This is reported by Dragon518518, a Tripadvisor member in 2013
Flight arrival delayed and finished with baggage and customs around 11pm....
Guy wearing green jacket approached and said official airport taxi and showed ID. Appeared very friendly, asked where we are from, welcome to Hanoi, etc. Showed the way to the money exchange and ATM. Even chatted in Vietnamese with the teller of the money exchange. He said 800 dong to Old Quarter, very far away, around 1 to 1.5hrs, lots of other people waiting outside for taxi, late at night, etc. Teller hears the amount he said and did not comment about the price. I asked again if the price was ok, teller did not say anything contrary so we thought it was the norm. Green sweater guy then called someone to bring over the taxi.
He carried one of our backpacks and ran to the taxi, so we had to chase him. He got inside and asked for payment immediately. Said don't worry I know your hotel, I will give you receipt and I will sign the receipt... Thinking about 'meter accelerators' and night differential (not followed in Vietnam btw, unlike in Malaysia and Singapore), feeling very tired and sleepy, we agreed...
Since he knew we were not used to the currency, he grabs the money from our hands and says, I will show you (this btw often happens in Vietnam, they would even pull out the bills themselves from your wallet, saying I show you).....He then attempts to pocket 500,000 dong while he confused us by returning the smaller denominations rapidly...and gets 800,000 dong (around 40USD for what we found out was only a 300-350,000 dong ride)...
After getting the money, he steps out of the cab quickly without a word...here comes another guy...Green sweater guy says need not to pay anything, gives receipt, says new guy will take you to the hotel - all from outside the car and runs away...
Taxi speeds out...so no time to chase green sweater guy or ask, new guy barely speaks English...
Once out of the highway, takes us to poorly lit area, minimal cars passing, what appears to be a toll gate a few meters ahead....stops the taxi, says pay 900,000 dong for toll for another highway...says in broken English can not pass unless pay...shows a ticket showing 900,000 dong (entirely in Vietnamese).... says if you not pay can not pass, 800,000 only for taxi, you pay me, pay me, shows empty wallet, yells and finger points to toll gate, yells some more in Vietnamese..
We said ok we will pay, just pass thru the toll gate and we will pay the toll fee directly to the teller if there is...he screams some more...some other cars arrive...he finally moves the taxi and we pass the gate but man at the gate did not collect anything from us nor from the other cars following our cab...
He then takes us to a road more poorly lit than the previous one, below a bridge with one long wall covering the other lane, no houses ahead, only one side open but that is the one open to the river...got really afraid, I think this would have been the worst part - he would have pointed a gun or a knife...luckily, a group of students in bicycles and motorbikes came and when he tried to slow down and let the students pass us, other cars came and by that time, we were already at a well-lit area...
once we reached the hotel, we said we would ask the concierge about the toll fee and the taxi fare...later, we found out there was no toll fee, we took the long way, and they charged us more than twice the amount... Even if the hotel guards intervened, taxi guy says it was another person who took our money, his pockets are empty, and he was not asking for any additional money...
MODUS/TOTAL SCAM ATTEMPTS:
1. OVERCHARGING
2. MONEY GRABBING and POCKETING
3. BOGUS TOLL FEES
4. LONG ROUTE
5. possible meter accelerator
6. GUN or KNIFE THREATS
7. INNOCENT PLEA, other guy not working with me
LESSONS: Book the hotel taxi, go only for metered taxi monitored by the government (Mei linh-green and white, Hanoi, and Hanoi tourist), pay in smaller bills, know the currency and conversions, ask usual fare, ask usual route, bring a map, insist on the change, ask to be brought to the hotel and pay there, know the phone numbers of the police, hotel, etc., ask a buddy to take note of the taxi plate number or better yet take pictures of the cab and driver...
Hope this does not happen to anyone else...Thank you and travel safe.
Flight arrival delayed and finished with baggage and customs around 11pm....
Guy wearing green jacket approached and said official airport taxi and showed ID. Appeared very friendly, asked where we are from, welcome to Hanoi, etc. Showed the way to the money exchange and ATM. Even chatted in Vietnamese with the teller of the money exchange. He said 800 dong to Old Quarter, very far away, around 1 to 1.5hrs, lots of other people waiting outside for taxi, late at night, etc. Teller hears the amount he said and did not comment about the price. I asked again if the price was ok, teller did not say anything contrary so we thought it was the norm. Green sweater guy then called someone to bring over the taxi.
