Common scams in Ho Chi Minh City
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Violent crime against visitors is rare in Ho Chi Minh City. What tourists actually run into is overcharging and petty theft. In August 2026 the city's tourism department and police announced a joint crackdown on touting, overcharging, theft and online booking scams.
Phone and bag snatching
Walk along the road with your phone out, or with a bag on the traffic side, and someone on a passing motorbike may grab it.
- Don't check maps on the curb. Step into a shop or stand against a wall.
- Carry your bag in front, on the side away from the road.
- Standing at the roadside holding your phone while waiting for a Grab is the riskiest moment.
- If someone grabs your bag, let go. People get dragged and hurt holding on.
Note switching
You hand over a blue 500,000 VND note and are told it was a blue 20,000 note. It happens with taxis and street vendors.
- Hold the note up as you pay and say the amount.
- Carry plenty of small notes.
Airport and street taxi touts
Skip anyone approaching you in the arrivals hall and any taxi quoting a flat price without the meter. Use Grab, or Vinasun and Mai Linh taxis.
"Take a photo" then pay
Vendors carrying coconuts or fruit baskets may put the pole on your shoulder for a photo, then ask for money or a purchase. If you don't want that, smile and say no before it starts.
Cyclos
If you want a ride, agree on the price and route before you get in, and confirm whether it's per person or total. Booking through your hotel or a tour company is safer.
Overly friendly strangers
Invitations from someone you just met on the street to their home, a bar or a card game are worth turning down. The bill at the end is the scam.
Online booking scams
Fake hotels, tours and tickets are on the rise. Be wary of "discounts" offered over Facebook or messaging apps that ask for a bank transfer. Pay through a known booking site or the official website.
If something goes wrong
- Police: 113
- Lost passport or serious trouble: contact your embassy or consulate.
- If you were overcharged, keep the receipt and take a photo of the shop.
Sources: Tuoi Tre News (Aug 8, 2026), World Nomads