Question 1

What is the "Easy Rider Guide Route Bait-and-Switch" scam in Da Lat?

Accepted Answer

Da Lat is famous for its Easy Rider motorbike guides who offer multi-day touring packages through the Central Highlands. Some guides agree to a specific itinerary and price, collect an upfront payment, then alter the route to include detours to craft shops, coffee factories, or silk factories that pay the guide a commission for each tourist delivered. Advertised stops such as Elephant Falls or Lang Biang Peak may be skipped entirely, and the agreed number of days may be compressed. Get the full itinerary in writing before paying, including every named stop and the number of overnight stays. Pay no more than 30 percent upfront and hold the remainder until the end of the trip. Read recent TripAdvisor reviews for the specific guide, not just the agency, since individual guide behavior varies significantly.

Question 2

What is the "Datanla Falls Overpriced Activity Upsell" scam in Da Lat?

Accepted Answer

At Datanla Falls tourist complex on Prenn Pass Road south of Da Lat, visitors pay a legitimate entry fee but are then aggressively upsold on a series of paid activities: a roller coaster alpine slide, cableway, and waterfall bottom access, each charged separately. Staff imply that the "real" falls cannot be seen without purchasing the more expensive combinations, and quote package prices in USD to foreign visitors while Vietnamese tourists are quoted lower VND prices for the same experiences. The falls themselves are accessible on foot without the paid rides. Pay only the base entry fee and walk to the falls on the free foot path, which does access the main cascade. Check the official VND price board at the ticket window and calculate the VND equivalent before agreeing to any package. Vietnamese nationals pay lower rates legally, but the gap quoted to foreigners often exceeds the official foreign visitor rate.

Tour & Activity Scams in Da Lat

Easy Rider Guide Route Bait-and-Switch

Datanla Falls Overpriced Activity Upsell

Experienced a scam here?