Tourists are upset, tourism will lose revenue

The harassment and overcharging of tourists by street vendors and shoe shiners not only affects the image of the destination but also reduces the attractiveness of tourism.

Receiving feedback from many tourists, reporters of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper spent many days observing and recording the current situation of street vendors and shoe shiners soliciting and harassing tourists in the central area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City. Although this situation has improved, it is still quite complicated.

Discomfort, boredom

In front of Ben Thanh Market on Phan Boi Chau Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Patrick - a tourist from the US - was chatting with his relatives when a street vendor repeatedly tried to persuade him to buy sunglasses. Although he refused many times by signaling, the vendor still followed him, introducing one pair of sunglasses after another.

We saw Mr. Patrick's face change from awkward to annoyed. A few minutes later, when he realized that the customer would not change his mind, the street vendor left.

Sharing with reporters right after that, Mr. Patrick said that this was his first time traveling to Ho Chi Minh City. "Being invited to buy something in such a situation made me feel very awkward and upset" - he frankly said.

At the corner of Le Loi - Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, in front of Takashimaya Shopping Center, District 1, we witnessed a group of about 4 shoe shiners regularly appearing, constantly soliciting tourists, especially foreigners. According to our investigation, the fee for shining each pair of shoes is only 25,000 - 30,000 VND, but when they "catch" international tourists, they do not hesitate to ask for "sky-high" prices.

A foreign tourist was just dragging his suitcase across this area when he was immediately approached by one of the shoe shiners mentioned above. He tried to pull the tourist's hand to the side of the road to offer to shine his shoes, despite the latter's repeated refusal in English: "I don't have any money... I don't have any money with me." However, the shoe shiner still insisted: "It's okay, I'll pay you later." After a few minutes of trying to persuade him without achieving his goal, the shoe shiner finally let go of the tourist's hand.

In this area, tourists walking from Takashimaya Shopping Center towards Ben Thanh Market often encounter many young men holding shoe shine baskets. They sit along the sidewalk, trying to solicit tourists to polish their shoes, glue heels, lift soles... Many tourists appear helpless, struggling to find a way to escape these people, but there is no sign of any authorities around to handle the situation.

According to Mr. John - an American tourist traveling with his family, Ho Chi Minh City was the first destination in their journey across Vietnam. He said he was very upset and worried about the safety of his family after a person... arbitrarily shined his shoes and then demanded 5 USD, even though he had previously refused and disagreed. "To avoid interrupting the trip, I paid 2 USD, then the person left" - this tourist was disappointed.

Similar situations also occur at many famous tourist attractions in the central area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City such as the City Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Hall, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market... These places usually attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists but often have shoe shiners, street vendors or beggars. According to our estimates, about 20 people often gather around these locations, mainly approaching and soliciting international tourists.

Ho Chi Minh City is in the peak season of welcoming international visitors, while the situation of soliciting and harassing tourists from street vendors, shoe shiners... has not been resolved. Photo: Thai Phuong - Le Tinh

Any price is "sticky"

Posing as tourists, we went to a crowded coffee shop on Phan Chu Trinh Street, near Ben Thanh Market. Within 10-15 minutes, we witnessed more than a dozen street vendors approaching foreign tourists, offering to buy souvenirs, hand fans, cigarettes... or offering to shine their shoes.

Shoe shine fees for Vietnamese tourists are only about 50,000 VND at most, but for foreign tourists, it is... "priceless". Normally, foreign tourists have to pay 3-5 USD/pair, but those who are easygoing and easily "bullied" will be "ripped off" many times more by shoe shiners. Not to mention, when customers agree to have their shoes shined, these people "draw" additional steps such as gluing the heels, lining the soles... with fees that can be up to millions of VND.

Meanwhile, street vendors often observe tourists' reactions to stick around and set prices for their items. If they see that a customer is interested, they immediately quote a very high price. For example, a pack of cigarettes or a mini hand fan is priced at 100,000 VND, but customers can pay 50,000 - 60,000 VND and any price "sticks".

