Five degrees of toutedness
I’ve got a five point scale (spot the pollster) for how bad touts are in a particular location. Very pleased to find out that Saigon is only a two on the scale.
My scale is:
- They don’t approach you at all. In fact you have to ask them something to get them to offer a sale
- They make a not too in your face attempt to engage you, but leave you alone the moment you shake your head or say “No thanks”
- They are reasonably persistent They try and keep engaging you in conversation and will keep trying to be “helpful” to you or asking for a sale or money.
- They are quite relentless and will actively follow you for scores, maybe hundreds of metres, time and time again trying to get you to part with some money.
- You actually feel unsafe with them. They get aggressive if you try to ignore them, and you consider parting with your money just to forestall anything nasty happening.
A typical 1 is Vanuatu. Lovely lovely people who never hassle you. When they greet you, it isn’t just to try and get money off you.
Saigon has been a 2 so far. I thought it would be a 3 or worse, so pleasantly surprised. Never felt hassled at all.
Thailand is a pretty typical 3. Annoying, but not a huge hassle.
Zimbabwe was a 4. They just keep following you for hundreds of metres. You can never relax. An internal groan every time you sight one.
Egypt was my only 5 to date. One or two yelled abuse at me and crossed the street when I waved them off. Even the local Police “requested” a tip for rescuing me from touts who were doing the same. Sigh!
I suspect in other parts of Vietnam, it rises to a 3 or greater. Time will tell.