Common Scams in Vietnam: From Fake Visa Sites to Taxi Tricks

The most common scams in Vietnam are small overcharges rather than crime: a fast taxi meter, a swapped banknote, a cyclo price that changes at the end. One scam starts before you even leave home, though: fake visa websites. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog covers each in that order, then explains what to do if you are caught.

Most Vietnam travel scams cost a few dollars and some pride, and a few habits prevent nearly all of them. The visa scam can cost more, so check where you apply; you can use the government site or apply for a Vietnam e-visa online through a private service that says clearly what it is.

Scams at a glance:

Fake visa websites

A fake Vietnam visa website copies the look of the government site, charges far more than the official fee, and may never deliver a visa or may misuse your passport data. The government e-visa system runs only on evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn.

In July 2026, VietnamPlus reported that Vietnam's Immigration Department had recorded many fake websites ranking prominently in search results, often promising "instant" or "guaranteed" visas. Check the address bar letter by letter: a domain that only contains ".gov.vn" somewhere is not enough.

Private agencies are legal, but an honest one tells you it is private and shows the government fee separately. Our page on the Vietnam e-visa official website lists the real addresses and how to check any site.

Taxi scams in Vietnam

Taxi scams in Vietnam usually involve a meter that runs too fast, a driver who refuses to use it, or a fake taxi with a lookalike logo. They are most common at airports and outside tourist sights.

Use Grab or another ride-hailing app, where you see the fare before you book. If you take a taxi, use the marked rank and check that the meter starts when you set off. Our airport guides for Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat explain where to find the rank and the pickup points.

The currency switch and other money tricks

The currency switch scam in Vietnam relies on similar-looking notes: you hand over 500,000 dong, and the driver or seller swaps it for a 20,000 note and says you underpaid. Both are blue-toned polymer notes.

Say the amount aloud as you hand it over, and keep large and small notes in separate pockets. At markets, confirm the price per item, not per kilo, before anything is weighed. Our Vietnam travel tips cover cash and ATMs in more detail.

Street scams: cyclos, shoe shiners and sellers

Street scams depend on starting a service before a price is clear. Cyclo drivers may agree to "100" and later insist on US dollars; shoe shiners may start on your shoes without asking and demand a high fee.

Agree on the price of any ride or service in dong before you start, and write it down or type it into your phone. If someone starts working on your shoes or hands you a "gift", say no clearly and walk on. Fruit sellers who offer their shoulder pole for a photo will expect payment, often a lot.

Fake tours and other common scams in Vietnam

Booking scams use names that copy well-known hotels, cruise companies or tour operators. You pay a deposit to a lookalike site or social media account, and the trip never happens.

Book through the operator's own website, a known booking platform, or your hotel. Be careful with deals offered in chat apps or comments, and pay by card rather than bank transfer so you can dispute a charge. Two questions follow if something does go wrong: where to report it, and how to get money back.

If you have been scammed

Most scams in Vietnam end with a small loss, and arguing in the street rarely helps. For larger losses, report the incident and contact your bank.

Report it

For theft or a serious dispute, call the police on 113 or go to the local police station with a Vietnamese speaker, such as your hotel staff. Ask for a written report if you plan to claim on travel insurance. Report fake visa websites to your bank and to your country's consumer protection agency.

Card payments and refunds

If you paid a fake website or tour by card, call your card issuer at once and ask for a chargeback; the sooner you report it, the better your chances. Bank transfers and cash payments are much harder to recover, which is why card payment is safer for bookings.

VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website, and you can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you prefer a service that checks your application before submission, start your application with us.