An employee at a shop on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, said: "I often witness shoe shiners soliciting and "raising prices" with foreign tourists, even arguing because the price is too high. Although the authorities still raid and punish them, after a short time, these people continue to operate as before."

In the central area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City, we often see men carrying coconuts to sell. They often operate along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Vo Van Tan streets... (District 1, District 3). Not only soliciting, many people also boldly put coconuts on tourists' shoulders, cut coconuts to offer them to drink and then insist on demanding high prices, regardless of whether the customers agree or not.

Many tourists complained that they had to pay up to 150,000 VND for 2 coconuts. These men also brazenly searched their wallets to take money, leaving many tourists both surprised and angry.

In the area of ​​the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, reporters recorded the scene of street vendors regularly squeezing into international tourist groups to offer their services. Even though the tourists waved their hands to refuse, they still followed them throughout the tour. Many tourists probably witnessed this for the first time, so they felt embarrassed and confused...

Don't dare to spend, don't want to come back

Leaders of several travel companies said they regularly receive complaints from international tourists about being solicited and invited to buy goods at tourist attractions. This makes tourists feel uncomfortable and unable to fully enjoy their travel experience.

Ms. Le Hoa, a tourism employee in District 1, commented: "The behavior of haggling, dragging, and charging too high prices... not only affects the image of Ho Chi Minh City but also reduces the attractiveness of tourism. Many foreign tourists become hesitant to spend money for fear of being cheated."

Ms. Hoa said she has many foreign friends who travel to Ho Chi Minh City and everyone is upset about this situation. "If there are no sanctions and rectification measures soon, tourists will no longer dare to spend money, and even not want to come back" - she worried.

According to the Inspector of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, most of the street vendors, shoe shiners, and coconut sellers in the city center are immigrants, temporarily residing in the suburbs. Besides those who do legitimate business to make a living, there are still some who take advantage of street vendors and shoe shiners to harass and even steal the property of tourists, especially international tourists.

These subjects often operate in an organized manner, divided into small groups. They choose time frames when authorities rarely patrol, such as early morning or late evening, and concentrate in areas with a lot of tourists...

(To be continued)

Embarrassing incidents

In mid-September 2024, a clip went viral on social media recording the scene of famous YouTuber IShowSpeed ​​visiting the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Here, he was asked to rent a balance skateboard for up to 1 million VND while livestreaming with millions of followers.

This information spread rapidly around the world, becoming the focus of debate among many people on social networks. Many people, including Vietnamese people, expressed shame at this "price gouging" behavior.

Previously, in October 2023, a clip appeared on social media recording a scene where a Taiwanese female tourist denounced the "rip-off" tactics of a coconut vendor, making netizens very indignant. The female TikToker said that she was at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum when a coconut vendor quoted a price of 150,000 VND/fruit. After she questioned it, the seller quickly lowered the price to 50,000 VND!

We also tried to approach a shoe shiner named C. - living in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City - who looked like a hard-working man. C. said he had been shining shoes for many years around District 1 and District 3. According to him, shoe shiners who charge too high prices at tourist-heavy places like Saigon Square, Ben Thanh Market, Le Loi Street, Nguyen Hue Street... have seriously affected the work of honest people.

"Many tourists have probably 'heard' or experienced being solicited and 'ripped off', so when they meet us, they seem hesitant or even avoid us," Mr. C. explained the situation. He revealed the tricks of dishonest shoe shiners: They often offer relatively cheap wages, only a few tens of thousands of VND per pair, then make up all sorts of excuses - such as open-toed shoes, needing insoles... - to charge up to 1-2 million VND.

"In a day, they only need to attract 1-2 customers like that to be able to make a good living, while we work hard but earn very little. Their tricks give the entire shoe-shining profession a bad reputation, especially damaging the city's tourism image," Mr. C. said indignantly.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/du-khach-phien-long-du-lich-se-that-thu-196241124200640406.htm