HCM city
Greetings alison!!
American man planning trip to Vietnam for vacation this year. Come across you great video here. Would love to email Facebook what ever for continued tips with English speaking folks allready in country. As I might would retire to Vietnam in about 5 years. I am over the north America blizzards and snow storms. Had my full lol.
Jprater73@yahoo.com
when are you in vn again
i'm vietnamese and i'm really sorry for anyone who got scam, but if you do feel like you got scam you can call 113(national security), you can speak english there i guess but give it a try.
We are also try to reduce scams here right now thanks
Nguyen Phan Viet Hung Thanks for the tip!
Nguyen Phan Viet Hung Im sure this will help a lot of people have a nice time in Vietnam. :)
Don’t trust them, you could get scam and got rob easy. My friend got rob when he tried to take his money out and pay. Lucky for him he called me to lend him the money.
I guess it rare to see foreigners got rob but they are the easy target. Most importantly, watch out for your important documents such as passport.
Thanks Nguyen
Call 113 hahaha, yea goodluck with that, they hang up on you or just simply ignore you, thats IF you live in HCM or Hanoi, where you MIGHT get lucky and they speak English, any other city, they just simply dont answer or hang up in your face because they dont speak English
Another thing about the taxi I’ve experienced is that when they hear you speak English they sometimes assume you don’t know ur way around so they’ll intentionally take the longest route or pretend they’re “lost” this happened to me in Vietnam, I’m Vietnamese, but I was with my cousin who didn’t speak Vietnamese so we spoke in English in the car and we realized it was taking twice as long to get there as usual and the streets didn’t look familiar, so I spoke to him and he said “he was going the right way” I let it go but the realized we were going in circles and he said he was “lost” I immediately told him to pull over because he was still driving in circles so I asked a local and she told us directions and the taxi driver argued with her about it. My 10 min drive took over an hour and was EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. just wanted to warn you about some taxis, but vietnam is an amazing country I’m very proud to be from.
Ash B Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry this happened to you. At least other people can learn from this. Safe travels wherever else you end up going! :)
Also they pretend to tell you sad stories about themselves to make you feel sorry so you can tip them more.
That happened to me years ago, I got out of the taxi and refused to pay. He got antsy and a lot of Vietnamese came over and helped. I missed my show, thank God I now have google maps. I map out the journey before I start and make a point of showing the map to the taxi driver.
Thank you! I was in India about two years ago and learned a lot about street level scams. (To be honest, there are a couple that are so smart, I can't even be mad. More impressed.) I'm now in a position that I can be a digital nomad and Saigon is on my radar. I'm very excited.
@fitboy 86 no need to apologise my friend, there are plenty of scams in the West too but they feel legitimate by being called "white collar crimes" or "corporate fraud"!
wow I’m Vietnamese, I live in Hanoi but some of your tips sound brand new to me!
thanks for the Video, this will help me and my friends a lot when we go to other cities in Vietnam.
I'm glad you could find this video helpful! Vietnam is such a beautiful place to travel around. :)
They will switch your bill with a counterfeit bill, and give you another fake bill, and keep your valid bill. Try to pay in small bills, and snap your bills serial number.
Oo I almost forgot that one. Thanks for sharing!
When I went to Vietnam it was so fun! The only thing I was worried about was when my dad and I went on a scooter and road to a restaurant. It was hectic! But my dad’s friend said “ they always look forwards not back” which I found pretty funny!
xX/Mards_Sachiko\Xx Haha yeah, it seems hectic to us non-locals, but the locals there seem to have a system of driving there that we don't understand. Glad you made it back safe!
pick pockets are the only real theft to worry about...don't keep wallet in loose pocket
Yes, pick pocket and snatch and run theft! Thanks for sharing your tip!