He carried one of our backpacks and ran to the taxi, so we had to chase him. He got inside and asked for payment immediately. Said don't worry I know your hotel, I will give you receipt and I will sign the receipt... Thinking about 'meter accelerators' and night differential (not followed in Vietnam btw, unlike in Malaysia and Singapore), feeling very tired and sleepy, we agreed...
Since he knew we were not used to the currency, he grabs the money from our hands and says, I will show you (this btw often happens in Vietnam, they would even pull out the bills themselves from your wallet, saying I show you).....He then attempts to pocket 500,000 dong while he confused us by returning the smaller denominations rapidly...and gets 800,000 dong (around 40USD for what we found out was only a 300-350,000 dong ride)...
After getting the money, he steps out of the cab quickly without a word...here comes another guy...Green sweater guy says need not to pay anything, gives receipt, says new guy will take you to the hotel - all from outside the car and runs away...
Taxi speeds out...so no time to chase green sweater guy or ask, new guy barely speaks English...
Once out of the highway, takes us to poorly lit area, minimal cars passing, what appears to be a toll gate a few meters ahead....stops the taxi, says pay 900,000 dong for toll for another highway...says in broken English can not pass unless pay...shows a ticket showing 900,000 dong (entirely in Vietnamese).... says if you not pay can not pass, 800,000 only for taxi, you pay me, pay me, shows empty wallet, yells and finger points to toll gate, yells some more in Vietnamese..
We said ok we will pay, just pass thru the toll gate and we will pay the toll fee directly to the teller if there is...he screams some more...some other cars arrive...he finally moves the taxi and we pass the gate but man at the gate did not collect anything from us nor from the other cars following our cab...
He then takes us to a road more poorly lit than the previous one, below a bridge with one long wall covering the other lane, no houses ahead, only one side open but that is the one open to the river...got really afraid, I think this would have been the worst part - he would have pointed a gun or a knife...luckily, a group of students in bicycles and motorbikes came and when he tried to slow down and let the students pass us, other cars came and by that time, we were already at a well-lit area...
once we reached the hotel, we said we would ask the concierge about the toll fee and the taxi fare...later, we found out there was no toll fee, we took the long way, and they charged us more than twice the amount... Even if the hotel guards intervened, taxi guy says it was another person who took our money, his pockets are empty, and he was not asking for any additional money...
MODUS/TOTAL SCAM ATTEMPTS:
1. OVERCHARGING
2. MONEY GRABBING and POCKETING
3. BOGUS TOLL FEES
4. LONG ROUTE
5. possible meter accelerator
6. GUN or KNIFE THREATS
7. INNOCENT PLEA, other guy not working with me
LESSONS: Book the hotel taxi, go only for metered taxi monitored by the government (Mei linh-green and white, Hanoi, and Hanoi tourist), pay in smaller bills, know the currency and conversions, ask usual fare, ask usual route, bring a map, insist on the change, ask to be brought to the hotel and pay there, know the phone numbers of the police, hotel, etc., ask a buddy to take note of the taxi plate number or better yet take pictures of the cab and driver...
Hope this does not happen to anyone else...Thank you and travel safe.
Hanoi taxi drivers (usually the smaller cars) have a 'meter accelerator'. NO KIDDING. We have had 3 experiences of this in 4 days. First time the fare was 460,000 dong for 4 kilometres. We just laughed at him, said call the police and threw the correct fare in his seat as we got out. He was saying '1 way system more expensive' as we got out and then spat at us. Second and 3rd times were more subtle. We got in the taxi and then when we were not looking at the meter or HE THOUGHT WE WERE NOT LOOKING he pushed the accelerator button and 100 metres was going on every 10 or 20 metres. It was crazy. At the destination we demanded he reduce the fare and 1 time my wife had paid and I sat in the car until he gave me the money back. He also was squealing about the 1 way system!!!!
Vietnam is a country we would suggest that you think twice before travelling to. It is full if scammers and that makes any trip wholly un-relaxing.
If you have the same taxi scam problems please ACT and do not sit passively as many tourists seem to be doing.
