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# Saigon Scams 2026: Ben Thanh, Bui Vien, Bag Snatching and Fake Grab Drivers
- URL: https://blog.fizen.io/ho-chi-minh-city-scams-2026/
- Published: 2026-11-02T09:53:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T09:20:03.000Z
- Description: The Ho Chi Minh City problems that actually hit visitors: price gouging at Ben Thanh, disputes and snatch-and-grab around Bui Vien, motorbike bag snatching and the fake Grab driver outside the pickup point. Dated cases, official advice and what to do.
- Author: Quinn Dao
- Tags: Travel & Nomad, Guides

**Quick answer:** As of November 2026, the scams and thefts reported most in Ho Chi Minh City are inflated prices at Ben Thanh Market (a stall charged VND 1 million for four bowls of duck noodle soup in July 2025), motorbike bag and phone snatching in District 1, and fake ride-hail drivers who copy your plate (a Taiwanese visitor spotted one outside the Pink Church in July 2026). Carry your bag on the side away from traffic, agree or check prices before you take anything, and book rides yourself and match the physical plate.

**Key takeaways**

- **Snatch-and-grab is the real risk.** The UK Foreign Office says bag-snatching by thieves on motorcycles is common; carry bags in front or on the side away from traffic.
- **Ben Thanh: price first.** A July 2025 stall case ended in a three-day suspension and a refund of the difference.
- **Fake Grab drivers copy your plate on a screenshot.** Check the plate on the car, and call the driver from inside the app.
- **Bui Vien: leave arguments.** A May 2025 bar dispute ended with a visitor hit by a bottle and staff arrested.

You step out of a cafe near the Pink Church to find your Grab, and a man in a helmet holds up a phone showing your plate and says 'yes, this is yours'. Saigon's modern scams look like helpfulness, and the old ones, a hand on your bag from a passing bike, are over in two seconds.

A live connection beats most of this: you check the app, call the driver, and look up a stall's prices in seconds. Your travel eSIM gift is waiting in the Fizen app, US$10 of eSIM credit off the bill automatically at checkout (up to 30% of each plan, new users only), payable with USDT or by card. [Get the Fizen app](https://link.fizen.io/s/B3Aenpj7fz?ref=blog.fizen.io) and read on.

## Are there price scams at Ben Thanh Market?

Overcharging is the recurring complaint. Tuoi Tre reported on 18 July 2025 that a Ben Thanh stall charged VND 1 million for four bowls of duck vermicelli soup, a portion of boneless duck and a salad, after a social post alleged inflated prices. The market board suspended the vendor for three days, required a written apology and a refund of the difference. A board representative said the rules, in place since 2017, allow up to seven days, and the market is expanding complaint channels (staff at its entrances, Zalo, Facebook, email and hotlines). VnExpress International (21 September 2023) described stalls quoting a French visitor over VND 200,000 per souvenir, falling to VND 40,000 to 80,000 after bargaining.

**Tell-tale sign:** no printed price, or a number that changes after you say 'too much'. **What to do:** ask the price before the food or item is prepared or bagged, bargain on goods, screenshot a menu or sign, and use the complaint channels if it goes wrong. Our [Ben Thanh and Dong Xuan guide](https://blog.fizen.io/ben-thanh-dong-xuan-market-vietnam-pay-qr-2026/) covers paying the market.

## Is motorbike bag snatching a real risk in Ho Chi Minh City?

Yes, and it is the one to take seriously. The UK Foreign Office travel advice says bag-snatching by thieves on motorcycles is common, advises holding bags in front of you or on the side away from traffic, and says to be ready to hand over valuables rather than risk injury. A vietnamtourism.com safety guide updated on 21 August 2026 names Ben Thanh, the Bui Vien walking street and the surrounding backpacker district as District 1 hotspots, and advises standing at least a metre from the road when using your phone and wearing a zipped cross-body bag.

A documented case: Tuoi Tre reported on 13 July 2022 that a rider snatched an iPhone from a French visitor photographing on Phu Giao Street, District 5; patrolling police heard her shout and caught him. No 2026 police warning or case count turned up to quote, so the official advice above is the best current source. **What to do:** phone away from the kerb, bag across the body away from traffic, and let go if it is grabbed.

