Saigon cyclo drivers rip foreign tourists: report
A cyclo driver snatches money from a Australian tourist in Ho Chi Minh City after she refused to pay his high price.
Hung and another cyclo driver each quickly took a US$50 note from the wallets of an Australian couple after dropping them with their two children at the Independence Palace last Thursday.
The couple gesticulated, asking for their money back, but Hung and his friend just smiled and rode away.
The Australian man said they had been brought from Ben Thanh Market, a kilometer away.
He said it was their first time in Vietnam and so did not know prices or directions.
“We feel unhappy because they took a lot of money,” he told a Tuoi Tre reporter.
An investigation by Tuoi Tre found Hung is one of 10 freelance cyclo drivers stationed around Ben Thanh Market. They charge foreign tourists exorbitant prices, usually 10 times what is agreed in advance.
They would grab money straight from customers’ pockets if the latter are reluctant to pay.
Last Tuesday Hung allegedly snatched $200 from another Australian tourist after driving 1.2 kilometers from Ben Thanh.
The woman said he had agreed to take $20.
“I was shocked and angry,” she said.
Sometimes the rip-off is accompanied by violence.
That happened last Wednesday when Minh, a driver in the same group, took Chang Lee, a 28-year-old Taiwanese, from Ben Thanh to Tran Hung Dao Street in District 1.
Minh called a colleague named Long to wait for him there.
When he arrived, he announced a huge fare and quickly took some notes from the customer’s bag.
They quarreled and Lee grabbed Minh’s arm to drag him to a police station.
Long showed up and rescued his friend and they both left.
Lee said Minh had agreed to take VND150,000, but took VND1 million.
On another occasion, four tourists from New Zealand were in four cyclos from the group.
When they stopped at a café to pay money, Long and Minh named a number and the tourists refused. They
argued and the drivers snatched VND100,000 notes from the tourists, screaming “More, more.”
They only left after one of the male visitors was furious and slammed a table.
The tourists said VND6 million, or around $300, had been taken.
“We found the cyclo interesting and we wanted to try them; we did not expect that to happen,” one of them said.
A woman in the group said the drivers had been very friendly at first, telling them about popular places in the city and showing them where to shop.
A local man living on Tran Hung Dao Street said he sees the cyclo drivers arguing with tourists every day.
When some female tourists said they did not have enough cash, the drivers would escort them to a nearby ATM to withdraw money, he said.
A representative of District 1 Cyclo Association said their members sign an agreement to charge tourists only VND50,000, around $2.5, an hour and wear uniforms.
But he also said they only serve clients of travel agencies. So tourists traveling on their own end up with thugs like Hung and his gang.
A police officer said the District 1 police have photos of several drivers notorious for cheating customers in the area, and so victims can go to any police station to report.
It is not clear if the tourists have been given their money back.
One day after Tuoi Tre published the story, it cited a city official as saying that local authorities will look into the issue and deal with violations strictly.
~News courtesy of Thanh Nien~
No-plan vacation: A motorbike jaunt to Tay Ninh Province
A Sunday noon worship service at the Cao Dai Holy See in the southern province of Tay Ninh.
The city of Tay Ninh lies in the heart of Tay Ninh Province, almost an even 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City.
The ride is along well-travelled highways, and there are many buses back and forth if you choose to watch the scenery roll by, instead of getting a super sexy farmer’s tan.
But a rando weekend getaway on a bus? Nopers. Nuh-uh. Not when it’s so close!
It’s time for a motorbike trip!
The scenery isn’t that special for most of the trip. The first 70 km is pretty monotonous, with small houses, a burning field glimpsed behind a marble statue workshop, small stores of all kinds, bike repair stops, and hammock cafes featuring relaxing dudes watching Vietnamese soaps.
Honestly, it really feels like you’re never leaving outer HCMC for much of it, except for glances of rice paddies and larger-than-usual palm trees. It’s only once you get within the last 30-35 km that the people step back and let the beauty of this low-lying agricultural region come to the fore.
Eventually, though, you’ll reach Tay Ninh. Welcome!
The city unfortunately is nothing special – which is actually rather unusual given the inordinate amounts of tourists that come through here.
It’s surprisingly large, and yet almost impossibly dull. How is it possible that a city big enough to have city buses, several large hotels, and be the home to an entire religion could be so boring? (Actually, on second thought, that last point might be self-explanatory.)
