How to Avoid Saigon’s Rip-Off Taxis: A Comprehensive Guide
Whenever anybody asks me for advice about an upcoming visit to Saigon I always start with the same tip: be careful which taxi you choose to get in.
With a public transport network comprising mainly of archaic buses, the timetables of which are unfathomable to most tourists, it is virtually impossible to avoid using a taxi during a visit to Saigon.
Unlike other countries in the world, the fear is not that getting into the wrong taxi will result in kidnapping or elaborate scams involving fake police officers, but getting into the wrong taxi in Vietnam will hit your wallet hard.
Counterfeit taxis in Vietnam are not dangerous, but they are an annoyance.
Even from across the street, I know this taxi is a rip-off.
I have read numerous blog posts about travellers being scammed in Vietnam, and I won’t deny that it does happen, but when it comes to the rip-off taxi scam it is surprisingly easy to avoid. I managed to for the full three years that I lived there, as did all of my friends.
So without any further ado I pass on the benefit of my knowledge to you, my fellow traveller.
Use a Reputable Company
Undoubtedly, there are more reputable companies than the ones I list here, but these are the ones that I found offered consistently good service: by that I mean that they:
- Have pristine bodywork—no rust or dents
- Display a fare chart inside the cab
- Have the driver’s ID and number visible
- Never turn you away when you say where you want to go
- Always use a meter
- Ask for directions when they don’t know the way
- Take the most direct route, or the route with least congestion
- Never ask for the fee in US dollars
MaiLinh
The name MaiLinh is always written in full on the side
MaiLinh taxis are predominantly white with a green logo and lettering. MaiLinh also has a shuttle bus service that operates around the country.
Vina
An iconic yellow Vina taxi drives past Notre Dame Cathedral
Vina taxis are bright yellow, so they are impossible to miss. The driver wears a yellow shirt.
Vinasun
Vinasun taxi drivers wait (quietly) for business
Another white and green brand, where the driver wears a white shirt with a green tie.
Sometimes you might see VIP, or Luxury versions of these companies. These are also reputable but charge about twice the normal rate—but you do get a much more comfortable ride.
Counterfeit Taxis
There are many counterfeit taxis in Saigon that cash in on the brand of reputable taxis. These taxis look remarkably similar to the well-known companies, but look carefully and you will see the differences.
If there are letters missing, or the name is misspelt then don’t be fooled—they are a rip-off taxi.
Well known Vinasun rip-offs include Vinasum, Vinamet, or simply Vina (but not the yellow ones).
Other than one digit in the phone number and one letter, these fake taxis look convincing!
MaiLinh has a copycat that uses the ML logo, but the taxi does not have the full name MaiLinh printed on the side of the cab.
Counterfeit taxis often look a bit older than their reputable counterparts, and are sometimes more ‘boxy’ than the sleeker, newer cars. They may also have rust patches or dents—the reputable companies do not operate in this condition.
Finally, before getting in you should have a look through the window and check if the driver is displaying his ID badge, whether you can see a fare-meter (that is in good condition), and if the fare-card is displayed. If you do not see these things then DON’T GET IN!
If you flag a taxi from the street and you think it is a rip-off taxi don’t feel obliged to get in, just wave him off and wait for another one.
Copycat Taxi Hangouts
There is a direct correlation between how touristy something is, and how many copycat taxis are circling around it. Therefore:
Never take a taxi from directly outside a big tourist attraction like Ben Thanh market or the War Remnants Museum, because there is a high likelihood that it is fake. Always walk a little further down the street to find a better company.
If the driver is persistently yelling at you or trying to get your attention, then, again, it is likely to be a rip-off taxi. The good companies do not hassle tourists to use their taxi.
There is a high concentration of rip-off taxis in the backpacker streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Bui Vien and De Tham—especially at night when they know that alcohol affects travellers’ judgement. The good companies also operate here so don’t assume that every taxi is out to scam you. Just check before you get in.
Check your taxi choice carefully outside popular tourist traps like Ben Thanh Market
At the Airport
The vast majority of the time the first taxis you see when you come through the departure gates will either be counterfeit taxis or expensive airport taxis.
