This is a story of how I found myself in one of the craziest situations of my life while on a solo trip to Vietnam. It happened about five years ago, and I’ve probably recounted this story over a hundred times. Vietnam was my first time travelling alone, and I’ve since learned a lot about the art of solo travel, earning a reputation as a seasoned traveler among friends and family. You can check out the other half of this story from tail end of my Vietnam trip here.
In May 2019, I had a few weeks off between university classes and had saved up a bit of money working as an engineering student. Eager to make the most of this time, I decided to embark on my first backpacking trip and chose Vietnam for its reputation as a budget-friendly travel destination. I booked a flight into Hanoi, the northern capital, and a flight out of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in the south. Inspired by Top Gear, my plan was to buy a motorcycle in Hanoi and ride it to Ho Chi Minh City over three weeks. In my naivety, I didn’t realize how half-baked this plan was. I knew nothing about Vietnam and had only ridden a motorcycle in my uncle’s field as a kid. Before my biking adventure even began, I stumbled into the unbelievable story I’m sharing with you here.
The Meeting
I woke up early in my hostel bed on my first day in Hanoi, excited to explore this new city. I got a SIM card for my phone and found a nice cafe to relax at and plan my day. My first priority was to find a bike shop where I could look at getting a bike for my journey to Ho Chi Minh. Unsure if I could trust leaving my valuables at the hostel, I decided to keep my laptop and passport with me as I explored.
I left the café and was walking to the bike shop when I was approached by a guy I’ll call “John.” John seemed interested in getting to know me and asked me some questions in broken English. He seemed friendly and well put together. John explained that he was from Ho Chi Minh and was on a break from university to visit his family in Hanoi. As I was about to leave, John asked if I wanted to grab a drink. Having no real schedule, I agreed, and we went to a nearby cafe. John mentioned that his cousin was also in the area and would like to join us.
As we walked into the coffee shop, we took off our shoes and sat cross-legged at a short table. As we were deciding what to order, John’s cousin, whom I’ll nickname “Rich,” joined us. As Rich walked up, I noticed that he had some gold teeth and was wearing a chain and watch to match. He introduced himself and began talking about all of the money that he had, showing me pictures with stacks of money in his Mercedes. I noticed that his English was fluent. Rich lit up a cigarette and explained that he sold apartments for his dad’s company and that girls loved his money. Naively, I thought he was just a rich dude showing off.
We sipped our Vietnamese coffee and Rich asked about my plans for the day. I explained that I was going to a shop nearby to look for a bike for my journey across the country. Rich tried to dissuade me from going to a shop in the tourist area, saying they would try to rip me off. Instead, he offered to drive me to a shop where locals bought their bikes. I was hesitant, but Rich insisted. He mentioned that he drove a nice Mercedes Benz and didn’t want anything from me. I knew that luxury cars have a high import tax in Vietnam, so anyone who owns one must have a lot of money. As a broke college student, I reasoned that there wasn’t much he could take from me anyway so I accepted his offer. Rich paid for the coffees, and we headed for his car.
The Bike Shop
While we drove, Rich asked about my budget for a bike. I told him that I expected to get one for around $400 CAD from the research I’d done. When we neared the bike market, Rich asked if I wanted to stop by an ATM to get some cash. I politely declined, not wanting to carry a large sum of money on me.
We arrived at the market just before noon and I observed how huge it was. I was expecting motorcycles, but instead found thousands of mopeds in narrow alleys. Rich said this was where locals bought their vehicles and was where I’d find the best quality for a good price. We found a vendor, and Rich began negotiating on my behalf. After an hour and three mopeds tested, Rich recommended one costing about $600, saying it was of better quality and would hold its value. I didn’t want to spend that much, so I told him I’d keep looking on my own.
Rich then offered to take me back to my hostel but mentioned that he and John were going to visit a temple and invited me to join them. I accepted, thinking it was a unique opportunity to see the city with locals. We got back in the car en route to the temple. As we drove, Rich took several phone calls, supposedly from people wanting to buy apartments. He explained that his dad was incredibly wealthy and invited me to dinner with his parents later that evening. I expressed interest thinking that he just wanted to be hospitable.
As we neared the temple, Rich said it was closed for lunch which was a cultural practice in Vietnam. He needed to get something for his girlfriend, so he dropped John and me off at a small roadside restaurant. As I saw the Mercedes drive off, I didn’t know that this was the last time I would see Rich.
