Beware of Taxi Scams in Vietnam

Beware of Taxi Scams in Vietnam by mr.hotsia

When talking about Vietnam, many people think of the beautiful city of Hanoi (Hà Nội), the capital full of culture and history. But if you are planning to travel by taxi in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, please listen to the firsthand experience from mr.hotsia first. Taxi scams remain a major problem that tourists must be very cautious about.

I, mr.hotsia, recently had the chance to travel from Vung Tau port to Ho Chi Minh train station in November 2013. The actual distance was about ten kilometers, but the taxi I took charged nearly 600 baht, which was completely unreasonable. Upon closer inspection, I found a sticker covering the meter so the distance was not visible, and the taxi driver took a detour off the main route, even though I was watching the GPS the whole time. This is the new scam technique I encountered firsthand!

After paying uncertainly, I took photos of the car's license plate, the driver, and the vehicle itself. Then I asked the taxi staff at Ho Chi Minh train station and was told the reasonable fare should not exceed 200 baht. I was sure I had been scammed and decided not to give up.

Fortunately, I had enough time on this trip to wait at the train station, drink coffee, and search for detailed information online. Then I called the taxi company's call center but was met with unfriendly rejection. I decided to go to the taxi company's headquarters near Vung Tau port. This time, I took a new taxi with a reasonable fare of only 200 baht.

At the headquarters, I spoke with the general manager by phone, who spoke good English. I provided all the details and evidence I had taken. After verifying the information, the company agreed to refund the entire taxi fare, hoping that the dishonest driver would be punished and would not repeat this behavior, as it clearly damages the tourism atmosphere of Vietnam.

Tips to Avoid Taxi Scams in Vietnam

Based on my experience, mr.hotsia has the following advice for tourists traveling in Vietnam:

• Keep GPS on at all times while riding a taxi to monitor the route and actual distance, as scam taxis often take detours or longer routes to increase the fare.
• Check the taxi meter carefully. If there is a sticker or obstruction covering the meter, change the taxi immediately.
• Choose taxis that are reputable and clearly registered, or use popular ride-hailing apps in Vietnam.
• If you encounter problems, do not hesitate to seek help from the police or local authorities, as joint efforts will make traveling in Vietnam more enjoyable.

Hanoi is a city I, mr.hotsia, recommend experiencing local life. If you want to explore Hanoi in detail on your own, read more atBackpacking Hanoi 2016Or if you want to discover other aspects of in-depth Hanoi travel, clickExplore Hanoiright away.

Trips in Southern Vietnam and Convenient Travel

If you plan to continue traveling to Ho Chi Minh City or southern Vietnam, I, mr.hotsia, recommend buying tours commonly sold in the Pham Ngu Lao area, a popular backpacker district in Ho Chi Minh. Here you can find tours to major attractions in southern Vietnam such as the Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple, which I have visited and was very impressed by. You can read more details atBuy Tours in Ho Chi Minh

For intercity travel, such as from Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau, there are affordable bus services that I have recommended inBus Travel from Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tauwhich is a good option if you want value and safety compared to the risky taxi rides.

Stories of mr.hotsia and Vietnam

I have traveled many times to gather experiences in both northern and southern Vietnam. Hanoi is a northern hub I like to visit often because of its interesting history and classic old-town atmosphere. If you want to experience life and attractions in Hanoi on your own, I recommend readingSelf-Guided Hanoi Travel 2013to prepare before your trip.

Finally, I, mr.hotsia, want to say that traveling in Vietnam is fun and exciting, but you must be careful when choosing taxi services so your great experience won't be spoiled by these small scams.