Vietnam

sukhumvit01

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Seems Taxi Scams are quite rampant in HCM. We were cheated at least twice in a 5 days trip.


One cab driver from airport returned a 20k VND note when he should be giving us 200k VND.



Another rigged his meter such that a normally 120k VND trip ended up costing 400k VND.



Both cabs from "trusted" Vinasun.
 

roborovsky

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Read bad reviews on grab from HCM airport to D1. Hence decided on metered taxi airport to D1 — 150k

From HCM airport to D1 by grab was $72k+10k for me, was Sunday afternoon after heavy downpour.

Took a mailinh cab in Da Nang ended up cost 60k instead of by grab 42k. I think the meter was rigged.
 

Henabi

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For dong, normally what denomination of currency will money changer give us?
Depending on how much you changing...

In Singapore, if you change at least 200SGD, most changers will give 3.4million vnd in the following denominations:
5 or 6 x 500K notes
The rest in 200K /100K notes

But if I change the same amount in hcmc... Different changers will do different things...

If change with HT, I kena a few times whereby the staffs gave me big stacks of 200K.... Imagine carrying stacks of $10 SGD, amounting to 500/600 SGD

It's a different case with their next door neighbour, MV.
They will give mainly 500K first and then followed by 200K+100K

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Henabi

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Read bad reviews on grab from HCM airport to D1. Hence decided on metered taxi airport to D1 — 150k
What kind of bad reviews?

I have taken hundreds of grab rides in Vietnam, including grab bike.
Never kena anything bad

For those of you who don't know...
Grab is highly established in Vietnam.
You can use your SIN grab account in Vietnam, including your grab points...

If you are a Gold or Plat user, even better. Most of the grab drivers assigned to you will be 5-star and plat drivers

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Henabi

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From HCM airport to D1 by grab was $72k+10k for me, was Sunday afternoon after heavy downpour.

Took a mailinh cab in Da Nang ended up cost 60k instead of by grab 42k. I think the meter was rigged.
Mai Linh Is the most expensive and trusted taxi brand in vietnam

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Henabi

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From Tan Son Nhat International Airport arrival to D1, there are a few common routes which most cars and motorbikes will take.

The most common one From Tan Son Nhat International Airport arrival to Ben Thanh Market, D1 is as follows:

Head northeast on Trường Sơn and Continue along Trường Sơn
Turn left to Nguyễn Văn Trỗi and continue along Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa

From Nguyễn Văn Trỗi to Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, this is a very, Very, VERY straight road

At the traffic cross junction in front of Takashimaya, turn right to Lê Thánh Tôn
Go all the way straight and you will reach Ben Thanh Market


Those of you who stay around New World Saigon Hotel... the first part of the route is similar.
But after Cosmopolitan Hotel, the driver should turn right into Duong Trần Quốc Thảo.
Go straight and then turn right at a TRIANGLE road section.
And then turn left at the next immediate road junction into Trần Quốc Thảo

Go straight and at the Cross junction with a cafe called "COFFEE NGUYEN", the driver should turn right to Nguyễn Đình Chiểu
drive all the way straight and the turn left to Cách Mạng Tháng 8, go straight....

When you see Starbucks and a roundabout, that's New World Saigon hotel.



As for those of you who prefer to stay in the "Little Tokyo area" in Le Thanh Ton street ....
the first part of the route is similar.
But two traffic junctions after Cosmopolitan Hotel, the driver should choose to turn left into Dien Bien Phu*
After that, turn right into Mac Dinh Chi, and go all the way down and turn left into Le Duan.

At the end of Le Duan, you will come to a big road Traffic junction. The driver will turn right into Dinh Tien Hoang.
When you see Techcombank Building, the driver will turn right into Le Thanh Ton street

*note: depending on traffic conditions some drivers may choose to turn into Hai Ba Trung street instead of Mac Dinh Chi
 
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nubhead

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If change with HT, I kena a few times whereby the staffs gave me big stacks of 200K.... Imagine carrying stacks of $10 SGD, amounting to 500/600 SGD

It's a different case with their next door neighbour, MV.
They will give mainly 500K first and then followed by 200K+100K

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

So true, changed SGD 1k @ HT 2 weeks ago. Biggest note given was 200k :s22:
Though I actually prefer it this way for general spending. Sometimes the vendor will give the annoyed look when you break 500k, especially if you are the first few customer in the morning :s13:
 

Henabi

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So true, changed SGD 1k @ HT 2 weeks ago. Biggest note given was 200k :s22:
Though I actually prefer it this way for general spending. Sometimes the vendor will give the annoyed look when you break 500k, especially if you are the first few customer in the morning :s13:

The worst I kena was a few months ago when I changed 1K USD @ HT.
I gave the staff a "death" stare and then told him. "Are you crazy?! Will you yourself carry so much 200K vnd notes? ***** hell"

The staff like bo chap....

Fine.. i took the money... forced it into my pocket and then as i walked away, I scolded: "PUI! KKNBCCB! next time I change opposite! PUI!"
 

ParkJinYoung

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I used 100% grab during this trip
No problem at all except tat the car is quite small for us 4 buibuis :(

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kurtgoh

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just tasted the vietnam cashew nut.. very nice..

regretted that i didn't buy it during my time there..
i thought must cook before eat :s13:
 

nubhead

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I used 100% grab during this trip
No problem at all except tat the car is quite small for us 4 buibuis :(

Sent from 大哥大 using GAGT

Use grab car plus instead? At the very least you won't get those picanto-sized car. Only a bit pricier. :s12:
 

mubz96

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What kind of bad reviews?

I have taken hundreds of grab rides in Vietnam, including grab bike.
Never kena anything bad

For those of you who don't know...
Grab is highly established in Vietnam.
You can use your SIN grab account in Vietnam, including your grab points...

If you are a Gold or Plat user, even better. Most of the grab drivers assigned to you will be 5-star and plat drivers

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT
I used 100% grab during this trip
No problem at all except tat the car is quite small for us 4 buibuis :(

Sent from 大哥大 using GAGT
Got a bad encounter with grab driver last week at Hanoi. Driver tried to pull a fast one by asking for extra to take a less jammed route. Had to stand firm to tell him to follow the planned route, and pay no more or less than the fixed rate shown in the app. He had no choice but to follow as im paying with cc. Come to think of it, he should have cancelled my trip and kick us out of his cab.

Sent from Samsung SM-G950F using GAGT
 
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