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Over-pricing, Ho Chi Minh City
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A stroll along the well-known Dong Khoi Street.... - Ho Chi Minh City
A stroll along the well-known Dong Khoi Street....
by sailor_p
Ho Chi Minh City Tourist Traps: Over-pricing tips and photos posted by real travelers and Ho Chi Minh City locals.
Over-pricing
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Ho Chi Minh City Over-pricing ReviewsTips 1 - 10 of 18  
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Over-pricing: Airport taxis
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  • By Robb74 on September 28, 2005
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  • When you leave the airport an official-looking guy will wave you to a blue taxi on the left (last time I went there was a line of these guys, from the airport door to the taxi rank, so everyone goes that way, of course). That will cost you US$9, at least. Instead, turn right for a few steps and cross over to the yellow cabs - US$4. That's the standard charge from the airport to downtown.

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    Over-pricing: Check the Price before You Buy!
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  • By sailor_p on October 3, 2005
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  • A stroll along the well-known Dong Khoi Street.... - Ho Chi Minh City
    A stroll along the well-known
    Dong Khoi Street....
    by sailor_p
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    Well, HCMC is truly a shopping paradise on Earth. I never know that HCMC is such a wonderful shopping paradise till I am there! The wide roads are line with many attractive shops and boutiques filled with colourful ware. However, for the same amount listed on the price tag, I can buy the same item at 1/2 the price at the nearby Ben Thahn market.

    Perhaps, visit the Ben Thahn market and check out the prices before deciding whether you want to "burn" your money at one of these stalls!!! *wink*

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    Over-pricing: Conned by Cabbie
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  • Updated By chatterley on August 11, 2005
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  • We got into a cab after we left the airport, and started haggling with the cabbie about the cab fare. In the end, we agreed to pay USD7 (we had not changed our money into the Vietnamese Dong yet, we only had USD with us then). Just before we reached our hotel, the cabbie stopped and insisted that we pay him the fare. We sensed that something was amiss, but paid up anyway. Satisfied, he then drove us to the hotel. We soon realised that we were over-charged...the amount is no big deal, really, but it really sucks to have been cheated on the first day..just after arrival...If we had paid the original amount he wanted, we would feel worse! Always insist on travelling in a metered taxi, and get the cabbie to switch on the meter! Most cabbies in HCMC are ok, but some of them would try to over-charge tourists at the airport.

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    Over-pricing: Same Product Different Pricing
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  • Updated By perseushermes on May 27, 2006
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  • We wanted to buy a handbag on Friday/Saturday at Ben Thanh Market and we were quoted US10 after much haggling (the inital price was US$15). We decided not to buy. Then when we went on Sunday afternoon - we were pleasantly surprise that the vendor agreed to sell the same handbag for US$7. That was a marked difference.

    I cannot assume that this is widespread at Ben Thanh Market but looks like the vendors would not budge on the prces if it is Friday/Saturday as there will be so many tourist who would be willing to pay the price quoted as they would be leaving by Sunday. So be wise and shop on Weekdays.... when there is slim pickings for the vendors

    Visit Andong Market

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    Over-pricing: Eat before going to the airport.
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  • By worldkiwi on April 7, 2005
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  • The one and only eating place at HCMC international airport is an absolute rip-off. Everything is priced in US dollars, which is very annoying. A sandwich I had there was US$4 and a bottle of water was an incredible US$2. I was so hungry and thirsty, that I forked out the cash. The prising of stuff in HCMC is annoying when it's in US dollars. Ofcourse, the locals think that all tourists are rich, but when you're not from the States, Japan, or Europe, a few US dollars can add up to too much!

    Make sure you get something to eat before you get to the airport, or if you can hold on, wait till you get on the plane.

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    Over-pricing: Taxi Trap
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  • Updated By yeeman999 on April 2, 2007
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  • Staying at Omni Saigon, we knew that a cab ride from District 1 only costs 48,000 dongs (eq. USD 3). We were trying to go to the War Remnant Museum from Ben Thanh Market (Dist. 1), which is a much much much shorter distance that cannot be more than how much we pay to go back to hotel. The driver insisted that, according to the meter, I should pay 100,000 dongs or 8 USD as he quoted. He pointed to the few un-used digits space on the meter where numbers weren't even shown and insisted that those should be counted. I refused to pay what he asked for and told my friend to get off the car first. The driver tried to grab me from his seat. I yelled at him immediately and ran off after throwing in a few notes that added up to approximately 10,000 dongs which was what shown as I saw from meter. Polices were around but not helpful.

    We were totally freaked out and forgot to write down the company name. All I remember it was a small Toyota that looks a bit old, the company logo on the door is relatively small to be even "eye-catching". Suggested fellow tourists to ride the newer taxi van which usually have their logo stickers big enough to cover half of the taxi door. Also, remember the taxi id which is usually a 3-digit number printed inside the taxi. Taxi companies suggested by hotel are Vina Taxi or Mai Linh Taxi.

    Ride the hotel shuttle if available


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    Over-pricing: Binh Khoi Tourist Village
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  • By Unknownsu on June 28, 2003
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  • Over-pricing - Ho Chi Minh City
    by Unknownsu
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    Over priced everything! I have to admit the scenery in the area is one of a kind in Saigon but tourists will definitely not get the feel of Vietnam.

    Pham Ngu Lao is a better alternative!

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    Over-pricing: Saigon Trade
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  • By Unknownsu on May 7, 2003
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  • Saigon Trade - Ho Chi Minh City
    Saigon Trade
    by Unknownsu
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    Avoid the coffee shop at the top of the most dominating building, at 33 stories, the Saigon Trade Center. Prices are quoted in USD and are absolutely ridiculous, for Vietnam standards. Heck, they're ridiculous for any budget traveller's standard!

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    Over-pricing: Cyclo's charging too much. A...
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  • By Gillie123 on August 27, 2002
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  • Cyclo's charging too much. A common form of transport on Vietnam is the Cyclo. The generally charge about US$1 for every ride in Saigon no matter how far...as long as you are not going miles away. The street taxis - normal meter taxis - are extremely cheap and you can lock the doors and windows and will usually get decent AC. Personally I though the cyclos lost their appeal after the 2nd trip and the taxis are the same price or cheaper for most local rides....

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    Over-pricing: The phone bill after some...
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  • By tabatha on September 2, 2002
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  • The phone bill after some calls out of Vietnam was horrible. So better send some emails if itīs not really a need to make a call.

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