## What is the fake Grab driver scam in Saigon?

United Daily News (Taiwan) reported on 29 July 2026 that a Taiwanese traveller using Grab outside the Pink Church was approached by a man who claimed the ride was his and showed an app screen with her plate number. She noticed the real car on the map was still moving, found the physical plate did not match and cancelled. The paper says scammers use default screenshots or copy a passenger's plate into a template, and victims may then face detours, inflated fares or theft. It also cited a Saigon visitor who flagged a car on the street and was drugged and robbed; that is one reported case, not a statistic.

The UK Foreign Office also warns of scammers who claim to be from Grab or XanhSM and advises booking the full journey in the app. The airport version, including a VND 3 million fare at Tan Son Nhat in August 2026, is in our [Vietnam taxi scams guide](https://blog.fizen.io/vietnam-taxi-scams-2026/). **What to do:** match plate, name and model on the car, use the app's call button (a real driver's phone will ring), and refuse any 'system error, change car' story.

## Is Bui Vien safe at night?

Most nights pass with loud music and no trouble, but disputes can turn violent. Tuoi Tre reported on 20 May 2025 that a South African visitor was hit on the head with a beer bottle on 17 May after arguing with a bar employee, and police detained staff on suspicion of causing public disorder; the paper did not say what the argument was about. The practical lesson from this and from the snatching reports: keep your phone and bag secure in the crowd, settle your bill calmly, and leave if a dispute escalates rather than arguing in a bar.

## What do other travellers say?

Paraphrased from guides and search snippets, because we could not open Reddit or Tripadvisor threads for this piece:

- Grab drivers cannot enter the Tan Son Nhat arrivals hall, so walk to the marked pickup point, open the app there and check the plate before you get in.
- Anyone offering a 'cheap meter taxi' at the terminal door is not your driver.
- Keep the phone off the kerb side when you check maps; use a cross-body bag with the zip against your body.
- Look for a printed price list at food stalls before you order.

## How does being online and cashless help in Saigon?

With data you can book and track your own ride, call the driver, check a stall's price and show a hotel your address. The pre-arrival declaration for Tan Son Nhat also needs a connection, or its terminal QR codes. One option is Fizen's Asia plan, which, as of 2 November 2026, runs on Viettel Mobile 4G in Vietnam; fixed-data plans slow to 128 kbps after the allowance. Check the eSIM tab in the app for current Vietnam plans. A fault on Fizen's side gets a free 1:1 replacement for the whole trip from a real person in live chat. It is data only, so keep your home SIM on for bank codes. Install it on home Wi-Fi before you fly. More in our [Ho Chi Minh City eSIM guide](https://blog.fizen.io/esim-ho-chi-minh-city-nomad-best-2026/).

On the cash side, fewer notes means less to lose or get switched. Fizen QR Pay lets foreign visitors in Vietnam pay VietQR, VNPay, MoMo and ZaloPay codes from USDT, with the amount shown in dong before you confirm. It is for visitors only (people who live in Vietnam cannot use it there) and pays only Vietnamese account holders' codes. Create or import the self-custody Fizen wallet, get USDT on Solana or BNB Chain into it, deposit into QR Pay (no gas on BNB Chain, a little SOL on Solana; KYC per wallet and device), then scan and pay. USDT on another network, or another token, cannot be deposited. Limits: US$800 per payment, US$1,000 per week, no daily limit. USDT in QR Pay is governed by the QR Pay Terms, so move in only what you plan to spend. Steps: [QR Pay getting started](https://docs.fizen.io/help-center/fizen-qr-pay/getting-started?ref=blog.fizen.io). For a card that fails at the driver's door, see our [VietQR driver guide](https://blog.fizen.io/vietnam-grab-taxi-driver-pay-vietqr-card-failed-2026/).

## Frequently asked questions

#### Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for tourists?

For most visitors yes. The main risks are motorbike bag and phone snatching in District 1, overcharging and ride-hail impostors.

#### What is the most common scam in Saigon?

Overcharging and fake ride-hail drivers. Agree or check prices first and match the physical plate to the app.

#### Are Ben Thanh Market prices a scam?

Some stalls overcharge, as a July 2025 case showed. Ask the price before food is prepared, bargain on goods and use the market's complaint channels.

