Give Me My Change Or I Am Sai-Gone

(A friend and I are on vacation in Vietnam. We go to a big market in a major city to do some souvenir shopping. I’ve visited Vietnam several times, and am familiar with this market. Around the outside edges, high-priced shops with “fixed prices” attempt to lure in less savvy tourists, while deep within the market you can bargain for a better deal. We’ve scored some great deals and are on our way out when I decide to buy a few cheap – but still overpriced – trinkets at a fixed price shop for my young family members… Basically, it’s not worth bargaining over what would amount to a couple cents.)

Shopkeeper: *who speaks very good English* “Those are [price].”

Me: “That’s fine. Here.” *hands her a note for just over the price*

Shopkeeper: *plays with her calculator a bit, rummages around first in her pockets, then in a display case way in the back, then comes back to me, suddenly forgetting most of the English she spoke 30 seconds ago* “You take [less than the correct amount of change, by a decent margin].”

Me: “No! Fixed price! Giá cố định!” *fixed price in Vietnamese*

Shopkeeper: *a little startled by me saying anything in Vietnamese, replies rapidly in Vietnamese*  “No small notes.”

Me: *back to English* “Fine, then give me [what amounts to about $.15 US too much change, but gets us to the next bill I can see she has in her hand]. My advantage, or go find small notes!”

Shopkeeper: *also English* “No, too much! You take this!” *tries to give me the incorrect change again*

Me: *hands her back merchandise and holds my hand out for my original bill* “Không. Còn lâu!” *No! No way!*

(After some plying, the shopkeeper gives me back my original bill. I was a bit surprised that she carried that (common) scam to overcharge all the way over the edge of a no-sale. I walk across the aisle to another fixed price shop selling basically the same items, for basically the same price.)

Me: “Do you have change for this?” *holds up original bill*

Shopkeeper: “Yes, madam. You would like [exactly what I was going to buy five meters away]?”

Me: “Yes, cảm ơn!” *thank you*

Shopkeeper: “Here is your change. Ngày tốt.” *Good day*

(I gave the first shopkeeper the smuggest look I think I’ve ever mustered on my way out. Yes, I realize $.15 is absolutely nothing, but score one for not just swallowing what I know to be a common overcharging scam, by shopkeepers who already charge more and make more profit by being in the highly visible and fixed price perimeter of the market!)