Lunch
At the outdoor restaurant, John ordered us food and beer as we talked about our lives. He explained that he was a student in Ho Chi Minh City and wanted to improve his English. The conversation was simple, but I was happy to get to know a Vietnamese person on my first day of this trip. We finished our meal which came out to $4. I remember thinking how far I could stretch the $100 I had in my pocket. I imagined all of the cheap street food I would enjoy.
After some waiting, the Mercedes returned, but this time a chauffeur was driving and a new guy popped out of the back seat. He was short and buzzing with energy, like a kid who had a bunch of sugar. I’ll call him “Shorty.” “My brother Adam, welcome to Vietnam,” he said as he embraced me. I felt fortunate to be meeting such friendly people. He explained that he was also a relative from Ho Chi Minh and was a cook back home, visiting Hanoi to spend time with his rich cousin and explore the city.
The Karaoke Bar
I was ushered back into the car without any idea of where we were going. I didn’t really care as these guys seemed nice, and with Shorty’s energy, it seemed like we were in for some fun. Shorty cranked up some EDM music and asked if I liked to sing. I don’t, but wasn’t about to admit that. I went with the flow and Shorty suggested we do some karaoke. Within a few minutes, we arrived at an empty karaoke bar. It was only 2 in the afternoon, so it made sense that we were the only guests.
We were brought upstairs to a private room that looked fancy. I assumed Rich would be paying for everything. Servers poured us scotch and coke, and Shorty brought out a bag with some green stuff in it. “This is the good marijuana from British Columbia, Canada,” he said with a grin. It seemed like he was trying to impress me. He put some into a hookah and offered me some. I declined, wanting to keep my wits about me.
As we sang karaoke, a few girls entered the room. John took my arm and put it around one of the girls. I felt uncomfortable, not knowing what to do but also unsure of the cultural norms. I just kept my arm around her as we sang. Servers brought in massive balloons, explaining that it was nitrous oxide which is a common party drug in Vietnam. I was instructed to inhale the balloon to get high. I didn’t want to get too messed up, so I slowly let the gas escape while holding the balloon by my side.
Overall, I was having a lot of fun. I sent pictures and videos to friends, showing off this little adventure. When we finished the first bottle of scotch, they brought out a second, much more expensive bottle of Chivas Regal 32-year. A quick google search showed that it was worth over $600. While I had Initially taken it slow, I didn’t want to waste fancy scotch with Coca-Cola, so I started drinking it straight. Things escalated as I quickly went from tipsy to drunk.
The Scam
After more partying, I was told our time was up and we had to pay and leave. Up to this point, I hadn’t thought about payment, assuming Rich would cover it. This is when I started to worry. I looked at the time as we went downstairs. It was around 4 PM, and we were still the only people there. I began to realize this was likely a scam. I had seven people surrounding me and I was expected to pay for this experience.
John and Shorty told me to pay the girls ₫2,000,000 (Vietnamese Dong worth $120). They said the girls were our entertainment and we were helping pay for their school. I was surprised at the price and told them I only had a ₫500,000 ($30) bill. John and Shorty said it was fine and I could pay them back later.
I thought we were done and was getting ready to leave when I got the actual bill for ₫10,000,000 ($600). I wasn’t going to pay $600 but knew I needed to find a way out. I also realized I had to sober up fast. Fortunately, the alcohol gave me confidence, so I stood up and started to get angry. I took $80 USD out of my wallet, threw it on the table, telling them it was all I had. They said I would have to go to an ATM to pay the rest. After more arguing, I realized going to an ATM would be the easiest way to get out of the bar, so I agreed. I still had my laptop and passport with me and was lucky that they didn’t ask to keep them.
The Getaway
As I was escorted out of the karaoke bar by John and Shorty, the mix of alcohol and adrenaline made me feel nearly invincible. I noticed that the streets were bustling with people and reasoned that this was a good time for a getaway. When we went to cross a road, I let the two others take a few steps before I ran in the opposite direction. At this point, the details became a blur, but I knew I had to make my escape. Trying to lose them, I ducked into the first back alley I found.
As I hurried down the alley, I found myself in front of a locked gate. Without thinking, I hoisted myself up and jumped to the other side where I found myself in someone’s backyard. Nobody was around and the yard was boxed in; there was no obvious exit. It felt like a moment in a video game where time stopped and I had a choice between trying to go into this person’s house or climbing a barrel to get into the tin shed. Without much thought, I picked the barrel.
I pulled myself onto a tin roof and can still remember the metal tanging sound that came from crawling on the shed. Back home, it was the middle of the night and I was here, drunk, bleeding, and running away from scammers while on somebody’s roof. When I got to the other side, I was faced with a drop into a narrow alley. With adrenaline pumping, I jumped down and kept running. Moving through a windy alley, I was met with surprised glances from people I passed. I must have looked deranged to them.
