Is a bike tout in Ho Chin Minh a scam for tourists?

Is a bike tout in Ho Chin Minh a scam for tourists? - Person Walking on Market

Walking at night alone (around 23:00 to 4:00) at the center of Ho Chi Minh (mostly district 1), so many touts tried to get me on their bike. I have never got on it, but it might be that they talk to me since I look like a foreigner.

They usually talk to me in English (e.g. Can I help you? or Where are you going?), or something like "Hey" to get my attention.

But I feel that there is no meter on the bike, and it sounds unreliable to begin with.

Is this a tourist scam? Is it safe to get on their bike? How is the fare calculated? Or do they get me to the correct destination like a taxi, in the first place?






Pictures about "Is a bike tout in Ho Chin Minh a scam for tourists?"

Is a bike tout in Ho Chin Minh a scam for tourists? - Low Angle Shot of Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Is a bike tout in Ho Chin Minh a scam for tourists? - Black and white pensive man in sunglasses sitting on stylish motorcycle in sunny forest
Is a bike tout in Ho Chin Minh a scam for tourists? - Two Man Riding Black Mountain Bikes





Scams in Vietnam




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Huy Phan, Anna Tarazevich, Yogendra Singh, Craig Adderley