Vietnam Tourist Traps

  Ben Thanh Market: pickpocketers...
by markythesparky1
 
  • Ben Thanh Market: pickpocketers paradise!
      Ben Thanh Market: pickpocketers...
    by markythesparky1
  • cheaper place right down the street !!!!
      cheaper place right down the street !!!!
    by jlanza29
  • These cyclo drivers await the next bus - Hoi An
      These cyclo drivers await the next bus -...
    by mtncorg
  • Hawker boat
      Hawker boat
    by kidfree
  • You buy from me ?
      You buy from me ?
    by kidfree
 

Most Viewed Tourist Traps in Vietnam

101.

The money-thing   Ho Chi Minh City

The money-thing, Ho Chi Minh City

 10 Reviews  Stall 626 in Ben Thanh offers d best Dong for your buck. As at Sept 20, 2011, airport moneychangers n Parkson Dong Khoi offering dong 20,810 per US$ (no comm to pay anywhere), but Ben Thanh was... 

 See All 71 Tourist Traps in Ho Chi Minh City

102.

Street sellers   Hanoi

Street sellers, Hanoi

 13 Reviews  If you stop and show interest in what the ladies carry they will talk you into buying there goods.Even if you dont really want it . If you dont want what they have dont show the slightest interest as... 

 See All 52 Tourist Traps in Hanoi

103.

Over-pricing   Ho Chi Minh City

Over-pricing, Ho Chi Minh City

 25 Reviews  Be VERY careful of the cyclos. Negotiate the price before hand but be aware that when you get off, they may demand more money from you. Whilst in HCMC friends got bailed up against a wall and more... 

 See All 71 Tourist Traps in Ho Chi Minh City

104.

Transportation matters   Hanoi

Transportation matters, Hanoi

 15 Reviews  I felt into the traps 3 times, even I am extremely careful: 1. Took a taxi from one of the museum to the city, should cost around 40,000 Dong. The meter jumps so fast that I ended up paying about 5... 

 See All 52 Tourist Traps in Hanoi

105.

Saigon River Cruise   Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon River Cruise, Ho Chi Minh City

 4 Reviews  The Saigon River isn't smelly anymore when i went unlike what has been described by the others. However there really isn't that much to see either. The banks are lined with industrial boats and... 

 See All 71 Tourist Traps in Ho Chi Minh City

106.

Touts   Hanoi

Touts, Hanoi

 2 Reviews  You may see women carrying loads of fruit and think great photo opportunity. So do they!! They will ask whether you want a photo or if you are with someone else give them the pole to carry and for... 

 See All 52 Tourist Traps in Hanoi

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Booking Trip through travel agent

by KhanhLy

When booking your trip through an agency in Vietnam, be sure to ask for specific detail information on what you are paying for. Does it includes meal, if so, which one - lunch, dinner? Does it includes entrance fees? and how will you get to the site. Does it include transportation to the site? How long does it take to get there?For example: For our trip to Hue, we originally booked a flight from Hanoi to Hue, arriving early the night before and going on a group tour down Perfume River and seeing Thien Mu pagoda, Ming Mang mansoleum, etc. Later, we were not able to book a flight from Hanoi to Hue because it was full, so we had to take an overnight express train from Hanoi to Hue. Instead of going on the group tour, we had our own private tour. Arriving in Hue, a driver took us to a boat and saw us off. On the boat, the lady asked us what we wanted to eat for lunch, fish or shrimp or...

Handicraft centers not all their cracked up to be

by MParent

Almost all tours make stops at the handicraft centers that are convienently located along the route to wherever you're going for a long drive. They make a big deal about the fact that handicapped people are making their products - we didn't know if it was true or not. But the things they sell are very overpriced - we found the exact same items much cheaper in other stores. The bathrooms and snack bars are worth stopping at, if you need to. Use the facilities and save your money for real stores!

Purchases and costums

by skydivefred

When you are there, you will certainly be tempted to buy DVD (roughly 1$ each) Of course, at that price, you are not going to buy only a couple, are you?!!!BE CAREFUL TO THE COSTUMS !! Not that they want to make you pay the taxes, they just want their bribe !!!I never got caught but a friend of mine did twice !!!! For 100 DVDs he had to pay about $45 or they would keep them all. How did I avoid this. Luck might be an answer, but I also divided the DVD heap into my different bags. About 30 in each bag ! And of course in your hand luggage. Therefore you'd be better of if you travel with someone!!! If you get caught by a zealous civil servant, 2 things. Bear your nicest smile, try a bit of a bargain and pay. After all $45 is what? the price of 2 DVDs in your country......

Cat Ba and Halong Bay- Stay on the Boat

by ScottForster

I think it's hit and miss with the companies. We went with Trekking Travel they were helpful and the boat was clean. Though the food was ordinary. We chose to stay on the boat every night and avoided the cat Ba island o/nite stay. We caught a bike back from Cat Ba in the afternoon and rejoined the boat in the evening. We whad a great time. We maintained contact with our tour guide and he contacted Trekking travel with any changes. This allo\wed us to organise a 2nd day of kayaking around the bay.

Perfume Pagoda ( a smell of sweat!!)

by skydivefred

99% of the time, I visit none touristic places. One day in Hanoi, I met an Australian Girl and I decide to join her to visit the perfume Pagoda. The trip starts with a tiring 2 hour drive to a river from whiwh you start a one hour rowboat ride (temperature is getting hot). Then you start a one hour and a half (for the fittest one hour) climb of a stone stairway AT THE HOTTEST MOMENT OF THE DAY. Along the climb you will meet very aggressive sellers who will try to sell you very expensive soft drinks AND YOU WILL BUY THEM BECAUSE YOU WILL BE SOOOO THIRSTY !!!!! The cave itself is not interesting at all. The trap consists of selling you a lot of drinks on the way to the cave, it is obvious. and if you don't want to buy they get very aggressive!! So if you want to enjoy the trip DON'T FORGET TO TAKE AT LEAST 2 LITRES OF WATER PER PERSON. Don't go and if you want to enjoy a beautiful and...

