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Originally Posted by refurb
(Post 35131590)
Not too surprising.
Several high ranking Vietnamese politicians have stepped down after being caught in the Vietnam repatriation scheme during Covid. You couldn't get back into the country except on repatriation flights, and people at the VN embassies were charging $9,000 - $15,000 USD for the approvals and flights - flights that would cost $1,000 to $2,000 normally. You can google "vietnam repatriation flight scandal" to find a bunch of articles. High up in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have resigned already. The problem was that many of the people they charged were relatively high up people in Vietnam with connections to the government. Thus the ripped off people who, if complained, would be heard. So the only solace is that they didn't rip you off because you're a tourist, they do it to Vietnamese citizens as well. It's definitely not tourist specific. Customs officials have a field day with the locals returning back to Vietnam often pulling them aside and trying to get something out of them in the way of cash payments to be allowed through customs. My Vietnamese co worker who lives in Australia was targeted just a few months ago. After much arguing her 3M VND cash customs duty was eventually bargained down to 1M, cash in the passport then handed to the official. |
Well, on the bright side lots of tourists will read this thread and learn the ropes.
Only 5% of travelers return to Viet Nam, as opposed to 50% for Thailand, according to what I have read. |
To be fair, it's not unknown for airlines to deny boarding if there's a small typo in your name on the ticket you bought online. Or for money to be lost when sent to a bank account number that's off by one digit. Etc.
The real message is always check and check and recheck when doing business online. It's a basic rule of the internet. |
Originally Posted by yandorio
(Post 35131626)
Well, on the bright side lots of tourists will read this thread and learn the ropes.
Only 5% of travelers return to Viet Nam, as opposed to 50% for Thailand, according to what I have read. Thailand is the kingdom of scams. However, it also allows more travelers in visa-free, so it has that going for it. Plus, Bangkok's two airports can get you nonstops to many more places than Vietnam. Personally, I prefer Vietnam to Thailand ... but Bangkok has the advantage of having the world visit. To me, that means better stocked supermarkets and good medical facilities. |
My point is that Thailand is a lot less "scammy" than Viet Nam. I have never been scammed here in over 12 months, with the possible
exception of a Grab taxi double-billing that is being disputed. The 5% return rate for Viet Nam says it all. |
Another scam I have seen in Jordan was the immigration clerk taking the visa cash and then pretending being distracted in a conversation with a colleague, and keep asking me for the cash again. He insisted that I did not give him the cash, but he eventually relented. He just tried me for 5 times in the off chance I would give him another 80 bucks.
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Originally Posted by yandorio
(Post 35138943)
My point is that Thailand is a lot less "scammy" than Viet Nam
Originally Posted by yandorio
(Post 35131626)
Only 5% of travelers return to Viet Nam, as opposed to 50% for Thailand, according to what I have read.
One thing is that I did my homework before going to both places - I spent plenty of time researching, and reading forums, here, on TripAdvisor, and other places. I was aware that it was my responsibility that all the documentation matches my travel documents and made triple checking that all the passport numbers and travel dates were correct. I was well aware of handbag and phone grabbing practices in Saigon from passing scooters as well as grabbing and running with iPhones foreign tourists leave at their tables in cafes and restaurants (again - Saigon). And I made sure to communicate all this to my travel companions - male and female. So everyone was well aware and nothing has happened during all of the travels. While I was as aware of jetskis and other tourist scams in Thailand, these extended not only ordinary tourist traps in Phuket but 4* hotels as well. At the checkout, they wanted to charge $20 for a 'missing' tea spoon and a 'broken' tissue box. Fortunately specifically for cases like this, I carry a prepaid card with zero balance. The above case, the taxi mafia in Phuket, and the fact that I witnessed three traffic accidents on scooters/motorcycles by people under the influence (one of them fatal) in three days I was there - I have no desire ever to go back to Thailand. |
I think checking visas carefully to make sure they are in order is basic, although in this case even with the typo/extra digit it was clear that it was the same person.
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Originally Posted by invisible
(Post 35141668)
Wrong.
