Hoi An Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Vietnam)
A beautifully preserved Ancient Town and UNESCO World Heritage Site on Vietnam's central coast. The busy lantern-lit markets and river tours are wonderful but also fertile ground for photograph-for-money demands, fake leather goods, and price-switching.
Street Scams scams are the most documented risk in Hoi An — 4 of 10 reported incidents fall in this category. See all 4 →
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Last updated: April 2, 2026
Basket Boat and Lantern Cruise Overcharging
Basket boat rides and evening lantern river cruises are popular Hoi An experiences but are a consistent source of mid-trip price hikes, demands for larger tips, or unexpected 'entry fees' to certain river sections. Documented on Backpackers Wanderlust and multiple Vietnam travel forums.
📍Thu Bon River waterfront and boat launch points near the Ancient Town
How to avoid: Agree on the exact total price including all tips and fees before boarding. Pay in small bills and only on completion. Booking through your hotel or a licensed tour operator reduces the risk substantially.
This scam type is also documented in Luang Prabang and Phnom Penh.
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Hoi An · Vietnam · Asia
Open map →📍Where These Scams Are Most Active in Hoi An
Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents.
Basket Boat and Lantern Cruise Overcharging
Thu Bon River waterfront and boat launch points near the Ancient Town
Fake Leather Goods
Souvenir and leather goods shops throughout the Ancient Town and Night Market
Money Switching at Motorbike Rentals
Motorbike rental shops near the Ancient Town entrance and along Tran Phu Street
Counterfeit Bus Tickets
Bus ticket offices and guesthouses near the Hoi An bus station on Le Hong Phong Street
Tailor Fabric Bait-and-Switch
Along Tran Phu Street and Le Loi Street in the Old Town, particularly in shops between the Japanese Covered Bridge and the market end of the tourist strip
Restaurant Bill Padding and Forced Drinks
Restaurants near the Japanese Bridge, riverside dining establishments on Tran Phu Street, back alley restaurants near central market
These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
Street-level scams are most common in Hoi An
4 documented street scams target tourists near major attractions. Unsolicited approaches, "free" gifts, and distraction techniques are the main patterns — confidence and pace help.
How it works
Basket boat rides and evening lantern river cruises are popular Hoi An experiences but are a consistent source of mid-trip price hikes, demands for larger tips, or unexpected 'entry fees' to certain river sections. Documented on Backpackers Wanderlust and multiple Vietnam travel forums.
How it works
Hoi An is genuinely famous for leather craftsmanship, but many shops sell goods with leather exteriors and plastic or synthetic linings, passing them off as full-grain leather at premium prices. Customised shoes with this construction fall apart within weeks.
How it works
When paying for motorbike or bicycle rentals, vendors quickly swap a higher denomination note you hand over for a similar-looking lower one, then claim you paid less. Also reported at informal money exchange spots near the old town bridge.
How it works
Agents at guesthouses and bus station touts sell counterfeit or heavily marked-up bus and sleeper tickets for routes out of Hoi An (to Da Nang, Hue, or Phong Nha). The ticket is invalid or the bus does not match what was described.
How it works
Hoi An tailor shops display high-quality silk and linen samples in the storefront but substitute cheaper synthetic fabric once the order is placed. The finished garment is often delivered just before the customer departs, leaving no time to dispute the substitution. Alterations are offered as a stalling tactic if you complain, but the base fabric never changes. This practice is widespread across the Old Town's concentration of 400-plus tailor shops.
How it works
Riverside restaurants near the Japanese Bridge pressure diners into ordering expensive alcohol and appetizers without clear consent. Bills are inflated with items never ordered, and refusal to pay is met with aggressive management confrontation.
How it works
Tailor shops near the Ancient Town promise custom silk suits or dresses delivered to hotels or shipped abroad within days. Deposits (often €50-100) are taken, delivery dates slip repeatedly, and travelers receive substandard garments or nothing at all. Popular scam targeting tailoring-obsessed visitors.
How it works
Vendors in Hoi An's morning market and old town invite tourists to photograph them in colourful traditional dress or with their shoulder pole baskets, then angrily demand large sums of money once the photo is taken. Widely reported by travel writers and backpacker forums.
How it works
Vendors in the old town suddenly point out a scuff or loose sole on your shoe or a small tear on your bag, offer to fix it for a quoted price, then charge three to five times that amount on completion. Refusal leads to aggressive confrontation.
How it works
Cyclo drivers near the Old Town entrance and the main market quote a fare in Vietnamese dong but claim later that the price was per person or per kilometer rather than for the whole trip. Some drivers also take extended detours through quieter back streets to run up an unofficial meter. Disputes are handled by claiming a language misunderstanding, and passengers often pay to avoid a prolonged argument in a public place.
Hoi An Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
What scams target tourists in Hoi An?
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Filter scams in Hoi An by category, or read our worldwide guides for each scam type — taxi scams, street scams, restaurant scams, and more.
If you're visiting more than one destination
Similar scam patterns are active across the Asia region. Before visiting Koh Samui, review each city's guide — tactics vary and local setups differ even for the same scam type.
Editorial note: Scam warnings for Hoi An are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →