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Arbitrary taxi meter rates in Vietnam

  • 17-08-2006 4:24pm
    #1
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭


    This is beginning to p!ss me off. In Thailand, I was safe in the knowledge that if I got into a taxi and got the driver to use the meter, I was going to get a fair(ish) deal. I knew what to expect and found that a given journey was the same price day in day out.

    In Vietnam, this is totally different.

    Example 1) 6 of us have just gotten off a bus from Haiphong to Hanoi. We split 3 and 3 into 2 metered taxis. When we arrived at our destination, 1 taxi is at 76,000VND, the other is at 41,000VND. Attempted rip off ensues.....

    Example 2) 2 of us get a taxi in HCMC and it costs 23,000VND. On the way back it's twice that. (not late at night or anything.)

    I could go on. I suppose the best way is to use motorbikes where I can agree the fare in advance, but as some of you may know, I have no travel insurance, and it looks fvcking dangerous.

    So what's the story?

    P.S. What's the best/cheapest way to get to the airport in HCMC? I understand the travel agencies have a service but methinks it's a bit pricy. (And I don't exactly want to taxi it!)


Comments

  • #2
    lostinsuperfunk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭lostinsuperfunk


    From xe.com, the difference in the two fares is ...
    35,000 VND = 1.71 EUR
    The people in the more expensive taxi were ripped off to the tune of 57 cent each.


  • #3
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    lostinsuperfunk wrote:
    From xe.com, the difference in the two fares is ...
    35,000 VND = 1.71 EUR
    The people in the more expensive taxi were ripped off to the tune of 57 cent each.

    Clap, clap. That's not the point.


  • #4
    Sgt. Sensible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 443 ✭✭Sgt. Sensible


    breadmonkey wrote:
    Clap, clap. That's not the point.
    Yes. It is. But you can always get the police involved and ask them to get your few cents back for you.


  • #5
    Sgt. Sensible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 443 ✭✭Sgt. Sensible


    It's a bit silly going to south east asia without travel insurance too.


  • #6
    RasTa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,116 ✭✭✭✭RasTa


    breadmonkey wrote:
    Clap, clap. That's not the point.

    Well it must be a reason. Look i'll give ye the money that they are "ripping" you off with if it means that much to you. Now go and enjoy the rest of your trip instead of complaining.


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  • #7
    Rcuomo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 272 ✭✭Rcuomo


    its attitudes like that which are part of the reason for ireland being so expensive.
    ah sure let the bar owners charge 5.15 a pint. sure its only 15 cent more then the other kip.
    give the taxi drivers a raise, or whatever they want. its only a euro.

    thats not the point. the point is the guy's is being ripped off. yes for a small amount of money, but still being ripped off.


  • #8
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    Rcuomo wrote:
    its attitudes like that which are part of the reason for ireland being so expensive.
    ah sure let the bar owners charge 5.15 a pint. sure its only 15 cent more then the other kip.
    give the taxi drivers a raise, or whatever they want. its only a euro.

    thats not the point. the point is the guy's is being ripped off. yes for a small amount of money, but still being ripped off.
    It's nice to see someone understands.
    sgta wrote: »
    It's a bit silly going to south east asia without travel insurance too.
    Read the thread again.
    sgtasdlkjfjfeksl wrote:
    Yes. It is. But you can always get the police involved and ask them to get your few cents back for you.
    No it isn't. And you obviously don't know anything about Vietnamese (traffic) cops. So shh.
    rasta wrote:
    Well it must be a reason. Look i'll give ye the money that they are "ripping" you off with if it means that much to you. Now go and enjoy the rest of your trip instead of complaining.
    Multiply this type of thing happening say 3 times a day for 9 weeks and it starts to eat into your budget.


  • #9
    muletide
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,506 ✭✭✭muletide


    When you get home we can start a church gate collection to cover your 57 cent - I personally cant think of a more worthy cause.

    57cent is not a rip off - try to get over it and enjoy your holiday. The taxi driver probably earns less in a week than most of us do in an hour, so dont begrudge him the money


  • #10
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    muletide wrote:
    When you get home we can start a church gate collection to cover your 57 cent - I personally cant think of a more worthy cause.

    57cent is not a rip off - try to get over it and enjoy your holiday. The taxi driver probably earns less in a week than most of us do in an hour, so dont begrudge him the money

    Your opinions have already been expressed and refuted. Maybe read the whole thread next time.

    Can someone lock this please, I'm getting sick of these muppets.


  • #11
    Darren
    Closed Accounts Posts: 370 ✭✭Darren


    breadmonkey wrote:
    Your opinions have already been expressed and refuted. Maybe read the whole thread next time.

    Can someone lock this please, I'm getting sick of these muppets.

    I was in Vietnam in January and this can get very irritating. When people are trying to turn you over for a few cents ALL the time it gets very annoying. Get over to Cambodia, completely different attitude, decent food and lovely people.


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  • #12
    killbillvol2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭killbillvol2


    You really are arguing about small amounts of money in a place where the average monthly wage is a pittance but it can get annoying at times (I've just left Vietnam). What they're doing, by the way, is setting the meter to the night rate.
    The easiest thing to do is use motorbikes if it's getting on your nerves that much. I survived a month using them without mishap.
    A taxi to Saigon airport is 5 USD with most of the travel agents.


  • #13
    empirix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,723 ✭✭✭empirix


    These are third world countries dude - give them the extra few cents, they'll probably buy food with it, instead of you pissing it down the toilet. Your going to get this attitude in every country, its what tourism is about, we do it over here too but on a higher scale but disguised so one thinks its standard. The SE Asians just market it differently


  • #14
    Darren
    Closed Accounts Posts: 370 ✭✭Darren


    empirix wrote:
    These are third world countries dude - give them the extra few cents, they'll probably buy food with it, instead of you pissing it down the toilet. Your going to get this attitude in every country, its what tourism is about, we do it over here too but on a higher scale but disguised so one thinks its standard. The SE Asians just market it differently

    I've been to a lot of Asian countries and generally I agree with you BUT the Vietnamese are a different gravy to the rest. They pissed me off and when someone is pissed off, little things like a few cents here and there can escalate in your own mind into huge issues. You have to be very careful over there and constantly watching your **** like a hawk ( I know now some plonker is going to say, 'It's the same in Dublin or Cork or wherever you go!') and it gets to you after a while.

    Good luck on the rest of your trip breadmonkey.


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