Having said that, a trip to Tay Ninh has 2.5 things worth seriously investigating.
1. Ba Den or Black Virgin Mountain
The Black Virgin Mountain towers like Kilimanjaro over the plains of Tay Ninh
The Black Virgin Mountain towers like Kilimanjaro over the plains of Tay Ninh, most of which is just a few meters above sea level. The mountain is a different story altogether. This extinct volcano rises almost 1,000 meters out of nowhere and is a popular tourist destination for Vietnamese people, both secular and religious.
It was a focal point of conflict during the American War – it was coveted because of its status as the highest point in southern Vietnam, and because of the many local legends surrounding it.
Two-thirds of the way up the mountain is a temple complex, and it’s beautiful.
But don’t worry – although you can take the walking route to the summit (at six hours up and down, it’s a hefty time investment and a serious workout), you don’t have to exercise if you don’t want to.
There’s a modern cable car/gondola ride that takes you directly to the temple. From there, it’s a mere 1-1.5 hour hike to the summit. Fortunately we visited in the dry season, because these stairs looked like they’d be treacherous wet.
But the most fun thing about this has to be the slideway.
Yes, my friends. There’s a little slide car thing that lets you coast 1,700m down the side of this mountain. Yes!
Unfortunately, we were in relax mode in getting to the mountain, and the slide closes at 4 p.m. We arrived just before 4. Pretty much the only disappointment of the trip!
There are many vendors at the base of the mountain as well as within the temple grounds themselves. Hats, fish, snacks, or just a cold coconut, make sure you’re hydrated and have some calories in you! (Just in case your cable car breaks and you’re stranded on the mountain for days with no one but monks to take care of your broken body and mind. You know.)
Costs are minimal. To get into the mountain area, it costs VND16,000.
A round trip in the cable car/slideway is VND150,000.
Water can be found for VND10-15,000, and food is available everywhere.
2.0. Caodaism
The Cao Dai Holy See
Cao Dai, the religion, is so colorful, so joyful, and so... Vietnamese, for lack of a better word (well, "absurdly optimistic" might work equally well), that actually visiting and witnessing a temple ceremony in progress was a revelation.
This new-ish faith contains a multitude (literally) of deities – in fact, it was founded in the anticipation of a time when all religions would unite and universal peace would reign on Earth.
It incorporates aspects of Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism into a syncretic whole. Despite having at least 4-6 million adherents globally, this church was only begun in 1926!
The grounds of the Holy See are peppered with colorful structures and gardens (with monkeys!), as well as helpful Caodaist groundskeepers, many of whom know a bit of English and love to talk.
Architecturally, the church walks the walk – these temples, which are remarkably consistent in design around the globe, marry Eastern and Western design ideas to create something new and weird. The temples are part-church, part-pagoda, and all color.
Of course, the music I love to hate (most traditional Vietnamese music) gets center stage in the upper balconies, where you can ascend to see the temple and faithful from above. Here’s a short video I took of the choir members and musicians:
It was a fascinating and brilliant first glimpse of Cao Dai. If only every religion included Victor Hugo as a founding saint, maybe we’d get along better.
2.5. Sidetrip: Cu Chi Tunnels
I mentioned 2.5 things to do here, right?
Ok, this is cheating. But really, despite the sheer numbers of people that come to visit Ba Den Mountain and the Cao Dai Holy See (and it’s a lot), there just isn’t much more to do in the city proper, despite how pretty and relaxing it is.
However/meanwhile, around 50 km south, on the same highway…
The Cu Chi Tunnels await!
If you do have time on your way back, do stop and check it out. You shouldn’t need more than 3-4 hours, and, since all these sights are all very close to each other, you should have no problem packing them all into a single weekend getaway.
All told, we spent a measly VND600,000 (US$30) for a fantastic weekend, at at least half of that was food and beer. Go team!
And did I mention my super sexy farmer’s tan? Because hot damn, my neck and arms! No really, so hot.
~News courtesy of Thanh Nien~
Tourism firms concerned over entrance fee hike at My Son Relic
Tourists visiting the My Son Relic in the central province of Quang Nam.
Tourism companies have complained about a sudden hike in entrance fees at the My Son Relic, an ancient Hindu religious site recognised as a UNESCO heritage site and a popular tourist destination in central Vietnam.
