why is saigon like this??!!! pls help

I think to be fair if you look like a tourist, hang around and shop in the tourist areas your going to be treated like a tourist.
So you will be a target for the touts etc.
Sadly as for the prices as an expat\tourist you will never get local prices even if you do speak the language. Unless of course you get a local to do your shopping :-)

When ever I am in the tourist areas I still get hassled, less so by those that recognise me but anyone new just see a foreign face.

But I have found on the whole most people are happy to leave you alone after a short while. Unlike elsewhere in Asia that I been.
You take the good with the bad ;-) just be nice but firm and look at socialising away from the tourist traps.

Agree 100% with laidbackfreak.

Will also add that you don't have to be Vietnamese to get local prices, but you do need to be Asian, and make them think you are local by not speaking your native language where they can hear you. My Chinese wife uses this strategy all the time at the local produce markets. Obviously, I never go in with her, or let them see me with her - it would be game-over then. :-) So, if you're not Vietnamese/Asian or don't have Vietnamese/Asian spouse/gf/bf, either accept that you're not going to get the local price, or find a local friend to help you do the shopping.

yyk wrote:

wat happens to those non-asians in hcmc??!!! be resigned to exploitation ??

Depends on how you view it, I haggle where i need too, get local (expat) prices where I cant and take the hit on the chin

If I feel they are seriously taking me for a ride, I either walk away or never shop there again (depends on much I want the goods.)

BUT keep in mind I'm more than likely making significantly more in wages than they are. So while it's expensive to a local it's still relatively cheap for me. I call this a win - win situation.

Again, 100% agree with laidbackfreak...

There are good and bad people all over the world. If you know you're getting scammed, walk away. I'm talking about the normal everyday people here - they know foreigners probably have a lot of money, and take advantage of that fact. As long as I know I'm paying less than what I would pay in my home country for something, I'm OK with that, even if it's more than the locals pay. Same for my wife. She usually gets prices comparable to what she would pay in China, so she's OK too. And she does NOT dress like the locals either. As laidbackfreak said, it's a win-win for everyone.

I know this is really none of my business but you sound agitated and irritated about living out your daily life in Vietnam.  I would like to contribute my humble opinion to this topic for I hope that you will find the love and peace prior to your departure. 
1. My Vietnamese relatives dress in T shirt and Jean and so do I.  As for other format of dress code such as wearing pajamas or old clothing in public, this style of dressing has more to do with income and access to jobs with good earnings than being “Vietnamese”.  You and I are blessed with privileges and resource.  In return, it is our social responsibility to be thankful for what we have got or, if possible, to share part of what we have with others.  This principle is universe and it is more relevant in developing countries such as Vietnam.  Beside, clothing can only make first impression but it is you, the person beneath the clothing, who will attract good and decent friends in Vietnam or anywhere else in the world.   

2.I am also a visitor to this city.  Like many others, I once looked at this city as a tropical resort place for food and holiday fun.  I encourage you to take a motorcycle ride at off peak hours and take a look at people on both sides of the streets.  You will see that life is being lived out everyday and every minute on the street of HCM.  Outsides streets with tall glass building and fancy lights, you will find that families continue to struggle to live above the poverty line.  It is inevitable that you will encounter crooks with the intention to cheat and scam you.  At the same time, I have met strangers who dress in so called “Vietnamese” style and they have decent hearts and minds. In short, this is a living city with people from all walks of life who share different philosophy and way of living.
             
3.Instead of feeling suffocated from your fear of being scammed and cheated by vendors, take a moment to explore the diversity of trades and skills offered by the local markets. If you are looking for cheap food price, it is only fair to say that you should avoid shopping at expensive market like Ben Thanh. This concept is not unique and this so called “scam and cheat” in the business world does not exist in Vietnamese market alone.  For instance, you will be charged with different prices for similar item at a Canadian grocery chains known as Price Chopper or the Dominion.  Price Chopper and Dominion are owned by one and the same corporation.  In relative terms, for selective products such as groceries, the current Vietnamese market, similar to that of the local farmer market, offer consumers more choice and selections due to a less centralized model such as that of the North American grocery chain.             

4.In the animal kingdom, a variety of species ranging from frogs to fishes rely on their shape changing abilities to survive and to thrive in their environment.  This is a lesson from the natural world which I am still learning to master in my lifetime.

I hope this posting shred some lights in your understanding of this beautiful country.  Thank you.

NICE ONE RED MAPLE and the rest!

I understand your frustrations with getting conned. Think of it this way.

Whatever you are getting ripped off on is probably a small percentage of money, not even a full euro or us dollar. 

When that happened to me i thought "ok, so this guy is ripping me off for about 1 euro. Meanwhile back at home I pay 40 cents for every 100 i make." when I look at it my home country, the "western" world rips me off on a daily basis, but  its called taxes. And they send me cute letters, notes, and have politicians massage my ego/testicles, so I'm ok with giving them 40% of my pay.

So from that perspective, I'd thank the vietnamese guy for not stealing 40% of my money, but rather only 10%

gotta look on the bright side.  Plus the food is amazing!\

I agree with Red Maple.  In the U.S. you have the good, better, best business model.  It is the way to get more money out of people.  In VN I have noticed there is 1 price for a service (such as internet) and, therefore, I feel better off in VN.  In the U.S. I would pay 1 price for dial-up, but for a little more I can get broadband and for even more I get super-fast speed.  Also, my Vietnamese fiance does the shopping so I don't worry so much.