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Say NO!! Say KHONG!!!

by skydivefred

In Hanoi in particular and in touristic places in general, people will come to hassle you to sell you stuff. There is only one very good way to get rid of them if they get too insisting.Say a loud NO, GO AWAY (in Viet : KHONG, DI) they will stop at once. Now you can discuss with these very nice people as well, they often speak English or French, you can even offer them a drink, be nice. As soon as you are fed up just tell them to go away. and they will. Don't show any interest to there merchandise§

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Royal tombs around Hué

by AndreSTGT

The tombs are nice. No doubt about it.But the entrance fees are ridiculous. They charge 4$ for EACH tomb, a bad joke, considering that the pleasant boat trip on the Perfume river to the tombs costs only 2$ return (including lunch). In my opinion it's enough to visit only one of them.

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Cu Chi Film Bored

by DeoPitt

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an important tourist site/trap located approximately 30 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City in Cu Chi district, near Tay Nihn. This tourist site was both the most fascinating and dull at the same time. I'll certainly list it as a must see too, strangely enough. Definitely go, but... Anyway, the thing to be aware of was the excrutiatingly dull film shown at the 'gift shop' area when you first arrive. As a military history buff, I was somewhat fascinated by the film. For others, you will see it as a very long, poorly produced, and difficult to understand (not the content, the sound) film. Very 'cummunist era' propaganda stuff and worth skipping if possible unless you want to see what a 1957 school film from Hanoi would have looked like. Also, the local guide spoke, but spoke no English. You got the gist of what he was saying when he pointed to the punji sticks. He'll...

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Catba

by Rikusan

Really disapointing place. I would not stay for more than one or two nights. Haiphong bay is worth seeing hence the usual stay on the island. Nightlife is poor. Hotels are springing up with little thought, its a real mess. The Kiwi bar is good if you can tear yourself off the massage girls who jump on you as you pass. We got ripped off when we booked some train tickets with one of the hotel owners. Just check your tickets and qualify, qualify, qualify!

Hanoi, capital of touts

by SirRichard

Just arriving in Hanoi, I felt like assaulted by people who tried to take me to their hotels, travel agencies and so!!First, the driver of the OFFICIAL VIETNAM AIRLINES bus from the airport took us (the 6 passengers of the minibus) around the city streets, stopping at the hotels he recommended (cheap and clean, go to see the room, please) for more than 30 minutes, instead of dropping us to the official bus stop...Then the taxi and moto drivers insist of taking U where they want (the places where they get comission) instead of where U really want to go...Anyway, after this "welcome" hassle, I found Hanoi to be a pleasant and interesting city, with a very relaxed and nice atmosphere... but the beginning was a bit stressing, so I warn U! :-)

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Tourist Attractions in Vietnam

Top 3 Hotels in Vietnam

Park Hyatt Saigon  Ho Chi Minh City

 5 Reviews and 438 Opinions  All rooms offer pool of City views with full luxury amenities. As true sense 5- Star hotel, it is... 

 Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City

Hanoi Elegance 2  Hanoi

 5 Reviews and 712 Opinions  I booked our family sized room for 2 adults and our teenage daughter direct with the hotel from... 

 Hotels in Hanoi

Victoria Hoi An Resort  Hoi An

 4 Reviews and 444 Opinions  It's worth the money to stay and enjoy the beach like in Victoria Hoi An. Price from 150$++ public... 

 Hotels in Hoi An

1,154 Hotels in Vietnam
 
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Reviews and photos of Vietnam attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Vietnam sightseeing.

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Tourist Traps: Cities in Vietnam
  1. Ho Chi Minh City Tourist Traps
  2. Hanoi Tourist Traps
  3. Hoi An Tourist Traps
  4. Nha Trang Tourist Traps
  5. Hue Tourist Traps
  6. Da Lat Tourist Traps
  7. Da Nang Tourist Traps
  8. Sapa Tourist Traps
  9. Ha Long Tourist Traps
  10. Vung Tau Tourist Traps
  11. Can Tho Tourist Traps
  12. Sa Pa Tourist Traps
  13. My Tho Tourist Traps
  14. Ninh Binh Tourist Traps
  15. Cu Chi Tourist Traps
  16. Lao Cai Tourist Traps
  17. Phum O Mekong Tourist Traps

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Popular Regions in Vietnam

Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh Tourist Traps  Thu Do Ha Noi Tourist Traps  Tinh Quang Nam Tourist Traps  Tinh Khanh Hoa Tourist Traps  Tinh Lao Cai Tourist Traps  Tinh Thua Thien-Hue Tourist Traps  Tinh Kien Giang Tourist Traps  Tinh Da Nang Tourist Traps  Tinh Lam Dong Tourist Traps  Tinh Quang Ninh Tourist Traps  Tinh Binh Thuan Tourist Traps  Tinh Ba Ria-Vung Tau Tourist Traps  Tinh Can Tho Tourist Traps  Thanh Pho Hai Phong Tourist Traps 

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Questions and Answers

suzeb profile photo

Q:  could someone please help? where can i buy ao dai (preferably well made and silk) for my grand-daughters, they are only 2-3... 

pfsmalo profile photo

A: Loads of places in both cities to buy Ao Dai either already made or to measure. For the small extra cost, have them made to measure and take the mesurements before going... 

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