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andwar
Joined: 09 Apr 2011
Posts: 44
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 Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 4:07 am Post subject: |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 6:24 am Post subject: |
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Taxi crimes against foreigners on the rise in Vietnam
http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm2/templates/?a=131353&z=42
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| Rasniya Moho Rasid, a reporter for Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times, was forced to pay $194 for a four mile ride that should normally cost just $7. |
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Jbhughes
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Posts: 254
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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What is the correct way of dealing with the taxi situation at Tan Son Nhat please?
I will be going there to meet my family at international arrivals and we will need to get back to Q1.
I had thought about walking out of the airport over to the shopping centre with the cinema - Megastar I think? - and getting a Mai Linh from there. However, they will be arriving right in the midday heat and I seem to remember that that walk could be quite long?
I will be taking a taxi to the airport myself, so I could ask the driver to wait at the end of the taxi rank or some other similarly close pre-agreed location. Are they likely to agree / is this a viable option?
Is simply walking down the taxi rank looking for a Mai Linh sign safe enough? The article hardly bodes well.
I'm not sure if by "carefully observing drivers� uniforms and logos as well as telephone numbers on the taxis" I would be able to discern a fake taxi or not.
I do feel pretty naive asking about this, but these will be the first few minutes on Vietnamese soil that my family will experience - I don't want us to add to the list of victims.
Thanks in advance for your help. |
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tonyjones01
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Jbhughes wrote: |
What is the correct way of dealing with the taxi situation at Tan Son Nhat please?
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I'd use the same taxi that will be taking you to the airport. Just get his cell number and tell him you'll call him after you meet you parents. I've done this a few different and the driver never had a problem waiting. |
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I'm With Stupid
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I hear you can just walk around to departures and get a taxi from there instead. Can't say I've ever had to do it myself though. I believe there's also a place in the airport where you can buy a ticket rather than having to pay the driver. |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 4:25 am Post subject: |
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Unless it's a driver I've had dealings with before, or I'm in a country (like Australia) where the taxi industry is heavily regulated, I don't trust cab drivers anywhere as far as I can throw them  .
| I'm With Stupid wrote: |
| I hear you can just walk around to departures and get a taxi from there instead. Can't say I've ever had to do it myself though. I believe there's also a place in the airport where you can buy a ticket rather than having to pay the driver. |
I've never walked up to the departure rank either but I've heard about people doing it and it makes sense. Taxis drop off their passengers and usually have to go back to the city empty. I don't see why you couldn't offer 100,000 dong or something to a taxi driver who has just pulled up and if they don't want it then you can try the next one. They can either accept your fare or go back with nothing.
When I came back from Indonesia about a month ago I bought a voucher from one of the currency exchange desks near the entrance of the departure terminal. There was a little sign advertising this service. Anyway it cost me [I think] $7 to get to District 1 and I had the car all to myself. Only had to wait about 5 minutes for a taxi to be available and had no problems whatsoever. I'll probably do it again next time [unless I arrive very late in the evening or early in the morning when the currency exchange desks are closed]. |
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| 1st Sgt Welsh wrote: |
When I came back from Indonesia about a month ago I bought a voucher from one of the currency exchange desks near the entrance of the departure terminal. There was a little sign advertising this service. Anyway it cost me [I think] $7 to get to District 1 and I had the car all to myself. Only had to wait about 5 minutes for a taxi to be available and had no problems whatsoever. I'll probably do it again next time [unless I arrive very late in the evening or early in the morning when the currency exchange desks are closed]. |
WHERE exactly in Tan Son Nhat Airport IS said voucher purchase point? Is it available at most of the currency exchange desks you think? Landing (supposedly) around 10:30PM...think I'll be able to catch one that's still open??
I'll be in HCMC shortly before I head back up northward.....this taxi voucher set up is a great idea and I've used it in Malaysia and thought it worked fantastic!! Never knew that we had such a thing!
