Gma Bev’s Shenanigans In Vietnam – Scams Too!

If you haven’t noticed by now, Gma Bev likes to do her own thing.  Sometimes she meets amazing people and other times, she may have a little mishap.  When she visited us in Spain, a couple of years ago, she was “mugged” in Gibraltar.  We’ve also shared her Shenanigans In Laos last month.  This month we will share what she was up to in Vietnam.  Let’s just say it wasn’t quite as mellow as Laos or as innocent as her mugging in Gibraltar.  Vietnam was full of energy, scooters and scams.  We share it all with you here!

Flashback to 2015:

We will start with some of her Facebook posts and then we will get into her stories about the scams.  We will let her tell you in her own words about her scam experiences.  Yes, there is an “s” at the end of the word experience.  It wasn’t once, nor was it twice.  It was three times!   Well, 3 biggies worth writing about, and sharing with you.  That way you can be aware and hopefully avoid the same misfortune.

Gma Bev’s Facebook Updates from Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam

This is the proper way to cross a freeway.  We actually did it, too!  Notice the entry/exit places for vehicles and pedestrians on left side.  No need for on/off ramps.

Hue, Vietnam

December 19, 2014 at 6:13am · 

(link to Facebook Video, it may not be visible to all viewers)  Had dinner in restaurant other night where supervisor gave me her business card and requested I return today at 3 so she could practice her English.  This video is of my friends in alley who invited me to sit.  It was papa, mama, gramma and a male friend who never smiled but stared at me entire visit!

 

December 19, 2014 at 10:04am 

(link to Facebook Video,  it may not be visible to all viewers)  We chanced upon a group listening to music and they offered us a seat.  We found out afterwards it was a funeral celebration.  People wore white headbands and I presume the immediate family were the ones in all white.  Inside the shop was a small altar in honor of the deceased.  How lovely so many people welcome us with open arms!

December 24, 2014 at 4:18pm

Ready for our Christmas Eve dinner cruise in Hoi An, Vietnam!  My 10-year granddaughter !

 

December 26, 2014 

All packed and ready to go to airport in an hour.  Saigon get ready for me!!!

 

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

December 29, 2014 at 5:34pm 

(link to Facebook Video, it may not be visible to all viewers)

A NOTE FROM SAIGON…..I am now officially an expert at crossing the street!

 

December 30, 2014 at 2:35am · 

(link to Facebook Video, it may not be visible to all viewers)  A little after 1 am, I finally decided to investigate where the loud music was coming from.  A birthday party on a Monday night!  They insisted I join them.  It’s 2:30 am….just got back to my room, only to discover Heidi, Alan and my grand daughter were still up having a pickle party!

Scam, Bam, Bam, Thank You Ma’am in Viet Nam!  (by Gma Bev)

SCAM

There was a slight drizzle as we embarked from the shuttle at the entrance to our hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam.  We were immediately surrounded by women attempting to sell us $1 dollar ponchos.  We all politely declined and walked on.

 

After unpacking, I returned outside and the six vultures quickly descended upon me again.  This time I was only holding my camera encased in a wallet, an umbrella and my requisite Pepsi.

 

One asked if she could exchange her one’s for a twenty.  I willingly obliged as she counted out the money in her partner’s hands. (Remember my hands were full.)  She slapped down a ten then counted out ten ones and handed them to me as I gave her a 20 in return.  

 

Another lady then said, “Oh, me, too!”  We repeated the process and they thanked me profusely.  I walked off feeling proud that I was being so nice.  Later, back at the room, I discovered they had only given me the ten one’s in each case!  One demerit for me.  And, of course, they were all long gone.  Please note that $20 for them is way more than one day’s wages.

 

BAM

In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), population 9 million, there are over 3 million people on mopeds.  They not only drive over all the streets with no stop lights to speak of and absolutely no street signs at all, they also drive and park all over the sidewalks.  One has to get used to walking in the obstacle course as pedestrians have no right-of-way anywhere.

 

I was on the edge of the sidewalk talking pictures which aforesaid camera encased in a wallet.  The wallet had a silver ring with a lanyard encased around my wrist. I was being savvy by now!
Within half a second, a man on a moped whipped right by me, grabbed my wallet and was on his merry way.  I was so stunned, my arms were still in the air with the silver ring dangling from the lanyard still around my wrist!  Alan went with me and I purchased a $150 temporary replacement.

 

BAM

Undaunted, I was still determined to take pictures of the city.  Four days later I was again on the sidewalk, but this time, no purse, no wallet and grasping the very small phone with both hands against my chest.

 

I, once again, saw a motorcycle quickly swerve towards me with a lady driver and male passenger.  He not only grabbed the phone, but drug it up my chin and across my face all in a matter of about 1/10th of a second and they, too, didn’t even slow down!  

 

These people are professionals.  He did not even have time to communicate to the driver.  They were totally in sync.  I did get another very, very cheap replacement; however, took no more pictures until we left Saigon forever!

 

Note from Heidi:   She forgot to mention the we tried to do due diligence and report the theft of her first phone.  We were told we could find tourist police near the market.  We walked over to the market and found this nice man (tourist police).  He tried his best to inform us where we needed to go.  He even wrote the address and directions on Gma Bev’s hand, but we couldn’t read it.  Oh well.

She also made some good friends in Saigon, so it wasn’t all bad.  We stayed at the Bali B Hotel in District 1 and here are some friends Gma Bev made along the way.