Ho Chi Minh City Tourist Trap Tips by jeanl77

On the first day of our HCMC trip, we went to the Independence Palace.

We paid our entrance tickets totalling VND30,000 with a VND100,000 note. The lady at the counter gave us our tickets but shortchanged VND50,000. We explained that we paid VND100,000 and was shortchanged. But she insisted we gave VND50,000 and the change was correct. She even flashed a blue dollar note saying that was the note we gave.

Two girls on their first day in Vietnam, we did not dare to argue and walked away.

We later realised that the note she flashed was a VND 20,000 because VND50,000 is RED. We further confirmed by counting our remaining cash - being budget travellers, we did not have too much money in our pockets, counting was easy!

It was a lesson for us. So travellers, BEWARE!

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At Least Do This: Hold onto your note, say the amounts (cost, payment and change) aloud.