Taxis, Ho Chi Minh City

You will see taxi counter before you get out the arrival building ( near by the exchage counter ) 5 us for 1 car from the airport to city center ,if you need a bigger car it's only 6 us.

On July 2008 the price is up to 10-12 us from the airport to your hotel.
I didnt see any counter in there anymore ... you walk out and somebody will attack you ... asking you "taxi? taxi?"

Taxis services have dramatically improved in the last few years with some profeesional companies opening up such as Mei Linh and Vinataxi. But still there are a few rouges out there so here are some tips: You don't need to bargain for a taxi, if the driver tries, get another taxi. The most common trick is for them not to start the meter, if he refuses get out and get another. From the airport is about 75,000 dong to get downtown on the meter, again if he asks a fixed price (which is normally $10) get another taxi.

If your going to travel around HCMC then I would strongly advise visitors to use Mai Linh Taxi's. This is an honest and reputable company which will not rip you off.
Generally taxi drivers are notorious in Saigon and will rip you off without blinking an eye. Don,t be fooled that the taxi has a meter and that the driver dutifully switches the meter on as you leave the kerb. Most of these meters are rigged to empty you pockets asap.
I am an English teachers living in HCMC. Save yourself a whole load of frustration...stick to Mai Linh Taxis and save your cash and arrive at the destination you ask for (rather than the taxi driver's brother's retaurant or hotel.

its great to be well prepared, carrying such information with you plus the business card of the hotel you are staying in for less hassle especially at night. also, the conceirge/bellboys are very helpful and can colverse with the taxi driver on where to bring you. so use their help as well. these tel.no. infos where very helpful:
Deluxe - 826 2626
Festival - 823 2323
Saigon - 811 1111
Vinataxi - 845 6456
Vinasun - 827 2727

I would like to share my unpleasant experience about my recent trip in Ho Chi Minh (1-4/Jun/07). Being a foreign tourist travelling in Ho Chi Minh should be very careful to every cheating tactic. I was taking a cap outside Ben Thanh Market to Indochine restaurant for dinner alone (the restaurant was recommended by my vietnamese friend) which the whole journey took about 15 mins. When i reached the restaurant, I was shocked to see that the charges was VND 615,000 (which was about U$ 38). I suspected something was wrong, but I still paid the taxi fare. Unfortunately I was having short of cash in hand so I requested the driver to take me back to my hotel for the balance payment. The driver finally agreed with the deal and he drove me back to hotel. When he was driving, this time I was starring at the meter running extremely fast (just 1 min the taxi fare jumped from VND 615,000 to VND 900,000) which was unbelievable. I started shouting at the driver and scolding him for cheating on foreign visitor. He quickly pressed pause on the meter and shown his innocent that he didn't cheat on me. He finally agreed to take me back to the restaurant without collecting the balance payment after long arguement. However, I have already paid him abt U$25. When I was walking out from the taxi, the driver turned his back from driver seat and was trying shake my hand to shown his friendliness.

In Ho Chi Minh city, and actually in Vietnam in general, you may consider using Mai Linh taxi when possible. They're cheap, trusted, and available all over the country, not like other taxi companies which are only available in some areas/cities. They're easily recognized by green color.

Taxis in the city are very easy to come by. I generally travel by Vina-Sun (White-coloured taxis) as Vina-Taxis (Yellow-coloured taxis) were hard to come by. I'm a believer of walking to experience more of the Vietnam life, but I won't go all out to kill myself doing that when I'm lugging some heavy stuff that I've purchased from the market.

The going rate for Vina-Sun is 12,000VND. If you're staying within District 1, or the outskirts of District 3, the metre should remain as it is - 12,000VND.

Most major hotels will have taxis waiting outside their hotels, but for smaller hotels, do get your reception counter staff to make that call for you so that you don't have to foot the bill for the calls made. Remember to insist on the more reliable taxi companies.

Taking a cab from the airport was a breeze. Don't get hook-winked by other taxi drivers who are standing at the glass-door exit of the airport. Go for the trusted taxi operators namely Vina-Sun (White-coloured taxis) and Vina Taxi (Yellow-coloured taxis). I also took the Saigon Taxi (Green & White Coloured taxis) when I was heading back to the airport. A safer bet with these metered taxis.

You have to be aware that there are other white taxis that's not Vina-Sun. Don't try those.

The trip to District 3 in a Vina Taxi cost me about 57,000VND (Starting price at 12,000VND) while a trip back to the airport in a Saigon Taxi cost me 58,000VND (Starting price at 15,000VND).

I believe that a trip to District 1 should not be more than 70,000VND (Slightly less than USD5)

Taxi is cheap and easy to get..

One thing that we noticed, we always have to pay more if we use the meter...
Yeah! Dumb huh...

If you insist on using the meter, please make sure that you dont leave your eyes off the meter.. Because in a split second, the meter can jump up by VND15,000 (equivalent to US$1) or more...

And if the place that you want to go is near, they will become a very "good driver" and follow the traffic rules and giving way to other vehicles... It's very sickening!! And the meter can really go up to abt VND30,000 for just a few mins drive...

If the place that you want to go is near, agree on the fare (without meter) and you'll save money plus you will get to your destination faster!! One method that you can use is to offer them US$1 for any destination within HCMC.... Trust me, you'll save alot!

Throughout our stay, we got cheated by taxi drivers everyday and it's so unbelievable!

On the last day to the airport, being so pissed off, I walked up to a driver and told him that I dont want to use the meter and will only pay him US$5 to the airport and he agreed immediately... A very good deal indeed!

Taxis are readily available, although do make sure they use the meter. It cost for us 300,000D from Dist 3 to Dist 1, although you sitll have to add in a tip about 1USD equivalent. Our trip to the airport from Amara Hotel in Dist 3 costs us 38,000, although the total we paid was 50,000D.

Note that the drivers prefer Dong rather than USD. The latter currency is not as popular as before, unless you're shopping at the airport, or tourist places. Everywhere accepts dong more often than not.