| Scam | How it works | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Fake Grab at the airport | A man presents himself as your driver and asks 3 to 5 times the normal price | Book after collecting your luggage, check the plate in the app |
| Rigged taxi meter | The meter runs much faster | Recognised companies (Vinasun, Mai Linh) or an app with a displayed price |
| Cyclo | A price of "100" understood as 100,000 VND, then more is demanded | Agree the price and the currency in writing before getting in |
| Shoe shiner | He starts without your agreement, then demands an excessive sum | Refuse right away, calmly |
| Change trick with a banknote | The driver swaps a 500,000 note for a 20,000 one and claims you underpaid | Count your change, pay with notes close to the price |
From the airport to the centre
The most reported case is the fake Grab driver: a man approaches you at the airport exit, the plate does not match the app, and the ride to the Old Quarter is charged at 3 to 5 times the 300,000 VND reference quoted by guides. Order the vehicle from the app after collecting your luggage, go to the official pickup point and compare the plate. The safe options are detailed in from Noi Bai Airport to the centre of Hanoi.
Taxis and apps
Choose recognised companies (guides cite Vinasun and Mai Linh) or an app with a displayed price (Grab, Be, Xanh SM according to guides). Fake taxis in imitation colours have a meter that runs much faster. Get into a vehicle marked with the company name, check the meter at the start, and keep your phone with the map open.
Cyclos, shoe shiners and small services
A cyclo is a rickshaw-style bike tour: agree the total price, the duration and the currency ("100" does not say 100,000 VND) before getting in, and pay only at the end. A shoe shiner may start cleaning your shoes without agreement, then ask far more than the usual rate: refuse right from the start, politely; most are honest if you asked for the service. Street vendors offer fruit baskets or coconuts in exchange for photos, then ask for money: do not take them in your hands.
Excursions, hotels and agencies
There are agencies with names resembling a well-known agency, and Old Quarter hotels with names too close to those of other addresses. Check the exact name and recent reviews before paying; book online with free cancellation when possible. An offer that is too cheap for a cruise, a motorbike or a trek is a warning sign: see the Ha Long Bay cruise, Ninh Binh in a day or where to stay in Hanoi. No guided tour of Train Street is allowed, according to its page: be wary of an offer that promises one.
Everyday safety
- Crossing the street: walk at a steady pace, without running or stepping back: the motorbikes steer around you.
- Phone and bag: keep them on the inner side of the pavement, away from passing motorbikes, especially in the evening.
- Money: withdraw cash from a bank ATM, in daylight, and count the notes; for the budget, see travel budget in Hanoi.
- Evenings: avoid strangers who offer to take you to a bar or a massage parlour.
Going further
Prepare your stay with Hanoi in 3 days, the Old Quarter and Hanoi street food.
FAQ
Is Hanoi dangerous? No, for travellers: the common problems are small price and transport scams, rarely assaults. Stay careful at night and with your phone.
What is the safest way to get around? Apps with a displayed price (Grab, Be, Xanh SM) and taxis from recognised companies.
What should I do if I have been scammed? Keep the evidence (receipt, ride in the app), do not argue in the vehicle and contact the app's support or your hotel; in case of theft, the tourist police or your hotel can help.
Should I refuse all shoe shiners and cyclos? No: many are honest. The key is to set the price beforehand and not accept anything pushed on you.
