Southeast Asia forum

Posted from within Vietnam.

Hi there. The other day I got approached by a guy in Hanoi asking for a donation to the Vietnamese Red Cross. Sure I said after a close inspection of an official looking Vietnamese document and identity card. I donated 50000 dong and when I asked for a receipt, there wasn't any forthcoming. Since then I've been approached several times and turned them down, including one very pushy girl who demanded I donate 50000 dong to her when I told her I had already donated that amount already that day.

A couple of questions:

Have any others been approached?

Is this a bona fide attempt to raise funds, or is it just another scam to lift money from travellers (aka 'walking atm's')?

It is a real shame if this is a scam, because I did donate a pint of my precious blood in Luang Prabang to the Red Cross there, and I take my social responsibilities fairly seriously.

Steve.