I used to live in Hanoi for more than a year. Thank God never of these happened to me.I still consider Hanoi as a safe place to live in. I can not just say that all of the street foods are clean
Good advice about the tour guides Alison. On our first trip to Saigon six years ago my wife and I fell victim to the notorious cyclo scam. A pair of cyclo riders approached us as we left Ben Than market. Offered us a 'free' ride back to our hotel to drop our shopping at our room before the paid tour. They dropped us off around the corner - not in front of the hotel. When we returned they wouldn't allow us to take a photo of them. Would not give us a price - said it was "cheap". Toured around for about 2 hours. Then dropped us a block away from the hotel demanding 10 times the price it should have been - even had a brochure with the scam price which they forcefully thrust at us. All the while shouting they would call the police if we did not pay.
If you want to do a cyclo tour, book it through the hotel. You pay the hotel and they pay the cyclo tour guides. We did this on a later trip to Saigon and it was great. It's a fun way to see Saigon but be careful!
Brett Burns Oh wow, that sounds like a bad experience. Sorry that happened to you and thank you for sharing with us! Booking with the hotel does seem like the way to go. :)
A very common one is the offering of drugs. One guy sells it and not long after a police men comes. This happens a lot on Koh Phagnan where you can buy yourself out for 2-5,000 EURO
This is really helpful, thank you for making this video
I'm so happy I could help! Hope you have a nice trip!
i love the sound of your voice. i could listen to you read a phone book for an hour.
David King hahah thanks David!
One thing I learned that is vital to have when travelling in poorer countries, or places with high theft rates, is to have pants or jacket with zip pockets preferably something on the INSIDE. I.E. a jacket with inside breast pocket.
I never EVER leave my phone in my back bum pocket, or obviously out.
I even have sneaky compartments for money or i.d. or anything major. So if I'm sleeping somewhere public that I could have major items stolen, I keep my passport/money/phone in hidden pockets.
Kathamandu store is good for stuff like these, as they specifically make things to be hidden.
I won’t come back to Vietnam. Once enough....
Thank you for your tips. I’m travelling to Saigon this Sunday so this info is very helpful! Cheers.
Also look out for mobile coconut vendors ( carried on their shoulders) .... started opening the coconuts and forced us to take the coconuts saying it’s free for sample testing .... ended up paying 5 x more than original price because he was rushing us and we failed to convert the cost in our currency fast enough...before we realized the actual price he had already disappeared..... this happened in Ho Chi Min City
JP P Oh yeah! Thanks for pointing that out. That almost happened to us a couple of times in Hanoi, but the ladies were selling baked pastries. Sorry that happened to you. Thanks for sharing though!
Never any "free" samples.
I am being extra wary of this scam on my visit. As a coconut 🥥 drinking and eating sort of guy, this has quickly become my litmus test for any decent country
how to not get robbed in vn: look poor
You have nailed most of the critical scam points. I have been a victim myself.
Aw I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you have a better experience next time you come to Vietnam!
The snatch and run theft happened to my GF and I while living on Samui in Thailand.. this was done by snatching her back while we had to slow down in a curve and a 500cc crossmotor came out of the dark behind us. The catch was good... 2 iphones, the month rent (which my GF took to the Full Moon Party) and a bottle of Jack Daniels .... haha
IQ CREATIVE Oh wow! I’m sorry that happened to you guys. Some of these people are skilled. It’s hard to be on the look out all the time, but if you’re aware, it makes you more cautious. Safe travels!
Just in case you're unlucky enough and a thief is trying to rob you, if you're not obviously bigger than them who can 100% snatch your stuff back, let it go because a lot of them have knives. Those drug addicts ain't scared of nothing
Phuong Ngo wow thanks for letting us know! I didn’t even think about that.
*I always felt unsafe at Vietnam a lot of kidnapping,stealing but I somehow always go there!…*
TROLL FX I’ve been numerous times and never had a issue, but yeah I get a bad feeling sometimes.
Scam in hanoi is worse, just be careful with those sellers, room for rent(they will not reimburse your deposit), investment, salary, etc..
Aji Bang You just need to make sure to have a good contract and maybe even go through a renting agency. I had some great people help me with the rental process in Saigon. Check out Honey Comb rental if you’re looking for a place in Saigon.
