Tag: scams
22 articles tagged this way.
- Visa-agency fraud in Vietnam
Fake e-visa websites, padded 'express' fees, agencies promising approval for unclear visa classes — how to tell legitimate Vietnamese immigration agents from the rest.
scams · Updated 2026-06-30 - Taxi Meter Scams (and How to Avoid Them)
Rigged meters, fake taxi liveries, refusal to use the meter. The simplest fix: use Grab or Be.
scams · Updated 2026-06-30 - Counterfeit medicine in Vietnam — risk and how to avoid
Vietnamese pharmacies are mostly fine, but counterfeit medicine exists at the edges — what to watch for, where to buy safely, and which drug categories carry highest risk.
scams · Updated 2026-06-11 - Fake hotel and homestay listings in Vietnam
Booking.com and Airbnb have largely stamped these out, but they still occur — fake listings, address-swap fraud, and the 'no-such-hotel' arrival shock. How to verify.
scams · Updated 2026-06-11 - Job and recruitment scams targeting foreigners in Vietnam
Fake teaching jobs, fake work-visa promises, advance-fee recruiting scams, and the 'trafficking' risk that's been recurring on the Cambodia border.
scams · Updated 2026-06-11 - Phone and Bag Snatching in Vietnamese Cities
The most common urban crime affecting foreigners in Ho Chi Minh City, and to a lesser extent Hanoi. A handful of habits stop almost all of it.
scams · Updated 2026-06-11 - Train and Bus Station Touts
Major Vietnamese transport hubs have a layer of aggressive intermediaries between you and the official ticket counter. Walking past them — or booking online before you arrive — solves it.
scams · Updated 2026-06-11 - Is Vietnam safe? The honest overview
Vietnam is safer than its reputation. The real risks are motorbike accidents, drink-spiking in a few nightlife spots, and a small set of avoidable scams. The 10-minute orientation.
start here · Updated 2026-05-21 - Vietnam scam-avoidance checklist (printable)
A printable checklist of the common Vietnamese scams to know — taxi meter, friendly stranger, motorbike deposit, gem shop, ATM skimming. What to verify each.
checklists · Updated 2026-05-21 - Dating and romance scams in Vietnam
The expat-and-traveller-targeted patterns — Tinder long-cons, 'I need money for my sick mother', visa-marriage cons. What to watch for and how to verify.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Dating-app fraud in Vietnam
Tinder and Vietnamese-app patterns aimed at foreigners — the cafe-overcharge, the moneyup-front ask, and the romance long con.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - The Vietnamese gem scam — what it is and how to spot it
The 'tea-house gem-store invitation' is the country's most-elaborate scam — set-up, pressure, fake export-paperwork, and the fact you can't actually resell.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Nightclub bill padding in Vietnam
Inflated nightclub tabs, the menu-without-prices, the dim-lights pour and the security-pressure-to-pay reality.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Weight-loss pill scams in Vietnam
Unregulated diet-pill stalls in tourist areas — what they actually sell, the health risks, and how to spot them.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Drink Spiking in Vietnam's Nightlife Districts
Rare but documented, mostly in backpacker bar zones. Basic drink hygiene removes almost all of the risk, and Vietnam's overall nightlife safety record is better than most Western cities.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Fake Police Shakedowns
Uncommon, but it happens — usually around backpacker areas or as a roadside stop. Real Vietnamese police follow specific procedures, and knowing them takes most of the pressure off.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - The Friendly Stranger Approach: Genuine or Not
Most Vietnamese people who strike up a conversation with you are sincere. A small number aren't. Here's how to tell the difference without becoming the kind of traveller who turns down every greeting.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Money Exchange Scams and Where to Change Currency Safely
Independent money changers in tourist areas use a small bag of tricks at the moment of handover. Banks, ATMs, and a little vigilance solve almost all of it.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Restaurant Overcharging and Menu Tricks
Most Vietnamese restaurants are scrupulously fair. A small number in tourist zones pad the bill in predictable ways — here's how to read a menu, a receipt, and a 'market price'.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - The Tea House and Gem Shop Scam
A friendly chat in Hoan Kiem or District 1 turns into a sit-down sales pitch for overpriced tea, gems, or art. Here's how to recognise it early and step away politely.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Fake Tour Offices and Knock-Off Brands
The Hanoi Old Quarter is famous for shop names that copy reputable tour operators letter for letter. How to spot the genuine ones.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21 - Motorbike Rental Deposits and Fake Damage Claims
Renting a motorbike is part of Vietnam travel for many visitors. The most common rip-off is a fake damage claim at the end of the rental.
scams · Updated 2026-05-21