Question 1

What is the "Flower Market Tourist Price Markup" scam in Da Lat?

Accepted Answer

Da Lat Central Market (Cho Da Lat) and the surrounding flower market on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street set dual pricing, with tourists routinely charged 5 to 10 times the price paid by Vietnamese buyers for identical roses, hydrangeas, and strawberries. Vendors operating outside the market proper near Xuan Huong Lake take the practice further, quoting prices in USD rather than VND to obscure the markup and make it harder for travelers to assess value. Check Google for current strawberry and rose prices in Vietnamese dong before visiting the market. Ask the price in Vietnamese dong rather than USD and compare by calculating against the exchange rate you have. Visiting with a Vietnamese speaker drastically reduces the prices vendors quote. The wholesale flower market operates from 3 to 6 am and has more honest pricing than the tourist-hour market.

Question 2

What is the "Fake Civet Coffee Substitution" scam in Da Lat?

Accepted Answer

Da Lat is marketed as a premium coffee destination, and ca phe chon (weasel or civet coffee) is sold at tourist cafes and market stalls for $15 to $40 USD per 100 grams. The majority of what is sold as genuine civet coffee is regular Robusta or Arabica coffee with civet-themed packaging, as authentic civet coffee is extremely limited in supply and genuinely priced much higher. Some vendors use artificial flavoring to simulate the smooth, low-acidity profile associated with civet processing. Genuine civet coffee from certified farms costs $80 USD or more per 100 grams wholesale. If a vendor sells it for less than $20 per 100 grams, it is almost certainly not authentic. Visit a certified coffee farm directly, such as those along the road toward Tuyen Lam Lake, and ask to see the animals and processing steps. For regular Vietnamese coffee, Da Lat Arabica from named farms is excellent and honestly priced.

Question 3

What is the "Orphan Charity Street Vendor Scam" scam in Da Lat?

Accepted Answer

Children and young adults approach tourists around Xuan Huong Lake and along Phan Dinh Phung Street selling postcards, bookmarks, or cheap souvenirs while claiming that proceeds support an orphanage or school. These operations are typically run by adult handlers nearby who direct the children and collect the proceeds. The children are coached to use guilt and persistence to extract money, and the claimed orphanage rarely exists or receives funds. Decline politely and do not engage in the sales pitch. If you want to support children in Da Lat, donate directly to a registered local NGO through their official website before your trip. Buying from these vendors, however well-intentioned, directly funds the adult operators and incentivizes keeping children in exploitative sales roles.

Question 4

What is the "Fake Local Wine and Strawberry Products" scam in Da Lat?

Accepted Answer

Da Lat is known for producing strawberry wine and fruit-based wines sold as local specialties. A significant portion of the wine sold in tourist-facing shops near Cho Da Lat and along Tran Phu Street is industrial rice wine or cheap commercially produced wine decanted into Da Lat-branded bottles, rather than genuine fruit-fermented wine from local producers. Similarly, dried strawberries and strawberry jam labeled as Da Lat produce are frequently repackaged products from other regions at inflated local prices. Buy wine and strawberry products directly from farms along the road to Tuyen Lam Lake or from the Da Lat Hasfarm outlet, where production is verifiable. Legitimate Da Lat strawberry wine from quality producers is only available at select licensed outlets and reputable supermarkets. Avoid purchasing from street kiosks near tourist attractions where product origin cannot be verified.

Street Scams in Da Lat

Flower Market Tourist Price Markup

Fake Civet Coffee Substitution

Orphan Charity Street Vendor Scam

Fake Local Wine and Strawberry Products

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