Refuse to pay and sit tight. Lack of a further potential fare will force the ass holes to back down, return your money and make it less likely to do it in the future. Make sure you have a local SIM card in your phone and call the police if required. If you are worried get the driver to take you to a decent hotel and get out and go to reception before you pay. OR get out in the middle of jammed traffic and pay nothing. The stupid cheating moron will never leave his car in a traffic jam.
Thanks.
Vietnam is a country we would suggest that you think twice before travelling to. It is full if scammers and that makes any trip wholly un-relaxing.
If you have the same taxi scam problems please ACT and do not sit passively as many tourists seem to be doing.
Refuse to pay and sit tight. Lack of a further potential fare will force the ass holes to back down, return your money and make it less likely to do it in the future. Make sure you have a local SIM card in your phone and call the police if required. If you are worried get the driver to take you to a decent hotel and get out and go to reception before you pay. OR get out in the middle of jammed traffic and pay nothing. The stupid cheating moron will never leave his car in a traffic jam.
Thanks.
Dazed, jet-lagged, and in unfamiliar surroundings where you likely don’t speak the language, the easiest way for a traveler to get scammed is to fly into an airport and look for a taxi into the city. If you’ve flown into an exotic or cheap city you are probably well aware that new arrivals are like lambs for the slaughter for the city’s taxi drivers.
Most of these scams happen most in countries where labor is cheap, but some even happen in (seemingly) law-abiding cities like New York, Los Angeles, or London, so it’s important to walk off that plane with a strategy and at least a little knowledge of what to do.
The top two-thirds of the International taxi prices list accounts for most of the problems.
Why we are all so vulnerable to airport taxi scamsNo matter which airport you arrive at, even if it’s only a few hundred miles from your home, there can be almost unlimited variables in how things are supposed to work, including:
Many of us get a horrible first impression of an otherwise-lovely city because we trusted a taxi driver and got burned. Here are the most common scams as well as how to avoid each of them.
Scam: Lying about your other optionsParticularly in less developed countries, taxi drivers and airport scammers can be extremely aggressive, often basing themselves in restricted parts of the airport (if they cut the security guard or police in on the action). In some cases they’ll be extremely friendly, but in others they don’t bother with charm.
They’ll ask if you need a taxi into town, and if you say you are going to take the airport shuttle bus you might hear that the last one has just left, or the next one isn’t for 3 hours, or some other ludicrous lie.
Avoiding this
Sadly, it’s best to just assume they are lying and carry on with your original plan, even as they continue to shadow you. More importantly, do your research before you get on the plane in the first place so you know your options. Know when and how often the shuttle buses run or if there’s a train option and so forth.
One resource we have here on Price of Travel is typical prices for airport taxis for each major city, plus prices for trains, shuttle buses, and public buses. Click on a city page, like the New York City prices page, for example, and you’ll see the various options and how much each costs. It first displays in USDs, and by using the dropdown menu on the top-right of the page you can change the prices into any other currency, which will help you know the local currency amount when you arrive.
If you are carrying a guidebook or a smartphone app guidebook it should tell you your main transportation option. If not, or if your guide doesn’t include that information, you should look up the city on wikitravel or theToandfromtheairport site. Wikitravel in particular is usually exactly up to date with that information.
Scam: The meter is brokenMany cities actually have a flat-fee for airport taxi rides into the city, or better yet, a pre-paid taxi counter where you buy a voucher and then give it to your driver as complete payment. But if this city typically uses the normal meter for airport rides, it’s still very common for drivers not to use them by telling you it’s broken or simply not turning it on at all. If this happens, especially if you haven’t already negotiated a price, there’s no telling how much they’ll try to charge once you arrive.
It’s most common in cities where the per-kilometer rate is low, and you can get a good idea of normal fares by scanning our list of taxi prices around the world.
Avoiding this
Just as with the example above, it’s critical to know how the taxis are supposed to work in this city before you land. Many travelers these days brag how they prefer to shun guidebooks and just step off the plane to wing it. While that’s a fine strategy for many things, it makes you a sucker at the airport.
Scam: Currency complicationsWhen you are using money that you aren’t familiar with there are a variety of scams to look out for including:
With currency-related scams the main thing is just to know how much you are supposed to pay in the local money, and keeping close track of your bills. If you appear tired and disoriented, chances of these scams will increase.
