Published: 10:34 Monday - February 13, 2012

Not ripping off tourists will pay off for Vietnam tourism

In my opinion, sellers have been ripping off tourists in Vietnam for a long time. Visitors are warned before arriving, and they are aware that rip offs occur, but this cannot help them from becoming victims.

Foreigners living or traveling in Vietnam may have experienced rip off one way or another. I often travel around Vietnam and have my own stories related to this issue.

Three years ago, I took a one day tour in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh province. I was sitting with another tourist, on a small boat, observing the beautiful scenery when a woman from another boat approached us. She started to offer us goods, from T-shirts to tablecloths.

We politely refused to buy but the woman insisted as our boatman pretended to look somewhere else. Looking at nearby boat, I saw that a French couple was also being forced to buy something. I came to understand that, in the middle of this river, if I didn’t buy I wouldn’t be able to go back.
Reluctantly, I bought a T-shirt and my friend bought a handkerchief so the woman would leave us alone and move on to another boat.
As we arrived ashore, our tour guide welcomed us with a smile. However, tourists in the group were no longer as happy as they were we departed. Collectively, we realized that we had been victims in an arranged rip-off scene.

I have been to other Asian countries, like Singapore and Japan, but I have not seen any price increase for foreigners. Instead, they offer duty free shopping and discount programs so that those with a holiday passport can enjoy their time in the country, which will lead to them promoting the vacation spot to their friends and family when they return home.

I understand that Vietnam is not as developed as Singapore or Japan. There are also many poor labors earning a living from tourism. However, with a mentality that tourists do not know local prices, and that they only come once, many sellers try to rip off foreigners for as much as they can. But, after being treated this way, who would dare to shop or even come back to Vietnam?

Besides, not every foreigner is a millionaire. Many have to work full time in order to save money for a long haul trip with friends and family. If they have to worry about extra fees from unexpected shopping, frustration from being forced to buy items, or quarrels with sellers how can they enjoy their journey?
In my opinion, sellers have been ripping off tourists in Vietnam for a long time. Visitors are warned before arriving, and they are aware that rip offs occur, but this cannot help them from becoming victims.

I support hotlines to report rip-off cases. However, each province has their own hotline and it is hard for tourists to keep track off each number. A better way is to have only one hotline, with operators speaking English, French, Russian or Japanese.

Some sales are done on the street or on a boat and there is no receipt or address of the seller, making it hard to report to the authorities. It would be advisable for tourists to take pictures, or to jot down information of the sellers, as proof of the sale.

Together with local authorities, travel agencies, tour guides, and staffs at information booths should help prevent rip-offs. Please protect tourists and help them have a memorable holiday; they will definitely visit again with more friends, bringing more benefits to Vietnam tourism.