How to Avoid Tourist Traps in Vietnam: 5 Essential Tips (2025)
Dreaming of vibrant markets, mouth-watering street food, and stunning landscapes in Vietnam? You’re not alone. But many travelers share a common worry: how to avoid tourist traps in Vietnam, getting overcharged, or feeling tricked. The good news? With a little knowledge, you can confidently navigate your trip and focus on the incredible experiences. This guide gives you the essential tips to travel smarter, not harder.
Taxi Scams
When you step out of the airport, it can be a chaotic scene. A lot of people in blue or green uniforms, or even just plain clothes, will try to flag you down. Some may even take your arm or start to lift your suitcase. These are drivers looking for customers, and you need to be very careful. If you are not already aware of normal prices or the currency, going with them can be a costly mistake. They will almost certainly overcharge you. In some cases, they might offer a fair price initially, but upon arrival, they will suddenly demand more money.
How to Avoid
Don’t let your first experience in Vietnam be a stressful one. Here’s how to ensure you get a fair price from the airport to your hotel:
Know the Rough Fare: A quick Google search can give you an estimate of what the ride should cost. For example, a taxi from Tan Son Nhat Airport (Saigon) to District 1 should be around 200,000 VND. Knowing this will prevent you from accepting an outrageous quote..
Download Ride-Hailing Apps Before You Arrive: The absolute best way to avoid hassle is to have the Grab app (Southeast Asia’s equivalent of Uber) already installed and set up on your phone before you even land.
Agree on a Price Upfront: If you find yourself needing to use an taxi for any reason, always agree on the total price for the trip before you get in the car. Confirm the currency (VND) to avoid any “misunderstandings” later.
Money Switching Scam
You’ve arrived in Vietnam, been to the ATM, and now have a stack of colorful new bills. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to figure out the costs—a bottle of water is 10,000₫? A Bánh Mì is 25,000₫? With so many zeros and similar colors, it’s confusing.
This confusion is what scammers exploit. The most notorious bills to mix up are the 20,000₫ and the 500,000₫ note, as they are both blue. A seemingly helpful seller might “assist” you as you fumble with your money, quickly switching your 500,000₫ bill for a 20,000₫ one. In the chaos, you might not notice. Alternatively, you might accidentally hand over a 500,000₫ note thinking it’s 20,000₫, paying 25 times the intended amount.
How to Avoid
- Double-Check Everything: Always verify the amount you are handing over and carefully count any change you receive. Do this slowly and in front of the vendor. This is not rude; it is smart.
- Organize Your Wallet: Use a simple wallet system. Keep your large bills (500,000₫ and 200,000₫) separate from your smaller, everyday bills (100,000₫ and below). This prevents accidental use of a big note for a small purchase.
- Stay Vigilant: While most Vietnamese vendors are incredibly honest, it’s important to be aware. If someone tries to handle your money for you, politely but firmly say “Khong, cam on” (No, thank you) and take control.
Restaurant Scam
You’re feeling hungry and want to try some local cuisine—great! As you walk through a bustling night market, a friendly man stops you. He promises a nearby restaurant has the freshest seafood for very reasonable prices. Trusting your new “friend,” you follow him inside.
You’re given a menu, but you notice there are no prices listed. You order a few dishes anyway. The food arrives and is disappointing—far from the “fresh” meal you were promised. Then the bill comes. Your heart sinks: it’s over 1,500,000 VND (or more!), an astronomically high price for what you received.
You try to argue, but suddenly the friendly host and staff “don’t speak English.” Feeling pressured and stuck, you reluctantly pay. You’ve just fallen into a classic tourist trap where restaurants use aggressive touts to lure in guests, serve low-quality food, and charge outrageous prices.
How to Avoid
Trust Your Gut: If a situation feels pressured or too good to be true, it usually is. It is always okay to smile, say “No, thank you,” and walk away.
Research Before You Go: The best defense is a good offense. Have a idea of where you want to eat beforehand. Look up highly-rated local spots on Google Maps or ask your hotel for recommendations.
Beware of Overly Friendly Touts: A fundamental rule: If someone has to aggressively lure you into a restaurant, it’s a bad sign. Excellent, reputable restaurants don’t need to do this; their food and reputation bring customers in.
The Price Check: Never, ever eat at a restaurant that does not display clear prices on its menu. This is the biggest red flag. If you don’t see prices, walk out immediately.
