Five degrees of toutedness

I've got a five point scale (spot the pollster) for how bad are in a particular location. Very pleased to find out that Saigon is only a two on the scale.

My scale is:

  1. They don't approach you at all. In fact you have to ask them something to get them to offer a sale
  2. 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”
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 . 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 Police “requested” a tip for rescuing me from touts who were doing the same. Sigh!

I suspect in other parts of , it rises to a 3 or greater. Time will tell.

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