Scam: Unlicensed taxisEven in cities where taxis appear to be heavily regulated, unlicensed “gypsy” cabs are often still around. Part of their strategy is to make it clear that they aren’t licensed to be taxis, and act as if this allows them to offer you a much better price. Oddly, that part is also usually a scam. In both New York City and Rio de Janeiro I’ve been approached by aggressive rogue taxi drivers who actually quoted prices well above the normal fixed price.
Avoiding this
For a great many reasons it’s best to avoid unlicensed taxis, especially at airports, when people are their most vulnerable. If a driver says the normal fare is US$30 and he’ll take you for US$25, you can bet the normal fare is more like US$20. Always use the official licensed and marked taxis from the taxi stand out front.
Scam: Taking the “scenic route”This one is pretty obvious to most people, and yet it still happens all the time. In cities where they use the meter, a taxi driver will have a great incentive to take the passenger the longest way that they can get away with, as the meter keeps climbing and climbing.
In many cities, including Las Vegas, a driver might ask you if it’s okay to take the freeway instead of the busier surface streets. In Las Vegas the freeway will usually actually save the passenger money, even though the journey is longer, but in many other cities this is a way for the driver to run up the meter on some ring road or suburban highway.
Avoiding this
Even when in a city where taxis are known to use meters, it’s wise to ask the driver for an estimate before you even get in. The estimate should match the figure you’ve researched, or move on to the next driver. If your driverhas estimated a proper fare it’s far less likely that you’ll be taken the long way.
Scam: Taking you to a hotel they recommend since your choice recently closed or burned downThis occurs even more often at train and bus stations in big cities, but it also happens at airports around the world every day. Your driver will ask where you are staying, and at some point after you are on the way, he’ll tell you that place closed down or burned down last week, but he knows of an even better place.
Or worse yet, you ask to go to the city center and then ask if he knows of a good hotel. These taxi drivers know they’ll probably never see you again, so they’ll tout a crappy hotel that has a hard time getting guests otherwise. The hotel owner will happily pay a 20% commission, or even more, to a taxi driver bringing a new guest. And of course, that commission is added right to your bill in the form of an inflated price, so not only are you at one of the city’s worst hotels, but you are paying well over the normal price too.
Avoiding this
There are probably some taxi drivers in the world who actually do take passengers to good hotels, but generally it’s a bad bet. Even if you don’t have a reservation, ask the driver to take you to a specific hotel in the area you want to try. If they say it’s closed just tell them you just spoke to the hotel from the airport. If they say they know of a better hotel just tell them you’ve already paid for the room.
Scam: Driving off with your luggageThis one doesn’t happen often, but it’s still worth knowing about. I’ve recently heard about a case in Bangkok where an airport taxi driver pulled off to the side of the road claiming to have broken down. He asked the passenger to hop out and look at the back end of the car, and the driver simply drove off with the person’s luggage locked in the trunk. This sort of scam can take on many forms, so it’s good to at least be aware of the possibility.
Avoiding this
First off, if you can safely carry your bags inside the cabin instead of the trunk that’s always a good idea. At the very least, keep your laptop or any other valuables with you instead of in the trunk. With your valuables locked away the driver knows he can hold them hostage if he tries to overcharge or pull any of the other scams mentioned above.
If you must put some or all of your luggage in the trunk, make sure the financial agreement is settled, and don’t ever step outside if the driver asks you to for some peculiar reason.
Final tipsEven if you prefer to invent your trip as you go, the absolute least you should know is how you’re going to get into town before you get on the plane.
If you are traveling solo or as a duo then research the public transportation options, as they are always much cheaper and sometimes are even faster as well. For example, in Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, the express airport train is quicker and cheaper than a taxi, especially during rush hour.
For the ultimate cheapskate airport taxi move you can sometimes flag down a cab that has just dropped someone off at the departure gates. All larger airports prohibit or heavily discourage this, but a driver can usually offer you a nice discount since you are saving them from having to drive back to the city empty or get in the back of the main taxi queue.
Most of these scams happen most in countries where labor is cheap, but some even happen in (seemingly) law-abiding cities like New York, Los Angeles, or London, so it’s important to walk off that plane with a strategy and at least a little knowledge of what to do.
The top two-thirds of the International taxi prices list accounts for most of the problems.