Just use ride sharing apps (Aber etc...), more expensive than local taxis but the prices are pretty much fixed...so no chance of getting scammed
Dennis Vu Yup! That's what I said in my video too. I love using those apps. :)
As long as this is not middle east
you are good
"Feeling safe" in Vietnam requires only the ability to deny reality for a time.
I've heard so many horror stories about a theft that I've always been super careful with my stuff. The other night when I was waiting for a grab I got my phone out to check where it was and in that split second a motorbike rode post and snatched it. No matter how careful you be It can still happen.
Aw I am so sorry that happened to you. Yeah, sometimes you just get unlucky. I hope the rest of your travels are good!
i was super uncareful with my phones 4 times now nothing got stolen even in small alleys near bui vien, if you don't look like an easy target they don't try.
If u were wondering Vietnam is rlly safe I'm Vietnamese and u should watch "15 things u didn't know about Vietnam" it's with Chinese, Asia, and Japan idk if there was Asia I forgot but ya and wut I meant by its with Chinese, Asia, and Japan I meant it's like Vietnam is expected to be Chinese, Asia, and Japan
When I lived in Cannon Beach , Oregon there was a group of young kids ( 20’s) they would wait tables on the coast all summer to earn the money to spend the winter in Vietnam.
So what , idiot.
Very helpful video, and such a clear easy voice to follow - thank you :)
Correy Law Thanks for your comment Correy! :)
before go to vietnamse you nice to have a friend from vietnam or a friend very good as speak vietnamse
jack white hat My relatives are local Vietnamese and they help me out a lot. :)
but is have some body scam you when you buy thing
Oh yeah, I get overcharged a lot when I buy things, but it is not too bad.
exactly
Grab is the safest and the right amount paid!
It's quite hard getting a grab in Vietnam because they often call you, and of you don't speak Vietnamese, they cancel the job.
Yeah, that is true. Also, most foreigners only get data on their phone and don't have calling capabilities.
Get hotel to book it
Thank you young lady. I will be visiting Da Nang soon and I will keep your advice in mind
Becareful when you go to Saigon, there are some guys selling coconuts. They are scammers, the coconuts are really small and not that delicious but they sell them with 150.000 - 200.00 dong. Like you could get a more big and delicious one than those with just like 30.000 or 40.000 dong. I'm a Vietnamese so ik it
Oh wow, I never heard of the coconut scam, but I'll be sure to look out for it now. Thanks for sharing! :)
that was the "worst" actual scam, asked for the price understand 40k gave him 100k he told me 140k. Told him to f. of. But in the end that was the price of a Cheeseburger i "over" paid him.
Last night 16/06/2019 i faced this scam... Someone snatched my phone... Nd ran away.... I never expected this in Ho Chi Minh city..... Vietnam..... Thts not good..
Bachitter sandhu Aw I’m sorry to hear that. :( it is very common in the city. I hope you’re experience gets better in Vietnam. It’s a beautiful country!
should carefully about taxi ,pay,sell,people,bad guy is everywhere
...everyone don't matter old or young,poor or rich, adult or children,girl or boy. also carefully your wallet.
Vừa vô cảm vừa đánh giá VN quá sai
You hit the nail on the head regarding taxi scam. The taxi driver switched my money 500,000 dong to 20,000 dong at midnight on me once when I paid the taxi ride.
That's terrible. At least $500k is only ~$22 USD.
KL taxi even worst....you give big note like RM50, no change to you. The taxi fare was RM33.00
If you ask for change, the taxi driver tell you the balance is the tip to him or the balance is cover the return to their main pick up point. And the worst, the taxi driver tell you, he didn't have small change...RM2 to RM5, give him to buy coffee.
Ah yes! The wet wipes. 😂 That's why I always end up bringing my own tissues or depending on the restaurant, I'll ask for paper tissues. Usually it's free haha.
Joyce Le lol yeah me too!!
Don't be so frugal. The wet napkin only costs 10 cents each.
se7en Zee Yeah, I didn't say they were expensive Haha. Just don't like using them.