#### How do I avoid bag snatching in Saigon?

Carry your bag across your body on the side away from traffic, keep your phone away from the kerb and do not resist if it is grabbed.

#### How do I spot a fake Grab driver?

Check the plate on the car, not the screenshot; call the driver from the app; and decline any request to cancel or change cars.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/04/ee/04eee3a6-7d95-474c-80a5-48f84338363b/content/images/2026/11/ho-chi-minh-city-scams-2026.png) 

#### Your travel eSIM gift is waiting: US$10 of eSIM credit

A new Fizen programme: US$10 of eSIM credit is waiting in the eSIM tab of the Fizen app for new users, taken off the bill automatically at checkout (up to 30% of each plan), no code. Pay with USDT on Solana or BNB Chain, or by card. Foreign visitors in Vietnam can also pay a shop's bank QR code with QR Pay in the same app. Prefer the web? fizen.io/esim works too.

[Get the Fizen app](https://link.fizen.io/s/B3Aenpj7fz?ref=blog.fizen.io) 

### Terms and conditions

- **Information only.** Fizen publishes this article to inform, not to sell. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation or sale of any product or service, and it is not financial, legal, tax, immigration or security advice. Safety conditions change; check your government's travel advice.
- **For readers in the United States.** This is information only, not an offer or sale, and not advice. Fizen products and services are not offered to US Persons.
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- **Not affiliated.** Fizen is not affiliated with Grab, Xanh SM, the Ben Thanh Market board, any police force, government body or publication named here. Cases are described as reported; no private business is accused.
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### Sources

- [Tuoi Tre News, 18 July 2025: Is 3-day suspension for overcharging at Ben Thanh Market too lenient?](https://news.tuoitre.vn/is-3-day-suspension-for-overcharging-at-ho-chi-minh-citys-ben-thanh-market-too-lenient-103250718120833764.htm?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [VnExpress International, 21 September 2023: Tourists wary of rip-offs in HCMC](https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/tourists-wary-of-rip-offs-in-hcmc-4655167.html?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Vietnam travel advice, safety and security](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam/safety-and-security?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [vietnamtourism.com (updated 21 August 2026): Theft and pickpockets in Vietnam](https://www.vietnamtourism.com/en/theft-and-pickpockets-in-vietnam-common-scams-and-how-to-stay-safe?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Tuoi Tre News, 13 July 2022: Man nabbed for snatching French tourist's iPhone in Ho Chi Minh City](https://news.tuoitre.vn/man-nabbed-for-snatching-french-tourists-iphone-in-ho-chi-minh-city-10368091.htm?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [United Daily News (Taiwan), 29 July 2026: Fake Grab drivers near Saigon's Pink Church](https://udn.com/news/story/6812/9659015?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Tuoi Tre News, 20 May 2025: HCMC police arrest bar worker in 3-on-1 assault on foreign man](https://news.tuoitre.vn/ho-chi-minh-city-police-arrest-bar-worker-in-3-on-1-assault-on-foreign-man-103250520073002358.htm?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Viet Nam News, 23 April 2026: Online declaration required for certain arrivals at Tan Son Nhat](https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1780029/online-declaration-required-for-certain-arrivals-at-tan-son-nhat-int-l-airport.html?ref=blog.fizen.io)
- [Fizen Help Center: QR Pay getting started](https://docs.fizen.io/help-center/fizen-qr-pay/getting-started?ref=blog.fizen.io)

Updated 2 November 2026.

### Related reading

- [eSIM scams: the 60-second seller check](https://blog.fizen.io/esim-scams-how-to-avoid-2026/)
- [Vietnam taxi scams: 6 tells before you ride](https://blog.fizen.io/vietnam-taxi-scams-2026/)
- [Hanoi scams 2026](https://blog.fizen.io/hanoi-scams-2026/)
- [Da Nang and Hoi An scams 2026](https://blog.fizen.io/da-nang-hoi-an-scams-2026/)
- [What's new in Ho Chi Minh City for travellers](https://blog.fizen.io/whats-new-in-ho-chi-minh-city-for-travellers-2026/)
- [Is It Safe to Travel to Vietnam Right Now? 2026 Advisories Checked](https://blog.fizen.io/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-vietnam-2026/)