Street Scams in Hoi An, Vietnam
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Hoi An — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh, and Koh Samui.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
4
Street Scams Scams
10
Total in Hoi An
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
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
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.
See all scams in Hoi An
10 total warnings across all categories