Why we are all so vulnerable to airport taxi scamsNo matter which airport you arrive at, even if it’s only a few hundred miles from your home, there can be almost unlimited variables in how things are supposed to work, including:
- Some airports have a flat-fee for rides into the city
- Most airports charge an extra fee for taxis in one or both directions
- Some airport taxis use toll-roads, which the passenger pays for, often during the ride
- Some airports offer prepaid taxi vouchers inside the terminal
- The distance to the city can vary dramatically for each Airport
- New arrivals rarely have someone working on their behalf
- In some cities, airport officials are actually part of the scam
Many of us get a horrible first impression of an otherwise-lovely city because we trusted a taxi driver and got burned. Here are the most common scams as well as how to avoid each of them.
Scam: Lying about your other optionsParticularly in less developed countries, taxi drivers and airport scammers can be extremely aggressive, often basing themselves in restricted parts of the airport (if they cut the security guard or police in on the action). In some cases they’ll be extremely friendly, but in others they don’t bother with charm.
They’ll ask if you need a taxi into town, and if you say you are going to take the airport shuttle bus you might hear that the last one has just left, or the next one isn’t for 3 hours, or some other ludicrous lie.
Avoiding this
Sadly, it’s best to just assume they are lying and carry on with your original plan, even as they continue to shadow you. More importantly, do your research before you get on the plane in the first place so you know your options. Know when and how often the shuttle buses run or if there’s a train option and so forth.
One resource we have here on Price of Travel is typical prices for airport taxis for each major city, plus prices for trains, shuttle buses, and public buses. Click on a city page, like the New York City prices page, for example, and you’ll see the various options and how much each costs. It first displays in USDs, and by using the dropdown menu on the top-right of the page you can change the prices into any other currency, which will help you know the local currency amount when you arrive.
If you are carrying a guidebook or a smartphone app guidebook it should tell you your main transportation option. If not, or if your guide doesn’t include that information, you should look up the city on wikitravel or theToandfromtheairport site. Wikitravel in particular is usually exactly up to date with that information.
Scam: The meter is brokenMany cities actually have a flat-fee for airport taxi rides into the city, or better yet, a pre-paid taxi counter where you buy a voucher and then give it to your driver as complete payment. But if this city typically uses the normal meter for airport rides, it’s still very common for drivers not to use them by telling you it’s broken or simply not turning it on at all. If this happens, especially if you haven’t already negotiated a price, there’s no telling how much they’ll try to charge once you arrive.
It’s most common in cities where the per-kilometer rate is low, and you can get a good idea of normal fares by scanning our list of taxi prices around the world.
Avoiding this
Just as with the example above, it’s critical to know how the taxis are supposed to work in this city before you land. Many travelers these days brag how they prefer to shun guidebooks and just step off the plane to wing it. While that’s a fine strategy for many things, it makes you a sucker at the airport.
Scam: Currency complicationsWhen you are using money that you aren’t familiar with there are a variety of scams to look out for including:
- Agreeing to a price in local currency and then being told you are expected to pay that amount in dollars (or pounds or euros) once you arrive.
- Being quoted an outrageous price in local currency that baffles many people (In Hanoi the standard price is around 300,000 dong but they’ll often quote you 500,000 or more)
- Getting back incorrect change, or having the bill you paid with switched for a smaller note
With currency-related scams the main thing is just to know how much you are supposed to pay in the local money, and keeping close track of your bills. If you appear tired and disoriented, chances of these scams will increase.
Scam: Unlicensed taxisEven in cities where taxis appear to be heavily regulated, unlicensed “gypsy” cabs are often still around. Part of their strategy is to make it clear that they aren’t licensed to be taxis, and act as if this allows them to offer you a much better price. Oddly, that part is also usually a scam. In both New York City and Rio de Janeiro I’ve been approached by aggressive rogue taxi drivers who actually quoted prices well above the normal fixed price.
Avoiding this
For a great many reasons it’s best to avoid unlicensed taxis, especially at airports, when people are their most vulnerable. If a driver says the normal fare is US$30 and he’ll take you for US$25, you can bet the normal fare is more like US$20. Always use the official licensed and marked taxis from the taxi stand out front.
Scam: Taking the “scenic route”This one is pretty obvious to most people, and yet it still happens all the time. In cities where they use the meter, a taxi driver will have a great incentive to take the passenger the longest way that they can get away with, as the meter keeps climbing and climbing.
