I was in Ho Chi Minh last year November 2007 and had a very bad experience with 2 Cyclo Vendors. As we were looking at our maps, we were approached by 2 Cyclo Vendors, offering their help to show us to the place that we are going. I ask them how much is the trip and they say 15000 Dong. That is quite reasonable. When we reached our destination and wanted to pay them, they say we can pay them after we had seen the place of interest. They'll just wait outside. So my friend and I tour around and when we come out, they are there waiting for us. We wanted to pay them but they still insist that there is another place if interest that we must go and see. They, till now, wouldn'd say anything on money. So we thought the 15000 Dong per destination worth it and we left for the 2nd destination. The same thing happen and they still dun want us to pay. Then we are being asked to go for the 3rd destination. At the end of the day. They insist that we treat them beer. They say they are tired. We unwillingly treat them beer, cos their attitude is becoming like forcing. So after our drinks, my friend ask them on the price and they says 900,000 Dong, which is NOT the amount that we first agreed on!!! There was an additional "0"! That is S$73 Singapore Dollars!!! In Singapore, the Trishaw ride is just S$15-S$20. We argue with them and they called on the rest of the Vietnames at the food court. All of them stared at us, wanted to put up a fight! We felt the threaten and gave them the money. They laugh within themselves...

On the street, my friend and I noticed that the Cyclo Vendors only "attack" on foreigners. The locals don't take their ride. I think they are making Vietnam a 'Dark Place'. I wonder how many foreigners had they "threaten"....

Lesson Learnt: Never trust a Cylclo Vendor. Their appetite are huge!!!

*Note: 1.00 SGD = 12,434.87 VND Singapore Dollars Vietnam Dong 1 SGD = 12,434.87 VND 1 VND = 0.0000804190 SGD

73.00 SGD = 908,407.09 VND Singapore Dollars Vietnam Dong 1 SGD = 12,443.93 VND 1 VND = 0.0000803604 SGD