Vietnamese ticket touts

[Englishman2010]

I wanted to book my tickets for VNR (saigon - Danang - Nha Trang - Saigon) online. Unfortunately VNR don't have an online booking facility yet

Tickets can only be booked in person at a railway station or via one of their 54 on line agents.

Based on their current published prices, tickets for two of us in good quality A/C soft sleeper compartments should be approx £105.

However, the online ticket touts are all asking for over 315 USD, plus a 5% credit card fee

Looks like I'll have to chance it and buy the tickets in person when I get to Vietnam and hope they aren't all sold out

[Terpe]

Are there any specialist Rail travel agents in UK who might be able to help?
I haven't actually checked, just thinking out loud.

[Englishman2010]

Are there any specialist Rail travel agents in UK who might be able to help?
I haven't actually checked, just thinking out loud.

It's a good thought Terpe However, they won't be able to book direct and will have to use the services of a local agent who can go to the station and collect them...and of course they won't do it for free.

I don't mind paying an agent £20 or £30 to get my tickets, but £100 plus is taking the pee, especially given the relatively low cost of living and overheads in that part of the world

Unfortunately, rich and gullable western tourists who fall prey to these companies make it much harder for budget western travellers to get good deals

[Englishman2010]

I've got another tout down to approx £160, which still feels like robbery, but as i don't want to take the risk of not getting the trains I want on the dates I want and messing up my hotel reservations, I suppose I'll have to pay it