A group of 8 women have been pretending to be street vendors and seemingly forcing many tourists on the street to earn money using cunning tricks to dupe them out of their cash. Pressing their bamboo carrying pole which holds loads at its two ends onto the shoulder of a tourist, forcing tourists to take pictures then asking them to pay, inviting tourists insistently to buy their products with high prices... are some of their methods.
Everyday, at about 9.30 am, this group of women gathers at along Cau Go Street, Hanoi. They prepare a few bags of pealed pineapples and bananas to put on their loads and start "their day". From their appearance, they don't look different from the real street vendors, but their only intent is to grab tourists for money.
These women often stand and observe tourist-filled areas. When a tourist walks by, they approach the tourist cordially with warmth to create trust, then quickly press their carrying bamboo pole onto the tourist's shoulder, put "non" (Vietnamese hat) on the tourists heads and then invite them to take pictures. Bags of pineapple would be slid into the tourists hands, and they often don't realise the true intention of these women until they are asked to pay 5 USD or VND 50,000 - 100,000 for a bag of pineapple, sometimes even more for hiring their carrying pole and taking pictures for a fee. This is when the women take full advantage of the language communication barrier and their number of people to win their arguments with foreign tourists.
Another cunning trick of theirs involves them preparing a large amount of small change, and when tourists pay with dollars or high notes, they would pull out a handful of small change, slide it into the tourists hands and disappear.
Many tourists have fallen into this trap and all they could do is shake their heads, shrug off and walk away in displeasure with a bad impression of Hanoi, especially in a time when the city is going to celebrate its 1,000 year anniversary.
While the authorities and many of the Hanoian people are promoting Hanoi with international friends, it is unacceptable to see these kind of deceitful acts still taking place publicly in the middle of the culture pot in Hanoi.
DTiNews reporters took almost a week to follow this group of women and were able to record these not-so-nice images.
One woman rushing forward and pressing the carrying pole onto a tourist's shoulder.
Impolite behaviour leaves tourist annoyed.
Despite this tourist's annoyed face, the woman continues to pressure her.
One at the front and one at the back forcing the tourist to wear a Vietnamese hat and put on their shoulders two carrying poles. It is all a show to demand that tourists pay.
This tourist doesn't know what is going on and is taken by surprise.
When one woman gets hold of the tourist, the others come and play different tricks in order to make the tourist pay.
This woman often targets lone tourists,
And couples...
Tourists who are not aware, often are pick-pocketed by these skillfully cunning women.
A tourist smiles and mistakes this deceiving act for one of hospitality.
Shocked when asked to pay.
This is the complete act:
Putting the pressure on.
Asking the tourist to pay.
5 - 7 USD for a couple of bananas and pineapple pieces.
The tourist complained for being charged too much but in the end had to accept it.