Ignore them. They will be yelling at you so it’s not easy! Walk to the far end of the rank and you will find Vinasun and MaiLinh waiting calmly for you. The driver may approach you but he will be calm and professional. Use the advice I have given you in this post to make sure they are not copycats and you will be fine.
Do not agree to pay in dollars (there are ATMs outside the terminal), as you will never get a good exchange rate and counterfeit taxis will probably try to charge a flat-fare rather than use the metre. Don’t agree to this. The airport is not far from the city and should cost about 150,000VND (about $8) to the city centre. I have heard stories of people paying $40 + for this journey, so take your time at the airport and choose wisely.
Taxis outside shopping areas are often more expensive, or ask tourists to pay in US dollars. I didn't use these companies.
General Tips
Sadly, even the best companies will not be honest if they find an expensive phone or fat wallet in their car after you have left, so always check the car carefully for your belongings before you get out.
Vietnamese is a tough language to master, always write down your destination before you get into a taxi as you will not be able to pronounce it in a way that they will understand. Include the street name, number and district if possible. Taxi drivers are unlikely to know the names of shops or bars.
As ever, remember that being very obviously drunk will always make you more open to exploitation so try to travel in groups at night.
A taxi waits outside the busy backpacker bars but how many people will check to see if it's not fake?
Finally
If you do end up in a rip-off taxi then it’s always best to pay up the bill at the end. Yes, it is unfair. Yes, it is infuriating. But the law will never be on your side.
Remember, it’s really not that much money to you anyway so try to keep some perspective. Pay up and check your taxi choice more carefully next time.
Have you ever fallen prey to the rip-off taxi scam? Do you have any tips to help a fellow traveller recognise a copycat taxi? I’d love to hear your comments below. If you think the post might help other travellers then spread good karma and share 
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I was never knowingly ripped off by a Saigon taxi but I did find it incredibly annoying having to repeatedly argue with them to turn on the meter! I climbed right back out of more than my fair share of taxis!
Simon P recently posted..Finding Utopia in Luang Prabang
I guarantee that if you have to ask them to turn on the meter then it is not a reputable taxi, I’m pleased to hear that you got out! The companies I have mentioned never once tried to get away with not using a meter.
If you are going for a long distance journey (of a few hours for example) then it is always wise to negotiate a price beforehand but the meter should be used for any journey within the city.
Great article which would have helped me out a lot had I read it a couple of years ago!
I wrote about my experiences in Hanoi here: http://www.vagabundomagazine.com/taken-for-a-ride-in-hanoi/
I just read your account! Doubly duped in one day
My heart sinks when I hear tales like this from Vietnam as it is such a fantastic country but so many travellers fall victim to scams like this, even when, like you, they are already pretty travel savvy.
Unfortunately, the con-artists are always going to find more ingenious ways of catching people unawares, which makes it most important that guys like us share our experiences for other travellers.
Thanks for commenting, and for sharing your experience.
Somehow I missed your reply, sorry bout that.
I was sooooo mad at the time but now I can tell the story as a warning to others. I think that having been savvy and prepared, yet still falling for two scams made it harder to get over!
As I was in Vietnam for a good while after this I became more familiar with things – and it made meeting the honest people so much sweeter.
I spent two months in Vietnam, but I was never scammed because I always used reputable companies. Occasionally, I was taken for a bit of a longer ride, but this only resulted in around 0.50 USD more.
Denise recently posted..The Ecstacy of a Wonderful Meal: Can Tho and the Victoria Can Tho resort
Knowing which company to use can really make a big diifference to your experience in Saigon. I don’t mind the slightly longer way round route when it only costs a few cents more, just as long as I can avoid the expensive rip-off cabs!
I agree, the more persistent the taxi driver is getting you on board, the more likely it’ll be a scam. Taxi driver tried to scam me in Hanoi, going from the train station to the hostel where we were staying in. The meter was running a lot faster than it should had, he took a massive detour and actually tried to drop us off at the wrong place.
