"Dishonest Motor bike and Cycle transportation." Thieves & Beggers Tip by tropical459

I was on my own in Ho Chi Minh City and was obviously regarded as easy pickings. I encountered 'Chin' he called to me as I was exchanging my money from an 'ATM' He showed me his credentials and photographs of holiday makers who had written very good things about him in his little book.
I was relieved as he made me feel safe and offered to take me to the local markets on the back of his bike, he advised me to hold on to my camera as other passing bikes would snatch it out of my hand. I asked him to drop me off at Tourist Information as when I had enquired how much he was going to charge me he had said "give me what you think, no problem" I thought the best way to give him a fair amount would be to ask at 'information' the going rate. The man told me that he thought 20000 was the amount I should pay for the length of time I was planning to spend with 'Chin' on the back of his motor bike was fair.
It was when I told him I was hungry and he offered to take me to a restaurant things got a little shaky. First of all he sat down and polished off 3 beers! I thought, hang on a minute if I stay much longer I am going to be riding behind a piddled driver. The food was awful and the place was questionable. I have eaten in many local cafes and was expecting the price to reflect the building. But 'no' the bill came and cost me around 25 dollars! I was furious. Chin tried to tell me that I had been eating in Cambodia and things were always cheaper there, I retorted that my hotel room in Ho Chi Ming was only 30 dollars. The penny finally dropped that I was being taken for a ride.
Luckily he dropped me outside the market and then his true colours were revealed he showed me another price list and wanted 25 dollars for my trip. I told him that when I had been in the tourist information they had told me to give him 5 dollars 10 dollars at the most. In a short time his friends had surrounded us. I ended up paying him about 20 dollars and considered myself lucky.
You would have thought I would have learned by this error but 'no' the next day I was approached by a cycle rider. This time I arranged a price before I got into the carriage. But again at the end he took out his book and argued that I had spend more time than agreed. He pulled up down the road from my hotel, it seems they are afraid to take you to the hotel in case you run inside for backup. He got lots of dong off me, probably around another 20 dollars.
Be warned as I walked up the street I saw two people pass me being peddled to their doom, I shouted, I wouldn't go far if I were you they are going to demand a lot more money than you think, they just smiled and waved.
Do not use the motor bikes or cycles unless you have really, really agreed a price. I found if I got into a taxi I had to give him the money agreed beforehand or they ask for a lot more at the end of the journey.
I will probably get diddled again if I return as they are sooooo goood at it!