Vietscam

 

This is just a short note, and by no means a slur on the country as a whole. Its merely an observation that, of all the countries I've visited in Asia so far, on this trip, Vietnam seems to have the most scammers.

Viet Cong replaced by Viet Con!

It began with the 'Trek sellers' up in Sa Pa - the little ladies who insist on 'helping' you during your walk - unless you are firm with them - and then expect you to buy something.

Then the 'Not Grab' bikes that drop you in the middle of nowhere unless you pay more

Also some busses do this - as experienced in Cao Bang - and then the taxi drivers cash in.

I was told, by the hostel manager at Hoi An, that I should not take any taxis or motorbike taxis off the streets as they won't take you where you want to go, but to a shop instead - probably a relative's or friend - and try to sell you stuff.

There are also the ladies that walk around carrying fruit on baskets suspended on the ends of a stick - the typical picture you imagine of Chinese/Vietnamese rural people, carrying their wares.

Like this lady: 

....and don't get me wrong. This lady is genuine. The real deal! I was so amazed to see that people really do still carry things in this way.

But the ones around the streets of Hoi An, in the most touristy spots will entice people to try carrying the baskets, placing it on their shoulder and putting the conical hat on the victim's head, then saying, "You want Photo!?"

If you do this they then will, obviously, try to charge you for taking the photo.

If you refuse they then pressure you to buy some of the fruit.

It's a reasonably benign con, but a con, all the same. 

........perhaps I should be super PC and say it's just ingenuity from a poor nation trying to make money from richer tourists.

But nobody likes to be cheated out of their money.