Not only Vietnam is a third world slum, the people and the culture reveal they are liars, cheaters, scammers, and they will do anything to rip you off. Even the food that you think might be safe, but it’s full of cheap, toxic, and absolutely, unsanitary. The Vietnamese got no sense of honesty whatsoever! I’m screaming as loud as I possible can, so the people can steer away from going to Vietnam. What a third world slum Vietnam is!
What a shame you can’t even write a proper English sentence, let alone reasoning your stupidity. Admit you’re stupid and go get some education, will you?
Scams in Vietnam are really common, I think especially in Thanh Hoa, we were paying for an item but then the seller said that we didn’t give them enough money yet, luckily, my brother was recording when we gave the money, so we didn’t get scammed. Nowadays, scams are everywhere so it’s best to keep an eye on your stuff.
Thanh Hoa ppl are dicks jesus chris dude...
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Alison Linh You’re welcome! Have a great time in Vietnam!
Great tips when traveling anywhere! Westerners tend to stick our more so in Asia. My Mom is Asian and my Dad is a Westerner so they have their stories about traveling in that area. New subscriber here!!
Good Cook Bad Cook Haha same here! Thanks for the comment and support! :)
Best to have a throw away phone for the street, and photo copies of ID, and very little cash.
Good video, good job. Good to know. Another You Tuber recommends Uber. I guess Uber was bought out by Grab. The meter business is annoying. I hate arguing with cabbies. You are good with your videos, no hems or haws. One has to watch out for scammer tour guides all over Asia. Thanks
Shag Wellington Thank you! Yes, I recommended Uber or Grab as well. But you are right, Grab bought out Uber. Way better to use instead of a taxi though!
Thanks for your video. Will be traveling to Vietnam fairly soon so any insights are greatly appreciated!
Nguyen N. I'm happy you found this helpful! I hope you have an amazing trip to Vietnam! It's so beautiful :)
Alison Linh The only thing that would’ve made this video better is if you didn’t mention already having a boyfriend 😎👍
The tour guide scam is common. Whenever a total stranger with a BIG smile chats you up, it's going to lead to money in one way or another.
same in cuba, we ended up asking them for money first before they had the chance, it was so fun that the last couple fo days we were there we just walked the street looking for scammers to prank.
How about staff member steal money or things from your hotel room? You might not keep money in your bag, but all your passport, computers are there..
Lufia Daos Thank you for sharing! I never experienced it, but I’m sure it happens. Stay safe!
You can also get scam online so , in Vietnam for me , it is still safe !
There are many scam methods out there , this are only few methods , they can scam you even on TV or they visit your house and say that something is on sale and it's cheaper than normal. But it is actually more expensive than normal , etc ... scammer everywhere , you always have to look out !
Thanks for the heads up! I've heard of some of these scams before, but never encountered them.
Great tips sadly a lot of people still get scam or robbed no matter what
Very true. Hopefully this will help a little bit though!
The shoeshine men are a big one. The shoes I was wearing outside Ben Thanh market I did not even need a shine. But two young men approached me even though I said no. Then I figured why not help these poor men earn some money. They tried to remove my shoe but I won't allow. Then I asked how much.. he wanted 450,000 dongs about $20. I gave them the equivalent of $8. One looked angry but you don't expect a shoeshine to be $20. I could buy a new pair of shoes in Vietnam for that amount of money I'm sure. So last time I went back I was in Hanoi and a shoeshine man approached me. I said no. Who knows maybe he was a real shoeshine man and not a scammer? But that is the price people pay when others are dishonest.
Yep, the shoeshine boys - you'll see them in the touristy areas in district 1. Suggest wearing flip-flop.
I just won't bother with them. I ran into one in Hanoi and I told him "no." When I first went to Vietnam I thought these were honest, hardworking men who are trying to make an honest living. So that is why I allowed them thinking for few dollars I do my part to help others who are less fortunate. I didn't need any shoeshine. Now if a genuine shoeshine man approaches me I won't know the difference and I won't patronize them.