Location Awareness: Be extra cautious in dense tourist zones and night markets. While not all restaurants there are scams, they are where these practices are most common. Venture a few streets away to where locals are eating.
For a guaranteed authentic experience, seek out restaurants that are well-established and recommended by other travelers. For example, our floating restaurant, Nhà Trên Biển, has a fixed-price menu displayed openly, so you know exactly what you’ll pay for fresh, high-quality seafood without any surprises. Read more here or book a table here.
Dating app scam
If you use dating apps while visiting Vietnam, be extremely cautious of this sophisticated scam.
Here’s how it works: You match with a friendly, attractive person. You hit it off and agree to meet for a drink. When you meet, they suggest a specific bar or club, describing it as a “great, cheap, local spot.”
Once inside, they immediately order drinks—often without a menu—and seem familiar with the staff. You may ask for a menu but find there are no prices listed. After one or two rounds, the bill arrives. The total is shocking, often 2,000,000 VND or more for basic drinks. At this point, your date may suddenly disappear to the bathroom or outside to take a call, leaving you alone with the bill.
When you try to dispute the outrageous charges, the staff becomes aggressive and intimidating. Feeling threatened and cornered, you reluctantly pay. You have just been caught in a classic “Bar Girl” or “Lonely Hearts” scam. The person you met works for the bar; their job is to lure foreign men in, where they are charged exorbitant prices, and the scammer earns a large commission.
How to Avoid
- You Choose the Venue: This is the golden rule. Always insist on meeting at a well-known, public bar, cafe, or restaurant that you have chosen yourself. Suggest a place you’ve researched or that your hotel recommends.
- The Red Flag Test: If your date strongly resists your suggestion and insists on their own obscure location, it is a massive red flag. A genuine person will be happy to meet you anywhere. If they refuse, end the conversation. They are not interested in you, but in your money.
- Verify the Venue: If you agree to their suggestion (not recommended), quickly look the place up on Google Maps. If it has no reviews, very few reviews, or bad reviews mentioning scams, cancel immediately.
- Ask for the Menu Immediately: Upon sitting down, immediately ask for a menu with prices. If they cannot provide one, leave immediately.
- Pay As You Go: Order one drink at a time and pay for it immediately in cash. This prevents a huge, shocking bill at the end and gives you an easy exit.
It’s disappointing to realize someone’s interest was a scam, but it’s far better than the alternative—losing a significant amount of money and having a frightening experience.
Taxi Driver Commission Scam
If you get a driver for a whole day or maybe jist for a few hours you might ask him to take you somewhere interesting or to take you to a good local restaurant. This is understandable as you are new to Vietnam and you trust this local driver to know the best spots, but be aware. These drivers all have arrangements with restaurants, attractions, shops etc and get commisons for any customers they bring in, and these places usually will increase the prices for you as well since they need to make up the money they lost from paying the driver.
How to Avoid
Research beforehand and tell the driver where you want to go specificly, dont let him persuade you with talk about how the place you want to go is expensive, not clean or closed this is just a ruse to take you to the ones he work with. The key here is to be vigilant even if he gets mad, you are paying him after all.
The easiest way to avoid this hassle? Book a tour with a reputable operator. Our Phu Quoc Fisherman Experience includes all transportation with a vetted, trusted driver who takes you to authentic, pre-arranged locations. You get a genuine cultural experience without any of the pressure or worry about commission traps. Read more or book a tour here.
Conclusion
Armed with this knowledge, you’re no longer just a tourist—you’re a savvy traveler. While this guide has outlined potential scams, remember that the vast majority of Vietnamese people are incredibly honest, hospitable, and will enrich your trip with their warmth and generosity. The goal isn’t to be paranoid, but to be prepared. Stay alert, trust your instincts, and use these tips to navigate your adventures with confidence. Now, go forth and enjoy the incredible energy, stunning landscapes, and delicious food that Vietnam has to offer. Your amazing, scam-free adventure awaits!
Traveling in Vietnam is an incredible adventure. While this guide helps you stay vigilant, the best way to experience the true heart of Phu Quoc is through authentic connections. We specialize in creating those genuine experiences—from our hands-on fishing tours to our fresh seafood meals at Nhà Trên Biển. We invite you to explore the real Vietnam with us, where the only surprise is how amazing it is.