I know that OFFICIALLY and PROPERLY, from Tan Son Nhat to Q-1 (say, PNL and De Tham, fer example) should go (give or take) 150,000VND, but a pre-paid voucher eliminates soooooo many headaches and forces the driver to be honest! |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 5:43 am Post subject: |
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| LettersAthruZ wrote: |
| 1st Sgt Welsh wrote: |
When I came back from Indonesia about a month ago I bought a voucher from one of the currency exchange desks near the entrance of the departure terminal. There was a little sign advertising this service. Anyway it cost me [I think] $7 to get to District 1 and I had the car all to myself. Only had to wait about 5 minutes for a taxi to be available and had no problems whatsoever. I'll probably do it again next time [unless I arrive very late in the evening or early in the morning when the currency exchange desks are closed]. |
WHERE exactly in Tan Son Nhat Airport IS said voucher purchase point? Is it available at most of the currency exchange desks you think? Landing (supposedly) around 10:30PM...think I'll be able to catch one that's still open??
I'll be in HCMC shortly before I head back up northward.....this taxi voucher set up is a great idea and I've used it in Malaysia and thought it worked fantastic!! Never knew that we had such a thing!
I know that OFFICIALLY and PROPERLY, from Tan Son Nhat to Q-1 (say, PNL and De Tham, fer example) should go (give or take) 150,000VND, but a pre-paid voucher eliminates soooooo many headaches and forces the driver to be honest! |
Couldn't agree more! After a long day traveling the last thing I want is the hassle of dealing with hawkers. Metered taxis are an option but if you don't know the city you might end up enjoying an expensive 'scenic route' with a possibly dodgy meter . When I am visiting a new place I often just book an airport transfer through the hotel. It's not the cheapest way to do it but at least there are no surprises.
Unfortunately I doubt the desk will be open at 10:30 PM. Anyway it's a currency exchange desk (the taxi vouchers are just a side business). After you clear the international customs it's inside just to the left of the main doors against the walls/windows which separate the inside/outside. There are two [I think it was only two] currency exchanges next to each other. The one I went to was on the right (as you are facing the exit). There is a small sign stating that they arrange taxis. Hope this helps. |
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Aristede
Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| 1st Sgt Welsh wrote: |
Couldn't agree more! After a long day traveling the last thing I want is the hassle of dealing with hawkers. Metered taxis are an option but if you don't know the city you might end up enjoying an expensive 'scenic route' with a possibly dodgy meter . When I am visiting a new place I often just book an airport transfer through the hotel. It's not the cheapest way to do it but at least there are no surprises.
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When I went to HCMC two weeks ago, I hoped to book the airport pickup through the hotel, but they told me it would cost $25. I decided to take my chances at the airport, though I dreaded it. When I arrived, the hawkers were trying to get me to pay 400,000 VND. I said no thanks and moved on. "How much you want to pay?" they guy yelled after me. "Less," I said. Ended up paying 200,000 and people told me later it's still double what I should have paid, but still much less than what the hotel offered.
Back in Bangkok, in more comfortable territory, I went to the airport taxi stand to get a metered taxi. When I get in, the driver says "450 baht for everything" (including expressway tolls). "Let's use the meter," I said. He told me there was a 50 baht surcharge and tolls, and I said fine. The metered ride was 290 baht, tolls and surcharge included. I think the guy was surprised that I tipped him after he so plainly tried to take advantage of me. |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Aristede wrote: |
When I went to HCMC two weeks ago, I hoped to book the airport pickup through the hotel, but they told me it would cost $25. |
Like I said I personally like airport transfers because at least you know what you are getting and there are no arguments/haggling. Besides, if there is a problem with the driver you can always take it up with the hotel and that's nice to know. I'm usually happy to pay an extra few dollars for this if, for no other reason, than to spare myself the aggravation and uncertainty. Having said that, $25 for a transfer into Saigon is outrageous! Glad you didn't pay. |
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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Great advice....I'll fire out an E-Mail to this place I've got booked (didn't book my good, usual, hotel in Q-1 on PNL 'cause I'm just tired of Q-1's scams, girls, sophomoric boorish behavour, etc.) and see if they do arrange for rides from Tan Son Nhat - $13USD or less each way....great! More than that, then, like you say, I'll take my chances with the hordes at the front exit....
Thanx for the advice..... |
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Jbhughes
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Posts: 254
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Very useful replies, thanks everyone.