It's terrible a few took advantage of your generosity. The shoe shiners/repairers are like the local gangsters. Ignore them.
Most Vietnamese people are honest and friendly people, like people in other countries. They will always a few bad apples.
Sometimes you try to help others who are less fortunate than you but end up becoming a victim. I had heard of scams in Thailand, Philippines, etc so I was ready for those countries. But I never did research about scams on Vietnam or came across this until after it happened to me. A lot more people are traveling to Vietnam these days and word will get around. I think if they were honest they could still make money charging a flat rate and most tourists will give them a tip on top of that. That way then can make money honestly. When I was in Hoi An there was a young lady selling Christmas cards that when you open them up there is pop up of an artwork. I told her I already sent out my Christmas cards and I don't need any. It was a few days before Christmas last year. She told me she is a student and is trying to earn some money. So I gave her $1 and told her it's a donation to her education and keep the card. But she insisted and gave me the card. One of the people on my tour was with me and noted her honesty. I agree. I took the card not because I needed it but because she did not want to come across as a beggar or pan handler just looking for donations. She wanted to earn it. So she is a bright, shining example of a virtuous person and makes up for those two shoeshine scammers outside Ben Thanh market.
Vietnam is a third world slum!
I have been to several countries Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, S. Korea, Singapore,Vietnam. Only in Vietnam we got scammed in the taxi. The meter was constantly running up even when the car was still.When we noticed this, we got off the taxi and just paid the amount. This happened in Hanoi Old Quarters. The Old quarters though is a nice place and I liked it more better than Bangkok. Just take the Hop on Hop off bus if you are in Hanoi for a few days. Avoid the Night Market, my wife lost here Iphone there. Safest places Japan & Korea.
Thanks for the helpful tips! I do agree that Japan and Korea are generally more safe. I believe it is just the different types of culture though.
Im sure Singapore should be included in your safest place. People literally reserve seats with their handphones and personal belongings.
Hi Alison, I enjoyed your informative heads up video. I would really love to visit there someday and your helpful info may very well be needed. Have a Blessed Week My Beautiful Friend ; . )
Hi Kenneth, I am so happy this video was helpful to you! Wish you safe travels and an amazing trip! :)
Too bad i did not catch your vid prior my trip as i was taxi scammed. I asked for meter rate at hanoi train station to old quarters. The driver covered the meter but assured it is going by meter. Ended up 350k to the old quarters. I angrily quarreled and settled for 100k in the end as my luggages were at the boot and i made him took them out prior paying. So viewers pls beware, dun follow my mistake. Grab taxi following through are all alright.
I'm sorry to hear that! :( But thank you for sharing your story. I appreciate you helping others as well!
I hope the rest of your travels through Vietnam go well!
Alison Linh so... Is it safe to travel?
William Sepulveda As long as you're careful about the scams! Just be smart and you will have an amazing time there!
Alison Linh thank you Alison :) And your right, any country could get you scammed if not wise about it... Good point.
When you need to be so watchful in an environment, means there's no safety. In the States, you pretty much just walk and not think about these sort of things, that's safety. In South East Asia, generally you have to exercise caution 24/7.
Much Love Generally, I do feel safer in the States. However, my home got robbed in the States and I've gotten scammed out of concert tickets there. I never encountered any problems in Vietnam. But then again, I lived in the States for five years and Vietnam for only 8 months. I do believe you are targeted more as a foreigner in a different country so I think I always had my guard up in Vietnam and was very careful.