I've been to Vietnam five times and plan to go again. I was in Thailand twice and don't plan to travel there again. One thing is that I did my homework before going to both places - I spent plenty of time researching, and reading forums, here, on TripAdvisor, and other places. I was aware that it was my responsibility that all the documentation matches my travel documents and made triple checking that all the passport numbers and travel dates were correct. I was well aware of handbag and phone grabbing practices in Saigon from passing scooters as well as grabbing and running with iPhones foreign tourists leave at their tables in cafes and restaurants (again - Saigon). And I made sure to communicate all this to my travel companions - male and female. So everyone was well aware and nothing has happened during all of the travels. While I was as aware of jetskis and other tourist scams in Thailand, these extended not only ordinary tourist traps in Phuket but 4* hotels as well. At the checkout, they wanted to charge $20 for a 'missing' tea spoon and a 'broken' tissue box. Fortunately specifically for cases like this, I carry a prepaid card with zero balance. The above case, the taxi mafia in Phuket, and the fact that I witnessed three traffic accidents on scooters/motorcycles by people under the influence (one of them fatal) in three days I was there - I have no desire ever to go back to Thailand. The Taxi mafia in Phuket is well known and in all countries the taxis over charge. Certainly in Asia probably apart from Singapore. But never in `a 4 star hotel have I heard of this. |
Originally Posted by nk15
(Post 35141738)
I think checking visas carefully to make sure they are in order is basic
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invisble,
"Fortunately specifically for cases like this, I carry a prepaid card with zero balance." So the hotel accepts the card despite there being nothing on account? Shouldn't it be declined when they run it through? |
Originally Posted by invisible
(Post 35141668)
I've been to Vietnam five times and plan to go again. I was in Thailand twice and don't plan to travel there again.
One thing is that I did my homework before going to both places - I spent plenty of time researching, and reading forums, here, on TripAdvisor, and other places. I was aware that it was my responsibility that all the documentation matches my travel documents and made triple checking that all the passport numbers and travel dates were correct. I was well aware of handbag and phone grabbing practices in Saigon from passing scooters as well as grabbing and running with iPhones foreign tourists leave at their tables in cafes and restaurants (again - Saigon). And I made sure to communicate all this to my travel companions - male and female. So everyone was well aware and nothing has happened during all of the travels.
Originally Posted by invisible
(Post 35141668)
While I was as aware of jetskis and other tourist scams in Thailand, these extended not only ordinary tourist traps in Phuket but 4* hotels as well. At the checkout, they wanted to charge $20 for a 'missing' tea spoon and a 'broken' tissue box. Fortunately specifically for cases like this, I carry a prepaid card with zero balance..
Originally Posted by invisible
(Post 35141668)
The above case, the taxi mafia in Phuket, and the fact that I witnessed three traffic accidents on scooters/motorcycles by people under the influence (one of them fatal) in three days I was there - I have no desire ever to go back to Thailand.
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Originally Posted by invisible
(Post 35141668)
Wrong.
I've been to Vietnam five times and plan to go again. I was in Thailand twice and don't plan to travel there again. One thing is that I did my homework before going to both places - I spent plenty of time researching, and reading forums, here, on TripAdvisor, and other places. I was aware that it was my responsibility that all the documentation matches my travel documents and made triple checking that all the passport numbers and travel dates were correct. I was well aware of handbag and phone grabbing practices in Saigon from passing scooters as well as grabbing and running with iPhones foreign tourists leave at their tables in cafes and restaurants (again - Saigon). And I made sure to communicate all this to my travel companions - male and female. So everyone was well aware and nothing has happened during all of the travels. While I was as aware of jetskis and other tourist scams in Thailand, these extended not only ordinary tourist traps in Phuket but 4* hotels as well. At the checkout, they wanted to charge $20 for a 'missing' tea spoon and a 'broken' tissue box. Fortunately specifically for cases like this, I carry a prepaid card with zero balance. The above case, the taxi mafia in Phuket, and the fact that I witnessed three traffic accidents on scooters/motorcycles by people under the influence (one of them fatal) in three days I was there - I have no desire ever to go back to Thailand. Phuket is not typical Thailand ! The taxi mafia is well known, but suggest you visit Hua Hin, Chiang Tai, Chiang Rai for real Thailand that is safe and full of kind friendly people. There are bad people in every country of course, but my experience of close to 100 visits to Thailand is that they have less than most , and most of those are in Phuket ! |
Originally Posted by BRITINJAPAN4
(Post 35389521)
Phuket is not typical Thailand ! The taxi mafia is well known, but suggest you visit Hua Hin, Chiang Tai, Chiang Rai for real Thailand that is safe and full of kind friendly people. There are bad people in every country of course, but my experience of close to 100 visits to Thailand is that they have less than most , and most of those are in Phuket !
It's not worth listening to their bs along the way. Plus, there are usually alternatives (rare benefits of a touristy country that also has invested in some public infrastructure). |
Originally Posted by BuildingMyBento
(Post 35390364)
I refuse to take cabs, tuk-tuks, or motorcycles in in Thailand.
It's not worth listening to their bs along the way. Plus, there are usually alternatives (rare benefits of a touristy country that also has invested in some public infrastructure). |
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