Having never visited Vietnam, I am apprehensive about getting cheated by taxi drivers while making a four day visit to Saigon. How can I best avoid this, especially when traveling to and from the airport. Would I be best to go with a "Meet and Greet" service on arrival? But what about getting around town? Converting Dong to Dollars seems pretty cumbersome. Has someone mastered an easy way to do this? Should I carry a calculator? I detest getting into a dispute with these guys as I have in Chile, Argentina, France, etc. Should I insist on a metered cab? Should I only use taxis that are sanctioned by the hotel (The Renaissance in this case). Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you.^

A taxi from the airport to the Renaissance should cost about $10-12 USD through one of the several services that you can pre-pay through the desks outside of baggage claim before you go outside. They will walk you outside and put you in one of their own taxis. Otherwise, I would suggest using US dollars for short trips in the city. It is easier to calculate and is totally acceptable.

Good advice from GB about the airport, but I disagree about paying in US dollars to taxi drivers. If you do get your own taxi outside the airport, go to the proper rank. Don't be distracted by the touts. There is usually a genuine dispatcher (in uniform) to help. Make sure they start the meter as you drive off. There is a toll as you leave the airport - VND5000. You have to pay this on top of the meter fare. And of course if taking the taxi yourself, it would be wise to change some cash at the airport counter. The rate is not great, but it's certainly no rip off. Ask for small change! There is an ATM too.

I think it's possible to write a book on "how not to get ripped off by a taxi driver in Saigon", and still not cover everything. However many drivers are totally honest and a sizeable chunk only slightly naughty. I've even had Saigon taxis chasing me down the street because my mobile phone fell out inside their car and one driver bought me some take away noodles because I "looked hungry". (Yes... and it wasn't an attempt to drug me...)

Here are some comments (in no particular order):

1) There are a number of meter taxi companies as well as dodgy independents. The independents often have logos/names that look similar to legit ones. So first tip is to learn how to recognise one of the "good" companies and stick to it. The yellow "vinataxi" cars are easy to spot and are generally my favourite. Of course you might have to wait for one to show up - so knowing 2 or 3 companies is a good move. I also like Vinasun, and the Mailinh group. Get to know where the ranks are in the centre.

2) Understand the meter. VND has lots of zero and these are often truncated on the meter. Meters always display VND amounts, never USD, even if you see a $ sign. The flagfall amount is typically between VND8,000 and VND15,000 - look for this so you know where the decimal point goes! If the meter says "22.50", it means "VND 22,500" - about US$1.25. (Another reason for sticking with a company you are familiar with, as meter display formats can vary! Get a feel for what a taxi journey should cost. Eg 1 mile, 10mins in relatively heavy traffic, about VND20,000, just over US$1. I think it's a good idea to separate out big denomination notes (VND100,000 - $5.50 - and above) and keep them somewhere separate so you are less likely to get confused.

3) Don't get into taxis lurking outside bars and clubs unless you know they belong to one of your preferred companies. Often those are the dodgy ones - although some expat bars seem always to have a "decent" taxi on standby. This caution also applies to tourist locations - eg outside the popular Pho Hoa at the far end of Pasteur Street. Better to keep walking until you see a familiar taxi. Or get the place to call a taxi for you - and by all means ask them to call your favourite company. This is especially true at night when the risks of getting lost are higher but at the same time with less traffic about it's quicker to summon a trusted taxi.

4) If your VN friend, bell boy or other offers to flag a taxi down for you, refuse. Invariably they will just get the first one that passes by. Better to get a taxi yourself, unless you really can insist that they get you one from your preferred company. My experience is that VN people will be quick to tell you that you worry too much... and these are the same VN people that get ripped off themselves but rather than get uptight about it will just shrug their shoulders and put it down to fate. To this extent, Saigon gets the taxis it deserves.

5) Always carry small change - taxi drivers often don't have change and don't seem to think it's their job to. Sometimes the "no small change" thing is a scam, but often it's not. Just keep breaking big notes in shops and restaurants and you should be OK. If you're stuck, you can generally ask someone on arrival for help - shop, hotel etc.

6) Get a map so you have a rough idea of where you are going. By the way, many taxi drivers seem incapable of map reading so don't assume your map will help them. Abandon ship if you get seriously worried.

7) Don't rely on being able to blurt out your destination in English, though most drivers will know the popular places. Vietnamese can be unrecognisable when pronounced in an English way. Places with English names can sound weird when spoken in Vietnamese. Some road names appear again and again in different districts.... So sometimes there are genuine misunderstandings which can have dire consequences. If the driver gets lost and the meter is running, you are paying. I've had some drivers that feel guilty when it's their fault and offer cash back, but this is exceptional. Have addresses written down in Vietnamese together with key directions. Make sure they understand - some drivers cannot read either because they can't, or they don't have their glasses. Best to abandon ship if this happens to you. Vietnamese people are used to chattering to drivers and directing them.

8) If possible, get a local SIM and put it in your phone (check you have the right type). Calling someone you are meeting is a good solution if you think you are getting lost. They can speak direct to the taxi driver.

9) Check the meter is started when you get in, or shortly after departure.