I've seen several home/store robbing and shooting news every week in the States, how is it safer? And scams are literally everywhere, from trading to promoting/advertising.. It didn't happen to you yet doesn't mean "safe", if you walk around poorer areas they could snatch anything from you in no time for drug money. Don't lie you guys don't even dare to walk out in the street as often as people do in VN, and downtown areas especially in big cities are full of panhandlers and sneaky robbers/stealers for drug money. Drug dealers are the money Queens in the States! Talking about being unmindful in downtown, are you joking?? I think VN should spend SOME BUT NOT MUCH MORE money for public security, because it's like paying to protect idiots who walk and chit-chat or play games without looking at the street or the surrounding. There are crooks everywhere, not even less in the States, and general local Vietnamese can't afford paying more for that stupid extra cost of having police everywhere (they prefer being mindful to protect their own properties.. as common sense and mindfulness are the most basic survival skills..), so if you want to have the luxury of being unmindful, go to high-class shopping centers and there, you're at "home"!
I heard that at the airport you need to tip (bribe) the customs officials by including some cash when you hand over your passport to them, is this true? I would hate to know what will happen to me if I don't "tip" them.
James Sal Haha no this is not true! Once you pay for your visa, you're good to go! :)
do not bribe periode
If you look like Viet mostly they will find a way for you to give them some cash.
I hate customs officials the most when traveling to VN. They ask for gifts (quà) even though you did not do anything illegal entering or leaving the country. Very annoying so I learned to ignore them.
Don’t pay. They legally can’t do that. Now that they’re more security cameras in airports they do it less now but don’t do it you’re not obligated to
Like travelling to most of these countries just don't flaunt cash or jewels no one's impressed by your money or fancy watch if your westerners people there know you have money a friend of mine was in Asia and thought to impress girls he needed to flash cash and fancy jewlery no one was impressed .. I flashed my smile and charm and laid back attitude
Farley vision hahah this is true. The fact that you had the money to buy a plane ticket to travel to another country shows that you have more money then most people. Which is why a lot of foreigners are targeted even when they aren't flashy.
You are so articulate. Thanks for your post.
I'll be traveling to Vietnam in next month for a short tour. This will help me a lot. Thank you :)
Madusha Dedigamuwa I'm so happy you found this helpful! Hope you have an amazing time and safe travels!
Just watched all of this in the coffeeshop in barcelona haha. Great informative video 💕💕
oo2deep o hahaha it’s like my most popular video for some reason. Probably the only reason I have so many subscribers.
Be careful also of the currency exchange right in the airport. The Vietnam Dong currency is also confusing and they can take advantage of tourist by undervaluing your currency by 30% to 40%.
Anyone else try to clean that black spec off their monitor, just to realize it's really on her wall ?
HalfBreedMix
Lol 😂
Remember I was drinking with this American bloke in hanoi, told me a few nights before he left a bar drunk and a guy on a motorbike drove past and swiped his phone
Im here in Vietnam right now, people arent friendly for foreigners specially english speaking asian countries.. Im Filipino by the way.
Sieg Mac I believe it’s mainly a language and cultural barrier. I noticed that people are very friendly in the Philippines and a lot of people speak English. However, English is not as common in Vietnam. I don’t think people there mean to be rude. It’s just a different culture then what we’re use to! I hope you end up having a great time there!
@@AlisonLinh i am having a hard time here haha hopefully before i go home, my experience will be changed.
Good information.
How do you feel about the relationship between Cars and Motorbikes on the road?
When I was in Vietnam last year, the Cars were driving erratically, not caring about hitting Motorbikes.
I felt scared for the Motorbikes getting hit.
Sang L. Yes, it's usually the larger the vehicle, the more power they have in the road. Big buses and trucks drive like crazy while smaller cars and motorcycles have to get out of the way. It's really dangerous actually, but it seems like everyone understands this system and flows with it. I don't drive in the city (Saigon), because I'm terrified haha. I also work from home so I don't need to drive everyday. However, Da Nang is a lot less crowded and easier to drive around.
If you have never been to Vietnam before, Da Nang would be the city to visit first. It's a lot less crowded comparing to Hanoi and HCMC. You can stay at one of the high-end resorts and also visit a few historic sites.
As for the car/motorbikes, no issues. They have their systems and it seems like it's working better than in the US. When I was there last year, I saw a Bentley surrounded by motorbikes. Some Vietnamese are very wealthy!
VN has no road rules!!
