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After a few days in Hanoi, the constant hustle for tourist money becomes overbearing. If I owned a hostel in Hanoi, I would post a sign near the exit warning my guests of the following:

  • The motorbike taxis will charge you 1,000,000 Vietnamese Dong or $50 USD for a five minute ride. If you don’t pay, they will yell at you.
  • The ladies selling fruit in the street will double or triple their prices right before handing you the fruit. If you don’t pay, they will yell at you.
  • Most restaurants will charge you for drinks and dishes you did not order. Review the bill before paying.
  • Taxis will try to charge you a multiple of the meter times the number of people in the taxi. If the meter says 20 and there are three people in the taxi, he will try to charge you 60. If you don’t pay, he will yell at you.
  • Ladies walking the street with Pineapple and Banana baskets balanced on a bamboo stick will balance their rig on your shoulder and say “Photo! Photo!”. If you take the photo they will try to charge you 100,000 Dong. If you don’t pay, they will yell at you.
  • Everyone will try to overcharge you at every given opportunity. You must negotiate for everything! Don’t be surprised if some asks $75 USD for a t-shirt.
  • Everyone will try to give you incorrect change. You need to count your change. Once you complain, they will try to give you the wrong change again. You, in turn, must count again. They will laugh throughout the process.

Tomorrow we’re headed to Halong Bay for 3 days and 2 nights. It will be nice to go 72 hours without getting yelled at.