 | Ho Chi Minh City Thieves & Beggers Reviews | 1 - 10 of 21 |  |
TIP: Personally, I have nothing against cyclos even though I was harassed to death by them. But it just pays to be careful, especially if you are a solo female traveller or even a 100kg American male!Yup, I think after reading these 2 real life-accounts, you just just might be a tad bit more careful.
Story 1:
A new Aussie friend told me how she was nearly conned of USD20 when she took a joy ride on one of those quaint cyclos. The driver took her to a God-forsaken district and threatened not to cycle her back until she paid him! Well, the good news is that she outwitted him back and said.....
a) She wasn't American so she only had dong;
b) She didn't have that much dong with her with her in the first place!
Thumbs up to her. She paid him half the amount and got back safe and sound to tell me this tale. *
Story 2:
Recent Update: Never ever hop unto a cyclo for sight-seeing unless you are God-Dammed sure about the asking price! My husband's American colleague recently got harassed by an unusually aggressive cyclo when he did just that. Yeah, what was supposed to be a quaint, Vietnamese cyclo-sightseeing experience turned to something more reminiscent from "The Fugitive" after the cyclo demanded 1 million dong for half a day's efforts.
Why the fugitive?
Well, after my husband's colleague refused to pay 1 million dong ( He gave him a lower fee ) , he was chased around Vietnam until he took refuge in his hotel. Hotel security was called and the cyclo disappeared . But after that, the colleague had a serious case of paranoia each time he left the hotel. At the back of this mind, there was a cyclo lurking around with homicidal tendencies so he stuck to my poor hubby like a remora (sucker fish) after that *
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This is not really a big problem espcially if you keep your backpack locked but be careful of these innocent cuties, especially,if you're a Caucasian. Vietnamese children will usually target you and badger you to buy postcards, hats, little grasshoppers made from grass, etc. It's very difficult to refuse them because they are such sweethearts. But giving money to one will encourage the rest to swarm to you like bees to honey. Also, do take note that while you are paying attention to one cute child, another could be helping himself to your wallet when you're not watching!
Update: Well, even if you're not Caucasian, you'd better take note of this warning as well. My poor hubby recently got pickpocketed in HCMC, or shall I say backpack-pocketed? Some light-fingered fella unzipped his backpack and fished out his new cell phone. Amazingly, his wallet was left untouched. Well, not so surprising, if you consider that it looks like yesterday's lunchbag
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I was wearing a gold chain around my neck along with my wedding band was the only jewellry I was wearing. While waiting to cross the road a young man on a motor bike motioned to me that I should remove my chain. I assumed he was giving me a warning as he didn't speak English we couldn't converse. I took his advice and took it off unti I got home. The Lonely Planet does warn against jewellry wearing as there are thieves on motor bikes who snatch your stuff while they drive off. We had none of these problems but took the precautions just in case. Leave a Comment
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Be very careful with valuables in Vietnam and use common sense. The little boys and girls wanting to sell you postcards eye your wallet with eyes of a hawk along with quick fingers.
When walking along the street, keep loose articles close to your body because there has been an epidemic of moto scooter driveby snatchings. My mom sets a good example. Personally, I did not have a run in with any of this other than my shoe being stolen by a cute and innocent looking kid. Leave a Comment
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Apparently still active, but other than my experience didn't see or hear much about it as I have read on the internet. Just reminder to be mindful and aware at all times of your bag in your hand. Also read my story and consider if you want to get your bag back:
Thao and I were walking on Nguyen Van Troi st over rach thi nghi from Phu Nhuan Dist into Dist.3 at the end of the bridge there were some guys. When we passed them one darted out and grabbed Thao's purse. I instinctively went after him but he went into the black foul water of the river (basically sewage). Yes i would not pursue him in the water,but ran back across the bridge to the other side. He emerged, tangled with a security guard, and ran down the bank of the river. A fence separated me from him, but I kept after him until I came to a wood wall with a locked gate in it. Just then the security guard came running with the key. I continued after they guy down a street, into an alley where other people where trying to restrain him. He looked back again, and saw I was STILL coming , so he threw the bag, and broke away, I got the bag back with everything still in it, but my handphone ruined from the water.
I like to think that the people in the alley were being altrusitic, not wanting Thao's bag for themselves. I figured the thief is not used to being chased and continued pursuit would cause him to give up.
If you are in Dist1 and many places in Dist 3 many many businesses have security guards outside. There are a lot of them. I suspect if a thief on foot took your bag and you gave chase in these areas the guards would assist you.
Still, there is the danger of the drive-by grab to which your defense is again to be sure to have your bag secure to your person and not on the road side of the sidewalk
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When I was at Andong Market or even at Ben Thanh Market , there were children beggers asking for money.
Warning : the moment you give a kid saom 2000Vmd, more kids will arrive and you will have a handful.
Advise : Don't give a single Vmd although your heart may pity them. Leave a Comment
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I had more problems with this in Pham Ngu Lao probably because of the high number of tourists...but they are present everywhere in HCMC. Many of these kids are 10 & under and try to sell postcards or gum. Some will try to get you to play a version of a shell game. Anyway watch your pockets around them. I know they're cute, their English is usually quite good, but their stories are always the same and oftentimes in groups they can be quite quick with their fingers. Just be careful. Leave a Comment
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Watch out for your valuables!!! Leave them at home if you value them. As for the ladies carrying monies. Use one of those cross-shoulder small backpack and walk with your hands over the zipper. Or better yet, I used one of those small fabric purse that you put jewelries in. They have a zipper and a snap flap on them. Pin it to the inside waistband of your pants/shorts. All the beggars have sixth sense, as soon as they hear a zipper, they are all over you. If you want to give them something, put a few dollars in your pocket before leaving your hotel. Leave a Comment
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We were told to beware of pickpockets. I kept my valuables hanging around my neck, inside my shirt, where they were totally invisible.
Only once did I feel a hand in my pocket and that was when surrounded by kids. Leave a Comment
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Vietnam is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Most of its population live in the country on the edge of poverty. With the injection of foreign investment, things are gradually changing.
There are numerous beggars especially children in Saigon, be very discrete about giving anything to them. If anyone is seen giving handouts to a beggar, he or she may end up being pursued by a mob of other beggars. This does not help create a good image for foreigners; it gives them instead the reputation of being easy to hit up for money. Leave a Comment
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