At some point, the alley exited into an open grassy area. I looked around, I noticed stones on the ground realized I was in a graveyard. As if this adventure couldn’t get any crazier. This wasn’t a flat and pristine cemetery like back home. Instead, it was hilly and clearly built into the landscape. There also didn’t appear to be any obvious paths so I stumbled around and found a low spot to hide where I could collect my thoughts. As I examined my body, I noticed that I had a deep cut on my left shin that was bleeding and had some other minor scrapes from the getaway. I checked my phone and saw that it was at 2% battery. Uh oh. I didn’t know how would I find my way to my hostel now. I didn’t want to wander around the streets as I knew I would stick out like a sore thumb and the guys were probably still looking for me.
I made a plan. I would find a nice looking person in a shop hoping they spoke a bit of English and could help me out. I built up some courage and left the graveyard. I walked quickly with my head low, looking for someone that looked friendly. I saw a woman alone in her shop and went inside. She seemed to understand a little it of English. I pointed to the cut on my leg in the hope that she would understand I needed help. I was able to get across that I needed a taxi and she called for one. By this point, my phone had died, but I knew the name of the tourist area of the city which I could give to the driver.
The Return
When the taxi arrived, I thanked the lady and got in. I showed the driver the general area I was staying in, and he said he could take me there. The adrenaline in my system was wearing off and I felt completely drained. I couldn’t fathom what had just happened and didn’t know how I would manage another three weeks in this country.
When we arrived at the tourist area, I didn’t have enough Vietnamese Dong to cover the $4 fare, but I found $15 USD miraculously tucked in the back of my wallet. Not having energy to negotiate, I gave the driver the rest of my American money. He received it with a smile and drove off
I remembered my hostel’s name and asked some other tourists for directions. After talking to three or four people, I ended up back in an area that looked familiar. I found my hostel and went inside. Finally, I was somewhere I felt safe. As I passed the bar in the hostel, I noticed there was a special of $2 for 2 beers. I sat down and looked at what was left in my wallet. By some stroke of luck, I had just enough Dong to buy two beers. As I sipped the beers, I realized that I would have a hell of a story to tell when I got home.
Conclusion
As I sat at the bar, reflecting on the day’s events, relief washed over me. I had navigated through a scam, escaped a potentially dangerous situation, and found my way back to safety in an unfamiliar city. While this has since become one of the coolest stories of my life, I want to acknowledge just how scary it felt in the moment. I felt like a kid running for his life.
This experience helped build my resilience and resourcefulness. I learned that one has to keep their guard up when traveling, as there are sometimes others trying to prey on the naivety of tourists. Since then, I’ve worked to keep my heart and mind open when traveling while understanding that trust has to be earned.
This story is incomplete without mentioning how my trip ended in Ho Chi Minh City. With a turn of events that taught me that not everybody has bad intentions. After this wild encounter in Hanoi, my journey continued to be filled with unexpected twists and turns. I met many incredible people and made memories for a lifetime. Chance encounters like these have fueled my passion for travel, adding excitement and unpredictability to my life.
Lessons Learned
I also want to share a few lessons I’ve learned while travelling over the last five years:
- Trust is something to be earned.
- It’s okay to be friendly with stranger, but don’t assume that everyone has your best interest at heart.
- Be cautious in admitting to travelling alone.
- If you are travelling alone, it’s a good idea to tell people you have a friend back at your hostel that is waiting for you.
- If something feels too good to be true, it probably is.
- I’ve had many offers for ‘great deal’ or a gift for free. These often involve hidden costs, subpar quality, or strings attached that weren’t obvious at first.
- Running away and fighting isn’t always the smartest idea.
- While running away worked for me, you never know when someone has a weapon or the desire to cause harm. Prioritize your safety over material possessions.
- People that approach you are much more likely to scam you
- Be cautious of unsolicited offers or overly friendly strangers. These individuals often have rehearsed tactics designed to gain your trust quickly and exploit
- Not everybody is out to get you.
- Not everyone you meet has bad intentions. Balancing caution and openness allows you to enjoy meaningful interactions and positive experiences. Most people are genuinely kind and interested in helping or learning about you.
- Chance encounters and uncertainty are a part of adventurous travel
- Of course, you can stay in tourist areas that provide more safety but this also come with higher costs and a limited experience. Venturing off the beaten path introduces an element of unpredictability, which can lead to some of the most memorable and enriching experiences of your trip. Find the balance of precaution and adventure that works for you.