The My Son Relic management this week notified many tourism companies that it would increase by up to 70 percent ticket prices for the cluster of Hindu temples built in the 4th century some 40km from modern-day Hoi An.
From July the fees will go up from VND100,000 (US$4.6) to VND150,000 for foreigners and from VND60,000 to VND100,000 for locals.
“The hike is high and on short notice while the destination has no new products or services” the director of a tourism company in Hoi An, who wanted to remain unnamed, said.
“There should have been a gradual increase under a carefully considered plan. Tourism companies now have to pay the difference for tours already booked.”
Another tourism company director in Quang Nam, who too asked for anonymity, said the site management should have discussed with tourism companies before increasing entrance fees, just like Hoi An town does.
“A plan to increase the entrance fee to Cham Island off Hoi An by VND20,000 has been delayed due to criticism following a survey of tourism firms.”
The My Son relics complex is a cluster of ancient Hindu temples dating back to the 4th century.
Not the right time
Many experts said it is not the right time to increase the entrance fee at My Son, which has already been criticized for not attracting many tourists like other nearby UNESCO heritage sites in Vietnam like Hue and Hoi An.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Vietnam received 7.87 million international visitors last year, a 4 percent increase over 2013.
However, the number of arrivals in the first five months this year dropped by nearly 13 percent to 3.27 million.
Nguyen Van Tuan, VNAT director, said the ticket price increase at My Son is unreasonable.
“Generally, entrance fees at destinations in Vietnam are much lower than at many places abroad and can be adjusted.
“However, the adjustment needs to be made at the right time, with improved services and under a rod map with prior notice of at least six months.”
VNAT has recommended careful consideration before increasing entrance fees at UNESCO heritage sites, he said.
“Increasing the fee at this time when the sector faces difficulty in attracting tourists is not reasonable. They have the authority to hike the fee but will be responsible for it.”
~News courtesy of Thanh Nien~
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Vietnam waives visas for 5 more European countries, including Germany, UK
Foreign tourists walk in the backpackers' area in Ho Chi Minh City.
In an explicit gesture to resuscitate the ailing tourism sector, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed off on visa waivers for five more nationalities, a move highly welcomed by industry insiders.
Under a decision dated June 17, Vietnam will offer visa exemptions for single-entry visits of up to 15 days for visitors from Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain starting this July, Nguyen Van Tuan, general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said at an international tourism convention that opened Thursday in the central city of Da Nang.
"This is certainly very good news for Vietnam’s tourism industry,” Tuan said at the convention. “This is one of the new policies by the Vietnamese government aimed at creating an environment conducive to the development of the sector.”
At a recent meeting between PM Nguyen Tan Dung and the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) -- a consortium of international and local business associations and chambers of commerce -- members of the Tourism Working Group said issuing visas with a fee is a “short-sighted” policy that hinders tourism development.
The warning came at a time the number of foreign tourists to Vietnam through May dropped 13 percent from the same period last year to about 3.3 million.
'More to follow'
Insiders are gung-ho about the latest development.
“We hope this is just the first step and there will be more to follow,” Kenneth Atkinson, chairman of the Tourism Working Group, told Thanh Nien News over the phone.
Currently, citizens of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries do not need a visa to enter Vietnam.
The country also waives visa for single-entry visits of up to 15 days for Danish, Finnish, Japanese, Norwegian, Russian, South Korean, Belarusian, and Swedish nationals starting this year until 2019.
Tourism industry insiders in Vietnam have pushed for the easing of visa requirements, arguing that the country will benefit much more with an increase in foreign arrivals.
They have proposed that PM Dung add nine more countries -- France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the UK, India, Canada, Australia and New Zealand -- to the list.
Although India, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were not included this time, “five countries is better than nothing,” Atkinson said.
Tourism contributes about 6 percent of Vietnam’s gross domestic product. The country is looking to notch up economic growth of above 6 percent this year.
Insiders had expressed concern that the current arrival decline would not be able to talk the authorities concerned into relaxing visa regulations. The matter was clearly very complex as it involved several different ministries whose interests were not always aligned, they said.
But given the latest move, "obviously different ministries are starting to realize the gains of visa waivers,” Atkinson said.
“One of my mentors in Vietnam said many years ago: ‘The only time you get decision is when there is crisis'," he said.
~News courtesy of Thanh Nien~
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