10) Do not tip, but rounding up to the next VND1000 is fine. (Coins/notes below VND1000 are rarely used in Saigon, but some meters count up in amounts that leave a total that doesn't divide by 1000). Life can be hard in Saigon, but taxi drivers do relatively well. On the way back to the airport there is no toll. I would round up a bit more generously - there is a VND5,000 exit toll. Yep they can pick up another pax and charge that to them - but not all can get to the rank easily, and they might not want to hang around. Some readers might remember the arrangement used to be that you paid the toll as you entered the airport rather than departing. I think that was a much better arrangement and less open to abuse.

11) If visiting somewhere for a short time, many taxi drivers will happily wait - though less so in central Saigon. If you find a good one, and the whole taxi business is too stressful, ask a VN friend to ask them if they can agree a day rate with you.

12) On arrival if you think you have been cheated or there is some other problem, try to get someone at your destination to help - ie friend, hotel, restaurant etc. Most Vietnamese people don't want foreigners to have a bad experience and will try and help. If you have a phone you can call the taxi company. They usually have English speaking staff who can help. If it's a genuine rip-off type situation, the driver will sometimes backtrack to the point of "I free for you" at the sight of you calling his company.

13) Although drivers might "try it on" with meters that are "broken" etc., it's very rare for anything to go beyond that, so don't become paranoid.

14) If you do get cheated, bear in mind that everyone gets caught out including locals. In fact VN people just seem to pile into the first taxi they see and are not particularly brand loyal. I think it's a real pity given that some companies are making an effort to run a clean service.

15) Fares are relatively low compared with western countries. I know it's the principal, but a fleecing by a Saigon taxi driver can still work out cheaper than a legit fare elsewhere (or a bus trip in London).

Thank you, Jimbo, a lot of highly useful information. In fact, I'm going to make a copy of it and keep it in a plastic sheeth for tote around the city. You spent a lot of time putting it together and I am highly appreciative. If you're in the city by any chance at the same time, please let me buy you a drink at the Renaissance!

Wow-rates have really gone up. I took a pre-paid taxi from SGN to the Renaissance back in 2006 and remember paying with a $5 bill and getting about $1 worth of Dong back as change.

What yOU COULD DO and I have been thinking about this for a while now for my first ever visit to Vietnam is to get your airport to hotel transfer prebooked before arrival for Saigon

I have done exactly that. I'm using "TravelIndochine" ([email protected]) that quoted a rate of $20 each way. They use a seven passenger mini-van. They indicated in their e-mail that their driver would be seeing me at the airport with a hand held sign with my full name written on it. I am to pay the driver in US cash before leaving the airport. It sounds like a fair deal to me and takes some of the anxiety out of the transfer procedure.

Yep it's the crazy world of Saigon. US$20 is way more than a meter taxi. But to a visiting westerner it seems like a bargain just to take the pain out of things.

Don't blame you mate!

OH and please don't tip...

Anyone ever dealt with hotels-in-vietnam.com? They are quoting $16USD each way (Park Hyatt Saigon) for a private taxi. Seems pretty good to me, just curious if anyone has used their services before or can recommend another company. I'd prefer to have someone meet me since it'll be my first time in the country and I see it as just easier.

Going by the meter will probably cost you no more than USD6 (if you get an honest driver), the guy at the coupon desk will probably quote you USD10.

If your going by meter to the Park Hyatt, it won't cost you more than $5 to get there. Just be sure to get an honest taxi driver from the taxi stand out front. Don't forget you'll need to pay the departure toll of 5000VND when leaving the airport.

Taxi from the airport to district 1 is about $12. The taxi company you want to use is green and white, the taxi drivers where a tie, I believe it is Vin Taxi, they are everywhere. If you use antoher taxi, you can bet the route is the long way, and the meter is fast. 17000 dong to the dollar, they also take U.S. money. Taxi back to the airport from the main area is around 120,000 dong, about $8 . In any respects, the travel is cheap. Give a few thousand dong as a tip, and you have made his day. Green and white taxi is the safe bet.

If you paid $12, you paid twice as much as you should. It's not more than $5-6 to central D1 (let's say Opera House/Caravelle Hotel/Park Hyatt).

And why are you paying different fares each way? The only difference in the route is from the airport is on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and going is Pastuer. They're a block apart. The only other fee is the departure toll at 5000VND.

I visited HCMC 3 times this past 6 wks and each time with an honest driver the trip from airport to Park Hyatt was D62,000 and about D57,000 from hotel to airport.

At the airport, you can get a taxi before exiting for D120,000 which isn't that bad of deal - because chances you'll get ripped off if you go out and try to get one yourself. On the outside, they usually try to get US$15.

On my last trip, it was Friday night and rainy, and left at 7 pm had a 8:50 flight. Rather than trying to figure out whether he was honest, or whether he was going to go around in circles for a few more pennies, I just gave the driver 100,000 and said turn off the meter but get me there asap.

Paying $12.00 for a taxi from the airport to our hotel, is not the best price, but a fair price. I had mentioned that it is $6.00 the other way. We require a small van because of our luggage, anyway, one can negotiate the price down to $5.00 if they care to bargain that way.