Hoan Kiem Lake con artists

A group of 8 women disguise themselves as vendors to cheat foreign visitors at Hoan Kiem Lake and on nearby streets. Dan Tri investigated.
This group gathers at 9.30am at the corner of Cau Go street, near Hoan Kiem Lake. They prepare bamboo frames and several plastic bags containing pineapples or some bananas, wear canvas shoes and begin a “working day.”
After donning their disguises, they look just like other rural women who work as vendors in Hanoi. But these “vendors” only watch for tourists to cheat.
They often stand on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake or walk around the Old Quarter to “hunt” foreign visitors.
When they see their “victims” coming, they smile with warmth. They hurriedly put their bamboo poles on the tourists’ shoulders and suggest that they take a photo. Next, they place their palm-leaf conical hat on the visitor’s head and slide a bag of fruit into their hands.
Tourists don’t know what these “vendors” want until they are asked for 50,000-100,000 dong or even more for “hiring” the women’s equipment or taking a photo. They are pressed buy pineapples or bananas at exorbitant fees. Then, the women take advantage of the language difference and gather into group to overwhelm the tourists with demands for money.
This “mafia” also tricks tourists when paid by dollars or big banknotes. They take out a handful of small money and slide it into visitor hands before running away.
Many tourists have fallen into these traps, which has left a bad impression of Hanoi.
While Hanoi authorities and people are preparing for the 1000th anniversary, it is unacceptable to have such a group of people who cheat tourists so blatantly.