In many cities, including Las Vegas, a driver might ask you if it’s okay to take the freeway instead of the busier surface streets. In Las Vegas the freeway will usually actually save the passenger money, even though the journey is longer, but in many other cities this is a way for the driver to run up the meter on some ring road or suburban highway.
Avoiding this
Even when in a city where taxis are known to use meters, it’s wise to ask the driver for an estimate before you even get in. The estimate should match the figure you’ve researched, or move on to the next driver. If your driverhas estimated a proper fare it’s far less likely that you’ll be taken the long way.
Scam: Taking you to a hotel they recommend since your choice recently closed or burned downThis occurs even more often at train and bus stations in big cities, but it also happens at airports around the world every day. Your driver will ask where you are staying, and at some point after you are on the way, he’ll tell you that place closed down or burned down last week, but he knows of an even better place.
Or worse yet, you ask to go to the city center and then ask if he knows of a good hotel. These taxi drivers know they’ll probably never see you again, so they’ll tout a crappy hotel that has a hard time getting guests otherwise. The hotel owner will happily pay a 20% commission, or even more, to a taxi driver bringing a new guest. And of course, that commission is added right to your bill in the form of an inflated price, so not only are you at one of the city’s worst hotels, but you are paying well over the normal price too.
Avoiding this
There are probably some taxi drivers in the world who actually do take passengers to good hotels, but generally it’s a bad bet. Even if you don’t have a reservation, ask the driver to take you to a specific hotel in the area you want to try. If they say it’s closed just tell them you just spoke to the hotel from the airport. If they say they know of a better hotel just tell them you’ve already paid for the room.
Scam: Driving off with your luggageThis one doesn’t happen often, but it’s still worth knowing about. I’ve recently heard about a case in Bangkok where an airport taxi driver pulled off to the side of the road claiming to have broken down. He asked the passenger to hop out and look at the back end of the car, and the driver simply drove off with the person’s luggage locked in the trunk. This sort of scam can take on many forms, so it’s good to at least be aware of the possibility.
Avoiding this
First off, if you can safely carry your bags inside the cabin instead of the trunk that’s always a good idea. At the very least, keep your laptop or any other valuables with you instead of in the trunk. With your valuables locked away the driver knows he can hold them hostage if he tries to overcharge or pull any of the other scams mentioned above.
If you must put some or all of your luggage in the trunk, make sure the financial agreement is settled, and don’t ever step outside if the driver asks you to for some peculiar reason.
Final tipsEven if you prefer to invent your trip as you go, the absolute least you should know is how you’re going to get into town before you get on the plane.
If you are traveling solo or as a duo then research the public transportation options, as they are always much cheaper and sometimes are even faster as well. For example, in Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, the express airport train is quicker and cheaper than a taxi, especially during rush hour.
For the ultimate cheapskate airport taxi move you can sometimes flag down a cab that has just dropped someone off at the departure gates. All larger airports prohibit or heavily discourage this, but a driver can usually offer you a nice discount since you are saving them from having to drive back to the city empty or get in the back of the main taxi queue.
The taxi driver was given the name and address of Elegance 2 which I have a reservation. When we arrived a guy met the taxi and said the hotel was full because of a big group and he would take me to Sun Flower Hotel at 32 Thuoc Bac Str.
I was checked in there and it did not seem to be the same standard as I had seen on the internet for Hanoi Elegance 2. I looked up Sun Flower Hotel on the internet and found 2 people saying they were scammed in the same way.
I called Elegance 2 to find out my room was available. A driver picked me up and all worked out.
I was checked in there and it did not seem to be the same standard as I had seen on the internet for Hanoi Elegance 2. I looked up Sun Flower Hotel on the internet and found 2 people saying they were scammed in the same way.
I called Elegance 2 to find out my room was available. A driver picked me up and all worked out.
A word of warning to all travellers to Hanoi - never use any of the taxis that park outside the major tourist attractions or hang around popular restaurants as all too many of them will either have rigged meters or take you on a longer journey than necessary.
Instead phone Mai Linh (green and white vehicles, or plain green) or Taxi Group (white vehicles with a red chevroned stripe on the side) and wait until your ordered taxi arrives. The phone numbers are:
Mai Linh: 38 61 61 61
Taxi Group: 38 56 56 56
There are no fake/look-alike Mai Linh or Taxi Group cabs in Hanoi so you are safe with them.