So my current plan is to get a Mai Linh taxi to the airport and ask the guy to wait for me. If he(she I spose is possible) doesn't agree or is gone by the time my family have finished complementing me on my expanded waistline then I'll go for the voucher option as a back-up.
I understand the process up to buying the voucher - what happens then? Does the currency counter have a queue and one of their representatives direct the customers to designated taxis or something else?
The first time I ever flew into Saigon, the taxi driver asked for an 'airport exit fee' or something similar, this sounds like just aNOther scam, however; I seem to remember reading about this somewhere else - is it at all legit and would I need to pay it in the voucher case?
Reading through my 2 posts on the subject it comes across like I'm being overly tight or counting every 1000 dong note, but that's not where I'm coming from. I'm just trying not to be a victim of one of the scams - something that the powers that be should be making an effort to protect us all from. |
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Jbhughes wrote: |
The first time I ever flew into Saigon, the taxi driver asked for an 'airport exit fee' or something similar, this sounds like just aNOther scam, however; I seem to remember reading about this somewhere else - is it at all legit and would I need to pay it in the voucher case?
Reading through my 2 posts on the subject it comes across like I'm being overly tight or counting every 1000 dong note, but that's not where I'm coming from. I'm just trying not to be a victim of one of the scams - something that the powers that be should be making an effort to protect us all from. |
Yeah....wondered this exact same thing myself....when the taxi driver asks me to pay the fee at the airport exit toll gate. Usually it's after a looooong International flight and I really don't wanna deal with hearing the driver's - - - -, so I pay the 5,000VND (or whatever it is) to shut him up!
I have noooo idea WHO is generally expected to pay the exit tollgate fee, the passenger or the driver? And do the drivers try to double-dip by attempting to get that said fee off of passengers coming IN AS WELL AS going OUT??
Again, it's just a whopping 5,000 Dong, but it's just the principle of the thing that gets to me..... |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| Jbhughes wrote: |
I understand the process up to buying the voucher - what happens then? Does the currency counter have a queue and one of their representatives direct the customers to designated taxis or something else?
The first time I ever flew into Saigon, the taxi driver asked for an 'airport exit fee' or something similar, this sounds like just aNOther scam, however; I seem to remember reading about this somewhere else - is it at all legit and would I need to pay it in the voucher case? |
I bought the voucher then one of the staff escorted me to the correct place in the taxi rank. There was another member of staff waiting there who flagged down a taxi. By the way, there were no hidden charges although I guess you can tip the driver at the end of the trip, but that's up to you.
My personal policy when it comes to 'airport exit fees', paying for the vehicle's parking, tolls etc is that I just make it clear when we agree on a price that it covers everything. If it's a metered taxi than that's different. If I am traveling on a fixed price, when they try to hit me with additional fees I just tell them to get bent.
Never happened to me, but another thing that annoys me about taxi hawkers is that apparently when customers agree on a price that seems fair they are often escorted to the car, their bags are locked in the boot and then the driver tells them to wait for "just five minutes". This is so the driver can go back to the terminal and get more fares so he can cram as many people as possible into the car. The main problem with this is that it is never "just five minutes". This happened to a guy I know who had just done an 8.5 hour flight from Australia (of course he had to check in two hours before), then he had to clear Vietnamese immigration and customs and wait for his luggage. Anyway after all this, he ended up being delayed an additional half hour in a hot car for the driver to get his unpunctual, money-grubbing arse back to the vehicle  . |
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esbam2002
Joined: 26 May 2011
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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I agree and disagree. Yes, HCMC is a major city like all others, but I am from St Louis, Missouri. In my whole 33 years there, some spent in the north side, no one ever really tried to rob me. Here I had a team, multi guys, try to grab my laptop bag off my motorbike, thankfully I locked it to the rack, and another try to snatch my mobile out of my hands. I was lucky and they failed both times. Still these so far are the only times, but I try to be careful. Hold my phone tight, rarely using it on the street, and if I carry my laptop in a laptop backpack and not a sling bag.
Obviously avoiding the prostitutes no matter where you find them. Knew a teacher that picked on up at the Sheridan in Dist 1. Woke up the next morning drugged, and everything of value cleaned out of his house. |
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