Travel Scams in Hanoi — Emergency Guide
Review-based scam types and what to do in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Last Updated: 2026-06-18
- Emergency
- 113
- Estimated Processing Time
- Prevention: immediate · Report: 1–3 hrs
- Estimated Costs
- 100k–5M VND+
Vietnam Police 113
113📌 Based on travel reviews & forums
Hanoi/HCMC reviews cite taxi meters, money exchange, and shoe-shine scams. Grab and official airport taxis recommended.
💬Review highlights
“Airport taxi rigged the meter — 15 km showed as 50 km. Reviews say book only through the Grab app.”
— travelalltheway.tistory
“Old Quarter shoe shine then a 500,000 VND demand. Many posts say say no early or it becomes a paid trap.”
— Vietnam travel forums
“Motorbike snatched my bag strap near Ben Thanh. Warnings repeat: don't use your phone while walking.”
— Reddit r/VietNam
Response Timeline
⏱Scam response timeline — Hanoi
Review scam types for Hanoi — Hoan Kiem, Old Quarter
Say no to 「Free」「Special」「VIP」and strangers leading you elsewhere
Confirm price in VND first. 「Free」 guides, shoe shine, or photos often become paid traps.
Move to safety · report to Hanoi Police Hoan Kiem
Report threats or violence immediately
Block cards · keep receipts, photos, chat logs
For insurance and disputes
Embassy of Korea in Vietnam ☎ +84-24-3831-5111
Embassy first for fake-police or shakedown cases
Do This Right Now
In Vietnam
Confirm price in VND first. 「Free」 guides, shoe shine, or photos often become paid traps.
Know local scam patterns
Hoan Kiem, Old Quarter — Fake taxi / Grab, Money exchange scam widely reported
Refuse and leave
Confirm price in VND first. 「Free」 guides, shoe shine, or photos often become paid traps.
Report to police
Hanoi Police Hoan Kiem 113 — note place, time, amount
Collect evidence
Receipts, card slips, shop sign, CCTV location, witnesses
Embassy & insurance
+84-24-3831-5111 · 24hr travel insurance hotline
Common scam types
Fake taxi / Grab
Airport/station rigged meters, long routes. Fake Grab badges. Book only in official Grab app.
Money exchange scam
Street changers short-count bills or slip old notes. Use banks, airport counters, or ATMs.
Shoe shine / photo fee
Hanoi reports: shoe shine then huge fee, or photo then forced tip. Say no early.
Motorbike snatch
HCMC District 1/Ben Thanh: bag/phone snatch from bikes. Don't use phone while walking.
Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Free |
| Typical loss (reviews) | 100k–5M VND+ |
| Police report | Free |
Police
Hanoi Police Hoan Kiem
- Address:
- Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Phone:
- 113
Mission
Embassy of Korea in Vietnam
- Address:
- 4 Le Hong Phong, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
- Phone:
- +84-24-3831-5111
- Hours:
- Weekdays 09:00–17:00
- Website:
- https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/vn-ko
FAQ
Most common scam in Hanoi?▼
Fake taxi / Grab — Airport/station rigged meters, long routes. Fake Grab badges. Book only in official Grab app.
Can I get a refund?▼
Card payments: try chargeback/dispute. Cash/ATM coercion is often hard to recover — file a police report and contact your embassy.
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