[Moderated: Rude comment]

Well, I hope you got an answer with all these fine post. Bottom line it is what it is.  I like to barter in Vietnam. It quite fun, like buying a lotto ticket, you take a chance and take it or walk away. My photographer buddies in Hanoi got me a price of $45 for a painting the day before they wanted $300. I know the game and it's just a part of life. So, get a Vietnamese friend to shop with. Man or Woman. Make it a habit and adventure then buy them lunch afterwards. Take the pressure off yourself and Smell the Roses (Pho in Vietnam)

Why was my post moderated? 

Hello orde!

Your comment didn't fit the Expat.com policy, that's why.

Harmonie.
Expat.com Team.

@yyk: Hmm... As a Vietnamese, maybe I understand what you have experienced, however like anywhere on the Earth, you should learn how to fit it and maybe you will be stuck in a bunch of troubles before you find out the way to Rome ^^, therefore email me if you need a help or a new friend to take you to where you need:)

Email: anh.thoi@gmail.com

Hi all,

I totally agree with Red Maple. Everything is sold to you (foreigner) at the price in compared with your life standard- not with Vietnamese people. That's why you find them more expensive than ones local people buy.

I'm not good at shopping, however, fell free to contact me if you need any help with translation. It is, of course, free.

Annie Thoi wrote:

@yyk: Hmm... As a Vietnamese, maybe I understand what you have experienced, however like anywhere on the Earth, you should learn how to fit it and maybe you will be stuck in a bunch of troubles before you find out the way to Rome ^^, therefore email me if you need a help or a new friend to take you to where you need:)

Email: anh.thoi@gmail.com

Hi annie,
thx.. well i'm glad to say tat i've become more accustomed to life in this new city now... thx to the new frens whom i've met here.. i've stayed long term in several countries before but so far, i would say tat this country is the most "interesting" so far... maybe the way of thinking and logic is somewhat "different" and takes more effort to get used to but we WILL get used ...

Hi annie,
thx.. well i'm glad to say tat i've become more accustomed to life in this new city now... thx to the new frens whom i've met here.. i've stayed long term in several countries before but so far, i would say tat this country is the most "interesting" so far... maybe the way of thinking and logic is somewhat "different" and takes more effort to get used to but we WILL get used ...

Dear yyk,

I'm very glad to hear that. Certainly you will get used to the life here and I always believe that human is who has the highest  adaptability in comparison with others. (About the "diferrence", hee hee, I guess it's just the difference about culture and custom, my friend:D Sooner or later you will not feel strange for this ^^

It's not much of a scam. It's just up to you to bargain. If the price is not to your liking, then just do not buy it.

In the US, there are scams every day. Some are very sophisticated and varies to a certain level. There is credit card fraud effecting personal credit, to bank fraud where the major banks like Goldman Saks negotiated a bail out that Congress passed where tax payers money were given in the billions... and yet Bank of America recently laid off 30,000 jobs if you can understand that; how's that fair? ( nytimes.com/2009/02/11/business/economy/11bailout.html?pagewanted=all )

So if a tourist here gets to pay $0.50 to $10 more, it was not like you were force to pay.

Another example that's more on the level of consumer fraud. If you have a car that needs a mechanic to take a look, you have to be wary where you take it. Auto shops are notorious to charge more for labor that might not have been done. Like I will go to get a simple oil change which is about $25 or so. They can easily talk you into get more done with you car and before you know it, you are charged $500.

So I think it's just a universal rule to be cautious where you shop. Understand the tricks so you don't get suckered into something.

hi yyk,I agreed with you.I have been in saigon since march 2011 and to tell you that I enjoy staying here.I hv made some good friends and people here are quite friendly and helpful,i meant majority.

yyk,

Sometimes it could be that because of your attitudes, your vibes. There are good or bad, professional or unprofessional people everywhere. Things will not work in one's favors if he/she is too emotional, confrontational, not calm when dealing with so-called bad people.

My Vietnamese fiance had a problem with her motorbike.  She took it to a mechanic near where she lived.  He wanted a few hundred thousand VND and she thought it was too much.  She asked a friend for a mechanic and went to see him.  He wanted about 60.000 VND.  She was very happy telling me about her bargain.  So don't feel bad about your situation.  You just have to shop better and build your connections.

Yes, pipe down YKK.  No one wants to hear anything bad! 

Take a trip to that city up north and you'll run back here screaming!  I never encountered a scam there, but I'm sure they exist.

You should have a network of vendors by now.  I usually eat at 2 or 3 different places and shop at the same stores.  I'll pay a littler more at a place like Big C, where the price is clearly marked.

Hi ykk

U been here almost a year why even bother to shop at ben thanh. Only tourist shop there. I'm sure you are living in a condo and there should be a coop mart near you. Buy your daily necessities at the supermarket & you'll never get ripped off.

I'm sure you also have a fairly fixed routine so try to remember the routes & the cab fare so the cabby don't take you on a joy ride. You should know by now the only dependable cab companies are MaiLinh & Vinasun.

Beyond foodstuff & daily necessities, you can also shop back home for your branded & high value items. I'm sure it's cheaper in sgp.

Lot's of us sgps here with their tai tais, u can always network and do your shopping in groups.

Live it up YKK don't let the viets think we are a bunch of complainers

You  know what, even local Vietnamese can be ripped off if they don't know the secret of bargaining. For foreigners, if the seller asks for 10.000VND, for example, bargain for around 5.000VND (50% of the given price). If he/she doesn't accept it, walk away. The seller might call you back!! lol. If you cannot do that, simply go to the supermarket or some convenient shops like Family Mart or Shop n Go... The price is fixed there.