Thankfully I had been to Hanoi before so I knew to insist that he dropped us off at the right place, which he finally agreed to do. The total came up to about five times too much, so I basically gave him the correct amount (I think it was 50K dong), which he did agree to take in order to avoid encounter with the hostel manager who was coming to sort out the situation…
But if I hadn’t known where I was going, it could’ve been a lot trickier.
Jarmo recently posted..The 39th Cambridge Beer Festival
I’m glad you managed to avoid an unpleasant situation, I have heard of many people who have tried to argue with a bogus taxi driver and it doesn’t always end so well. At least you had the confidence to stand up for yourself! If the meter is running faster than it should be I would probably just tell him to stop and get out, it’s never difficult to find another taxi. If the fare card is visible (which it always will be in a reputable taxi) then you can work out if the meter is telling the truth.
Nice Experience With a Vinasun Taxi…
We took a short trip from the new Saigon Tower to Saigon Square. My wife left her wallet (containing over US$1,000 & invaluable personal papers) in the taxi. After much panic and hasty phone calls to Vinasun the taxi appeared with the wallet and the cash still intact…
To be honest I thought we had less than 10% chance of getting it back. My hat is off to the very helpful Vinasun staff, and the honesty of the driver…
THANKYOU Vinasun…
Geoff,
On a consultancy project in VN
Wow! That is great to hear, I would not have expected you to get it back – sometimes even the taxis that don’t rip you off will pretend they didn’t find belongings left in the taxi. I respect Vinasun even more now, they will definitely be the company I recommend first in Vietnam. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
Excellent advice. I’m thinking about visiting Saigon for a visa run soon, so these tips are extremely useful. Thank you!
Mark Wiens recently posted..Photo: Magnificent Longsheng Rice Terraces in China
Thanks for the comment, taxis can be the biggest nuisance to a traveller in Saigon, but not if you get in the right ones! I hope you have a lovely trip, let me know if you go!
thanks very much for yr post!!! I’m going to HCMC this weekend and i’ve always heard abt the nightmares of counterfeit taxis. I just spent an hour searching for HCMC taxi guides for travellers and I’m so glad i finally come across your blog. MUCH THANKS!
Thank you for your comment, I’m pleased I helped. Hope you have an amazing time in HCMC – I would love to be there right now too!
I had the same problem you did with rogue taxi. I was coming out of museum at the end of the day and had been out walking since about 7 AM, extremely hot/humid (just before when it rains) and I was tired. Even though I’d been in Hanoi for one week and had been careful to get the correct taxis, that day I got in one with one letter changed( didn’t know it at the time).
We had gone one short block and the rate was up to 400,000 dong (about $20 US). I told the taxi to stop he said he couldn’t and went almost another block (maybe 100M total) distance from my starting point. Now the meter is up to about 600,000 dong ($30 US). No way was I going to pay that. I was leaving the next day and if i paid that fare i’d have to get some more money from ATM.
I gave him $3 US which was more than enough for the initial distance covered when I said stop. He kept pointing to the meter but he left the air on! We went back and forth for about ten minutes- I didn’t mind I was in a cool place…had he shut off the air I would have paid. I kept looking for police but saw none. For those that don’t know, like Hong Kong, taxis in Viet Nam can have a central lock so you can’t just get out and throw the money at the driver.
When he said I was trying to cheat him (!!), I’d had enough. I stood up in the taxi (I’m an older female(50?s) , almost 6 feet tall) I said here’s your money(the $3). [I live in Thailand and would never do this there as most males know Muay Thai.] I said,” If the Americans had bombed your parents house, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.” [I know this was not a very nice thing to say] He said I was a nasty, old lady. Replying, I said that maybe I was and that he was a thief. He finally took the money and unlocked the door.
I’ve been back 8 times since to Viet Nam and have never gotten another rogue taxi. I check the name before getting in any taxi. Another secret I was told by a teacher at a Vietnamese university was to look for a Vietnamese person getting out of a taxi…they won’t be getting out of the rogue taxis, and take that taxi. Can’t remember the names but they have an even lower drop rate than Mai Linh and Vina Sun in HCMC or Hanoi