Job Discussion Forums

[LongShiKong]

[mk87]

Like I said before most Xe om's sit on corners and most people I know use the same driver 90% of the time. Thats why they dont drive around much. Each one has his own little turf and if you need a life you walk up to them. Because of how the city is laid out you are never more than about 20ft from a xe om.

You do get the occasional guy driving down the road, but something about some guy pulling up slowly and shouting "Hey...where you go!" makes me just say no thanks and keep walking til I find someone sitting on a corner. If all the xe oms were driving around looking for customers the traffic would be even worse than it is now. Its not like they are ignorant to the ways of making money, its how they work and it works for them

[ExpatLuke]

Someone who's not been to Vietnam asking questions, and then telling the people who answer them that they're wrong.

You're a real peach.

Taxis drive around town. Xe oms don't. You will have to walk to an intersection if you want to find a xe om. Now, accept the answers you're given or don't bother asking stupid questions.

As as side note, many taxis also just sit at the side of the roads waiting for customers. I've known a few taxi drivers, and the way they tell it is they usually camp outside hot spots, like hotels, stores, etc. Dispatch will call in addresses of people who call for taxis, and all the taxis who think they can get there the fastest all race off to try to pick up the fare. If someone else flags them down on the way, then all the better.

[mk87]

I'm not so sure about that. I know most of the guys that sit around my area, but The road I live on is a major thoroughfare in the city, I'm pretty sure some of the guys I'm talking about are just passing opportunists.

Buuut... I have caused a couple of incidents with the situation you described. I always just stand there feeling very British, while they go at it.

[LongShiKong]

[mk87]

The blocks in Saigon aren't exactly huge. So there is usually an intersection within 30 seconds walk of where ever you are. Often there will be xe om's just sat at the intersection between the main road and the residential hem (alleyway)

[montblanc20]

[montblanc20]

[LongShiKong]

[mk87]

Again, there is probably conflicting information because people experience things in different ways, we can only tell you what we have experienced. In terms of illegal taxis, there are some dodgy companies here but stick to Vinasun and you will be fine. There really is no reason to get another "brand"

Flaky Xe Oms is not something I've ever had to deal with really. In my first year I lived in an apartment block where the local families would sit outside at a coffee shop, there was always people willing to drive you anywhere, i never felt like I was getting ripped off by them. Again, you have to accept you are moving to a city that basically works on small local communities and act in such a way (although you will never be a real part of that community - granted) but you can get someway there. My old Xe Om driver did loads of stuff for me. He used to come to the bank with me when I paid my rent etc...

Where I live now, the guy I use gives me a wake up call 30 minutes before I have arranged to meet him, always brings me some basic breakfast in the morning etc.. If I text him and he is busy he tells me straight away. Like most things in VN its about building relationships and informal networks.

[deadlift]

Good post mk87. A good xe om driver can be much more than transport. A friend of mine had hers act as security when she had house parties.