You’re so gorgeous! Omg I’m loving this! I’m watching it and it makes me wanna go back to Vietnam!
Van Vo come back!!
Gabriel traveller travels around the world with 2% problem. Currently he is in VN and so far looks quite OK.
Watching this channel to learn english.. Thank you so much.
I love your personality and your voice 😁
Thank youu :)
great video . But i think asking that question is like saying Is New York safe?? Brooklyn or manhattan. Bronx or harlem. lol.
Tom Nguyen True! I will admit it is a dumb title for this video, but it’s what got people’s attention. Just wanted to let people know that Vietnam is generally a great place to visit!
Thanks Alison, traveling in next spring there, so appreciate the tips! Jake is one lucky guy!
Glad you found this video helpful! Safe travels! :)
Cheers Alison, enjoying your videos about your life in Vietnam. I'm an English teacher as well, sent you a message on your 'daily life in Da Nang video'....keep enjoyin' the good life! Ken
Kenneth Monette Thanks Kenneth! I appreciate your comments. :) I hope all is well over on your side of the world!
Good hints thanks. Are you teaching while in Vietnam?
Jess Yates Yes I am! I actually teach online. I made a video on it if you want to learn more :)
Wait... I'm from Vietnam and I didn't know it was that dangerous
Vietnam is dangerous.
Ryan Odin Kaiser I'm serious, I never got scammed in my whole life.
Wait you're a Vietnamese too?
Yes I am. Unfortunately, I've been scammed more than once.
Me too 😂 but I think because we're used to the "scams" we don't see them as scams
A hard working shoe shiner will charge u approximately $1.5 or around 25,000 dong. I met a kid who shine my shoes for 25 cents once.
You Found Me :O Wow, sounds like a good deal!
Good advice Alison. Thanks for sharing 😀
Tom S Happy to help! Thanks for the comment :)
There are no such thing as "safe" in vietnam. You need to be cautious whenever you are traveling in vietnam, especially solo/group girl dont ever go for their massage services or prepare yourself for horror experience! They are not thailand!
I'm thinking about visiting Vietnam. Great video.
Stan McKinney You definitely should visit! I love Vietnam :) I hope you have a great time there!
@@AlisonLinh Thank you!
First time I flew to Saigon I got over charged.... only finding out when I asked in the hotel the average price... then I flew to da nang and used vinasun the metre kept going when stationary .... luckily it was far to hotel .... country is full of rip off merchants
Hahaha, yes they have some taxi's with "turbo" meters...
The chances of most of these happening to you in Viet Nam is very low. The only things here that have a good chance of occurring are the Taxi Scams, but just watch the meter carefully to avoid and the Wet Wipes thing in small eateries. Though the second one isn't a scam, it's just not something a tourist would expect to be charged for.
The rule of thumb is, if you can be charged for using something, you will be charged for using it.
Other than that, I found Viet Nam to be a very friendly and safe place.
Doug Scott I mostly agree with you! However, theft was more common then I originally thought. I've had a decent amount of friends and relatives who have had something stolen from them. But you just have to be aware and careful and you'll have an amazing time!
Thank for your video. A lot of useful information
Travel With Henry Thanks for the comment :) I hope you have a great trip!
"Fake Taxi" hahahaha :))))
Thanks for the great information. Vietnam is becoming more and more dangerous!!! Sad!
Madeleine Reilly
If you feel Vietnam more and more dangerous, try to live in Paris, Italia
BRUH Vietnam is getting safer what you saying
these are great tips, i'll visit vietnam in the next few years.
I'm glad this was helpful! Thanks for watching and good luck with your trip to Vietnam! :)
Thanks a lot. It's very useful for me. I plan to visit HCMC near the end of this year.
