Taxi's at Tan Son Nhat (Saigon) Airport

© Photographer: Willeecole | Agency: Dreamstime.com
 

In recent weeks much has been written in the Vietnam News about taxi's, their bad habits and their even worst parking efforts at Ton Son Nhat (Saigon) Airport. Most has been about how travelers (and locals) are constantly getting ripped off for journeys into town. It's a serious problem and one that needs to be addressed.

For most, the Airport is the first or last place they see of a country and it has a major effect on how they view the people and the country itself. By being hassled and ripped off immediately after stepping foot in Vietnam, travelers tend to think everyone is the same - dishonest.

With huge niumbers of complaints, the local authorities and inspection teams are currently running a month long crack down on airport taxi's. Good news right? Well it is if you arrive this this month, but once the crack down is over, the taxis will be back and the problem will continue.

The problems are generally the same - money - and can include such things as

-Refusing to use the meter.
-Demanding extra money at the end of the journey
-Asking double/triple the actual fare.
-Dodgy meters that run at the speed of light.
- Aggressive drivers
- Blatant refusal.

Many of the above I have personally encountered in my time in Vietnam and while you would hope, with the dramatic increase in tourism, the problems would improve, they only get worse. So what can you do to safe the hassles?

- Make sure you ask the driver to use the meter before hoping in.
- Try and use a known taxi company.
- Don't use the "taxi drivers" waiting inside, they are dodgy and will rip you off.
- Good taxi companies have their staff wear uniforms.
- If you encounter any problems, make a complaint to the taxi company, make sure you get the drivers/car number.

For me, I only use one company - Vinasun Taxi. Vina Sun have great drivers, clean cars and always use the meter. Not once have I had a problem with this company. And while I'm sure there are great drivers in all the other companies, the few tossers who think their above the law have ruined it for the majority.

Have you had any drama's catching a taxi from Ton Son Nhat Airport? Tell us all about it by leaving a comment below.

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Note:

Fares from the Airport to District 1 or Pham Ngu Lao should cost around 100,000VND on the meter (give or take). If drivers refuse to use the meter, find another!

VinaSun Taxi (HCMC) - Tel: 8 27 27 27

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