Nothing is as bad as realizing later that you got scammed by someone - so read up before you go and avoid the hassle!
Be aware of the scams - but try not to be too defensive, or scared, or worried. Most people I come across (particularly outside tourist areas) are genuinely excited and interested to meet westerners. Lots want to practice their English and do just want to talk to you. Sure - be aware of what's going on... but be friendly, interact with people, learn a few words in Vietnamese and everyone will be VERY impressed and friendly. If you get too caught up in will-I-be-scammed fear you just wont be able to enjoy your holiday at all!
The friendship bracelet:
This is massive in Cambodia. Particularly the waterfront / street 172 in Phnom Penh. Mostly children trying to sell the bracelets while you are walking or eating. DO NOT BUY THESE! the poverty line in Cambodia is about $1 a day. So if people are paying kids 1 - 2 dollars for a bracelet - and I am sure more than one person would be..... why would that child ever give up the trade to go to school. The problem is the kids eventually get bigger, and are no longer cute. People stop buying the bracelets. The kids cant return to school even if they realise they should as they are too far behind. So instead they usually turn to crime.
DO NOT BUY STUFF FROM KIDS! either they are being trafficked specifically to sell things for a central person (because people pity kids and buy stuff they wouldn't buy from an adult), so in this case buying from them encourages this form of child trafficking and slavery. Or they keep the money and do not go to school.
Give your money to a REPUTABLE charity, or spend the extra dollars eating somewhere like friends, or purchasing gifts at a not for profit.
Women with rosemary:
This isn't limited to Madrid. All of Spain has these women! My brother and I were walking in Granada and were accosted by these women. They took us separately aside and told our fortunes (in rapid Spanish). We don't really look alike and it seems they assumed we were a couple... the fortune telling was awkward! And our sister in law is Spanish so we could understand enough to understand that we are apparently having 2 babies. Unlikely!
My brothers method was to learn the Spanish for "Get away devil woman."... and "witch" and yell that when they tried to grab him.
I learn how to say "but you said no money!" (they always start by saying no money.... then after the fortune demand money) and let them go through the entire shabang - and when they start asking for money calmly say, but you said no money and give them back the rosemary. Our different methods entertained us and meant we almost hoped people came up and tried to scam us :P
The overnight bus
If you are going on ANY bus you should really not leave anything valuable in your luggage ever, and have padlocks on your bag. People are able to undo zips and then redo them up if the zips move around. So try to buy a bag that has the lock built in so the zips wont slide around when locked. Or sew a key ring into the bag, and put the padlock through this as well. But mostly, keep your valuables on your person and tuck them into bed with you!
Charity petition
We were accosted outside the Louvre in Paris and asked to donate money for the deaf mute society. They had a list of names, emails, and amounts donated. I have no idea if the people already listed were made up to make it look more real (and make you feel like you should donate 10-40 Euros like the people before you) or if other people were getting suckered. Just look a little closely, they had lanyards..... but the "ID cards" were just bits of paper. The thing you signed to get your receipt (they would send it later apparently) was very very badly photocopied, and the clip boards were pieces of cardboard.
Also, because they were deaf mute you couldn't question them!
Interestingly.... none knew sign language (I do!)
Milk scams
A woman with a tiny, thin, dirty baby (I swear, one I saw was actually a dirty doll!) will either be on the street and follow you / grab your arm. Or be sitting on the ground with the child on her lap. She will tell you she doesn't want money, just milk for her baby. She will point you to a shop where you can buy powdered or bottled milk (the powdered milk can be $20+) and once you are gone she will return the milk to the store and split the money with the shop keeper.
This scam also encourages women to keep their children dirty, thin and sick.
Taxi Scams
be very wary of taxi's, particularly in Hanoi. ALWAYS ask your hotel how much it should cost for a taxi to where ever you are going. Use the meter and if it seems to high (usually the rigged meters will make it WAY high, like 2 or even 5 times higher than it should be) refuse to pay unless they phone your hotel to explain. The train station is the worst. We knew it cost 30 000 to get a taxi from the hotel, to the train station. On the return trip taxi drivers were quoting us 100 000 or more.
Some who saw us refusing and asking for meters were way to insistent that we get into their metered taxi (even though he was dirty, not in a uniform, and following us around shouting at us). We refused and kept walking until we found a calm, not shouty guy, with a meter. It ended up costing us less than 30 000. Be patient, and don't get into the shouty man taxi!
The Green Taxi from "Mai Linh" and the white from "Vinasun" are good to use
The - I don't want to beg
In Cambodia I did become quite cynical. Particularly around people who would say (or have a sign that said) "I don't want to beg, please buy my book/bag/bracelet/whatever". Often they were disabled or old people. I also found that these were often outrageously expensive compared to any other person or place selling the same thing. Sometimes when you said, no I don't want that. they would rely with, well how about $1.
And I constantly saw people giving these people money without purchasing anything (the same 2 were always on the street I lived on for a month). One would even say his bags were made by a local orphanage and he sold them for the orphanage and the orphanage fixed the price at $5 (they were like, a change bag size, and really bad quality). When we didn't want it he told us that it costs him $5 for a bed for the night and he has nowhere to sleep can we buy one so he can sleep. The stories kept going on and on. So yeah, I am very suspicious of the I don't want to beg.... but if you don't something i sure will people!
The take my fruit ladies
Hanoi is full of women walking around selling fruit from baskets attached to a pole that goes over their shoulders. They will often walk up to you and shove the pole onto you, offer to take a photo - then demand money, or that you buy the fruit at a very high price.
Now - I often buy fruit from these women (because I like fruit)... but it is a good idea to ask someone how much it should cost. And, like always.... I personally refuse to buy anything from the ones who try to force me. Instead finding someone calm and respectful.
Of course - other tourists love the chance to have photos of themselves carrying the baskets - and that's fine if you want to. But do be aware you will probably be made to pay (or purchase) so ask how much a pineapple should cost first :P
Sapa followers
Many women in traditional dress simply follow you around in Sapa. Personally, I don't really care if someone follows me for 4 hours - I am not going to then pity them and buy stuff. Especially seeing as I didn't engage during those four hours. But it must work to wear some people down or surely they wouldn't bother!
most of what they have to sell is cheap imports from China, not things made in their village. And once you buy one time.... you are marked to all the other women as someone who will buy. So maybe wait until the end of the trip if you really really want that scarf or whatever!
Copy cat hotels
I got tricked into breakfasting at the copy cat Queen hotel in Ninh Binh. Instead of what is apparently the best banana pancakes in Vietnam... I probably had the worst!
Be very wary of people waiting at the train station to lead to you the hotel. Likely they will lead you somewhere else.
And if you are going in a taxi, know the address, and double check when you arrive. If it is the wrong street - show them..... then if they insist. Simply refuse to pay. They will tell you the hotel has moved, or is full and this is the sister hotel, or has shut down. but I would much rather go to the actual address (besides - I have booked and the hotel is actually full..... then that hotel can pay for the taxi to the new one!).
But please note
In Buddist countries giving to the poor or disadvantaged is very usual. As is purchasing things (at reasonable prices, and when they don't harass) from people with disabilities. Many will sell lottery tickets, which isn't much use for tourists. But also fans, cards and bottles of water. As long as you have an idea of what these items should cost. Or you feel like the person is genuinely making a living from selling things - please please do buy from them! Hoi An has many people selling cards and fans - I personally refuse to buy anything from children ever (please see above re: schooling), but I do but cards and fans from various people with disabilities.