If you need a cab from and to airport then i recommend the Noibai Airport Taxi ( www.noibaiairporttaxi.org), they have fixed price and its a lot cheaper than normal meter ones
NB: the one-way street system in Hanoi means that outward and return journeys from your hotel to an attraction take different routes and the cost difference can be marked, so the extra dollar paid by CWYe might have been legitimate
Instead phone Mai Linh (green and white vehicles, or plain green) or Taxi Group (white vehicles with a red chevroned stripe on the side) and wait until your ordered taxi arrives. The phone numbers are:
Mai Linh: 38 61 61 61
Taxi Group: 38 56 56 56
There are no fake/look-alike Mai Linh or Taxi Group cabs in Hanoi so you are safe with them.
If you need a cab from and to airport then i recommend the Noibai Airport Taxi ( www.noibaiairporttaxi.org), they have fixed price and its a lot cheaper than normal meter ones
NB: the one-way street system in Hanoi means that outward and return journeys from your hotel to an attraction take different routes and the cost difference can be marked, so the extra dollar paid by CWYe might have been legitimate
Another Taxi Scam
We booked a taxi to the airport from 'Sinh Cafe Ha Noi' (one of the many) 53B Luong Ngoc Quyen for 250 000VND. My girlfriend and I were picked up 10min late. Before getting in we confirmed he was our driver and that we had paid, he gave us the OK. From the old quater to the airport is between 30 and 35km, so this distance can be checked of the meter. The driver stopped for fuel and the toilet with the meter running. This didn't seem an issue since it was a prepaid fee. We picked up the drivers 'friend' before entering the airport. The fare on the meter at the airport was 360 000VND. We hurried out the cab and the driver chased us demanding money, we gave him the voucher and he said it wasn't money. Putting up a fight not to pay, he brought us over to a group of drivers from the same company and told us to speak to the travel agent with his phone. That didn't help, the agent just went ok to everything. We explained to all the other drivers that we have already paid and was not paying again. After 15min of it not being resolved we walked inside again with the drive chasing and yelling at us. His said we have to go the police station with him, we said no. The augment started again but thus time inside away from his friends. Two helpful ladies stood up for us who spoke very good English but left when nothing was being resolved. He continued to try and make us pay or go to the police. After another 15min our friend appeared that we were picking up so we asked how much he wanted to get it over with, gave him 200 000VND and caught another taxi back to Hanoi from the rank out side. No issues there, the sign said 315 000VND and the far was exactly 315 000VND to our hotel door. No more money was asked. We went back to the travel agent and demanded a refund and had no problems giving us it all back. This might of been a good scam or just a driver not having clear instructions. But if it was a scam, would of worked well when your leaving Hanoi, a pity we came back and demanded a refund.
We booked a taxi to the airport from 'Sinh Cafe Ha Noi' (one of the many) 53B Luong Ngoc Quyen for 250 000VND. My girlfriend and I were picked up 10min late. Before getting in we confirmed he was our driver and that we had paid, he gave us the OK. From the old quater to the airport is between 30 and 35km, so this distance can be checked of the meter. The driver stopped for fuel and the toilet with the meter running. This didn't seem an issue since it was a prepaid fee. We picked up the drivers 'friend' before entering the airport. The fare on the meter at the airport was 360 000VND. We hurried out the cab and the driver chased us demanding money, we gave him the voucher and he said it wasn't money. Putting up a fight not to pay, he brought us over to a group of drivers from the same company and told us to speak to the travel agent with his phone. That didn't help, the agent just went ok to everything. We explained to all the other drivers that we have already paid and was not paying again. After 15min of it not being resolved we walked inside again with the drive chasing and yelling at us. His said we have to go the police station with him, we said no. The augment started again but thus time inside away from his friends. Two helpful ladies stood up for us who spoke very good English but left when nothing was being resolved. He continued to try and make us pay or go to the police. After another 15min our friend appeared that we were picking up so we asked how much he wanted to get it over with, gave him 200 000VND and caught another taxi back to Hanoi from the rank out side. No issues there, the sign said 315 000VND and the far was exactly 315 000VND to our hotel door. No more money was asked. We went back to the travel agent and demanded a refund and had no problems giving us it all back. This might of been a good scam or just a driver not having clear instructions. But if it was a scam, would of worked well when your leaving Hanoi, a pity we came back and demanded a refund.
