Tips for taking taxi in HCMC

I think it%26#39;s very important for everybody to be able to have a good experience taking taxi in Saigon, I repost this message here so you guys can avoid the bad taxis.

Taxi-in-HCMC tips:

1) Don%26#39;t trust the meter. Every taxi has a meter, both the legitimate companies and the bad taxis have meter. However, the good meters are honest while the bad meters double the price. You just can%26#39;t relax thinking having the meter run will save you money.

2) What%26#39;s to look for is THE TAXI COMPANY. Always try to take this 3 companies: MAI LINH (green%26amp;white cabs with the number 38 26 26 26), VINASUN (also green%26amp;white with number 38 27 27 27) and VINA TAXI (bright yellow cabs, number 38 111 111). If you manage to get those 3 companies, you%26#39;ll be fine.

3) If you arrive from the airport, avoid the crowd from arrivals, walk pass those that try to get you a cab, tell them you have ppl picking you up. Cross the road to the taxi stand. All those 3 above-mentioned companies have site operators in uniform with ties. They carry walkie talkies and will call you a good cab if there is none at the stand.

3) When in town, beware of counterfeits, there are numerous bad cabs that try to look like MAI LINH and VINASUN. Seriously, the Vinasun counterfeit even has the exact design of Vinasun and the number is 38 27 27 77. If you wear glasses, you won%26#39;t be able to tell if the last 2 digits are 27 or 77.

4) While riding, if you can, remember (or write down) the number of the taxi. This number is on the top right corner of the windshield or on the driver seat cover (back of the head rest). The number will come in handy if you forget your belonging on the cab or need to file a complain.

Take these tips from a native Saigoner and enjoy taxiing around town.

Tips for taking taxi in HCMC

Thanks for the info as I%26#39;ll be heading to hmc in March.

I%26#39;ve read a few postings about a 5000 dong airport departure charge for taxi%26#39;s. Do you know anything about this? Apparently, it isn%26#39;t on the meter but will be added to the total.

thanks

pat

Tips for taking taxi in HCMC

Hi Pat

Charges like airport departure fee, road %26amp; bridge tolls, are extra and on the passenger%26#39;s account. Taxi companies post this rule inside the cab for passenger to see it.

Happy planning %26amp; have a good trip

Thanks for the info.

One more question: Some postings say there is a taxi stand inside the airport (turn right when exiting immigration) where you can get taxi vouchers and they will escort you to the taxi.

Is this a better route to go or per your posting walk past the cabbies and cross the road? Also, is there a taxi stand inside the arrivals for domestic flights?

thanks in advance.

pat

On my first trip to HCMC in 2006 I used the taxi desk inside airport and it was good price-$5 US from memory.

By trip 2 (2008) the price had gone through the roof ( I think they quoted me 220,000 dong which was at least double what it should have been ( Hotel to airport in week prior had been slightly less with VINasun taxi)

I do urge you to note down taxi number - came across 2 people in 2008 ( one in hanoi, other in HCMC) that had had amazing experiences where taxi drivers had stopped and tried to rip them off for another 100,000 dong and had been quite threatening

sorry - should have said ';slightly less than 100,000 dong'; - used vinasun one trip , mai linhn the other

The only company I would recommend is Mai Linh. I%26#39;ve had several Vinasun drivers try to rip me off and recently intervened to stop a Vinataxi driver physically assaulting a young American tourist whom he was trying to overcharge and who was rightly refusing to pay.

Be very, very careful taking taxis in HCMC %26amp; Hanoi. As the original poster says, always note down the taxi number in case you have to complain, and watch out for copycat taxi firms. There are plenty of honest drivers here but there are also some real scumbags!

Pat,

My 2 latest trips in HCMC were in July last year and this month. I paid that 5,000 VND both time when I went out from airport and went in.

When I arrived at airport, there was no a gate to collect that fee but driver still asked me for extra 5,000 VND for his way out.

Some taxis state in their T%26amp;Cs (usually on the glovebox) that all tolls/fees are included, others state that the airport fee is extra.

Please note that the fee is only payable when entering the DOMESTIC terminal, not international. Also please note that NO fees are payable when LEAVING the airport. If a driver asks you to pay, refuse, pay him the exact amount on the meter, and visibly make a note of his number and state clearly that you are going to complain to his company.

I was there early this month.

After landing at international terminal, we took a taxi to go out and went through a gate they collected 5,000 VND. We paid.

On departure day, we took a taxi in. There was no gate but driver asked for 5,000 VND saying he had to pay when he drove out. We paid as it was very little money.

Which Taxi company did you take?