Glad I could help! Hope you have a wonderful trip :)
Lived all over Asia, two years ago discovered Vietnam. Found Ham Tiem beach, its between Phan Thiet and Mui Ne south of Saigon about 200K. Quiet, safe, great beaches. Not a blue water beach but very nice, the sand has some black in it. For me its the best place in all of Asia. One road along a 30K beach and mountains 5 minutes away. Not well known but a great place and good food. All of the wor
Sounds nice! I really liked Mui Ne. I will check out Ham Tiem next time. :)
That's some smooth electric piano
Should be careful of thieft in HCMC, pick pocket in Hanoi.
i am vietnamese but scew vietnam and don't want to comeback!!!
This is helpful. Thank you.
Thank you, I have met a lady on line in saigon,and you have taught me more about lfe in vietnam.
I'm glad you found this video helpful! I hope you check out my other videos also. I've done a decent amount of traveling around Vietnam and it is such a beautiful place to see. :)
I had a bad experience' in a what they referred to, a while back, as "Black" taxis! Good advice!
Good video. I would say street smart, I sold clothing for about 12.years in Red Light Districts in The Netherlands and that made me streetwise. It does help when traveling abroad. Lots of scams in Vietnam though.
I got scammed in a tricycle ride with my family in Vietnam
Raven Bruh Tricycle Is A lie
my vietnamese friends say its dangerous
the wet wipes thingy. i think there's one too in singapore (or i'm not sure?). my mum and sisters were eating in this eatery and apart from their orders, wet wipes were also placed on their table and this pork and beans kind of food in a little bowl. they thought those were free so they didn't mind. but when they got the bill, they were charged sgd 6 for the three packs of wet wipes and another sgd 5 for the beans. sgd 11 is only a little over usd 8. it's not the hugest sum but still, why pay for something you didn't order, right...?
but overall, i think, scams do happen everywhere. we just need to be extra careful and be 101% aware of our surroundings...
It's pretty safe but if you are not Vietnamese and they know that then it's most likely to get scammed
This is true. If you stand out a a foreigner, you are more likely to get scammed. This is why I made this video. For other travelers. Vietnam is a beautiful country! :)
My Mom and Dad and My Ancestors are from Vietnam and me and my sister are from Canada. When we visit Vietnam, we be very careful
Lena Le It's always good to be careful wherever you travel. I'm glad you guys are being smart about traveling. Best of luck with all your future travels! :)
Those wet wipes always get me haha! Great tips, luckily we've had good luck so far apart from the restaurant scam. Always super paranoid about my camera snatched so I hold on to it like a baby!
Aaron and Wera haha seriously! It's so sketchy trying to vlog while walking around Vietnam. Hope your good luck continues!! :)
That’s how the Vietnamese people and their culture are. They wonder why people stop going to Vietnam. Vietnam is a third world slum!
Still better than some parts in the US where you can shot at and killed for being in the wrong place.
se7en Zee You can be killed anywhere for being in the wrong place. Which is the point I was trying to make ok the beginning.
@Alison: my comment was towards the person above. I like Vietnam very much, esp. Da Nang and Da Lat. I try to stop by whenever I'm in Asia.
Everyone should always be careful anywhere they go anyways, but knowing the specifics are good.
Floppy Arms Here I completely agree! :)
Thank you for the video Alison. The title is a little confusing though so people are not sure you are talking about the personal safety in Vietnam or how easily you are to be scammed there. Those are two completely different things.
Lost&found Hi, thanks for your comment. I guess I'm talking a little bit about both, but it is a little confusing. Vietnam is pretty safe in terms of personal safety. Scams can be common, but are not usually physically harmful.
How many annoying telemarketer scam keep calling peoples day and night on peoples cell and home phone in America. Even when you told them no the 1st time. Way too many.
Love your videos. It's really helpful for me although i'm Vietnamese and i got scammed few times goddamn it...
Anyway keep it up Linh ^^!
RyanNguyen165 I was scammed twice by taxi and I am also Vietnamese !
Thank you! I'm sorry you got scammed. I hope this video helps other people!
I been thinking of retiring in Vietnam. Is it difficult to learn the language?
It is pretty difficult, but if you're living there, it's a lot easier to pick up since you are using it more often. :) I hope you have a great time there!