Common Tourist Scams in Ho Chi Minh City (and How to Avoid Them)
Taxi and rideshare scams
- Use Grab (or local Be / XanhSM): app-based ride-hail. Price is set; no meter games. Default for tourists.
- If hailing on the street: only use Vinasun (white) or Mai Linh (green) — the two reputable metered operators. Phone numbers and logos are unmistakable.
- Avoid: lookalike "Vinasum", "Mai Linn" cabs at the airport with rigged meters, fake meters that run at 5x speed, "broken meter — fixed price 800,000 dong" scripts.
- Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN): walk past the touts at arrivals. Vinasun and Mai Linh have official ranks outside; Grab pickup is in a designated lot a 5-minute walk away.
- Currency confusion: 500,000 VND and 20,000 VND notes are similar colours. Count change in good light.
- Cyclo (xich lo): agree the price in writing before boarding; ¥5-10 USD for a typical 30-min loop. Disputes have turned aggressive.
FAQ
- How do I avoid the drive-by phone snatching scam in HCMC?
- Never use your phone while walking near the road and never hold it in the hand closest to traffic — step into a doorway or shop entrance to check directions or take a call. Wear bags cross-body on the building side, not the road side. Don't loop straps tightly around your neck or wrist; if a snatcher grabs you can be dragged into traffic — let it go. Avoid wearing gold chains. Hotspots are District 1 — Bui Vien, Dong Khoi, Le Loi, Ben Thanh Market, Pham Ngu Lao. Snatchers operate in pairs and may carry knives; never chase.
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