Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

wow lao sian leh...no bros wana meet meh... boring leh:o

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

For a short stay up to 14 days dun need visa for china passport...this has been long time arrangement between the 2 communtist country....:)

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

Taxi Touts are no longer allowed to operate directly infront of the arrival hall anymore unlike previously where by you clear customs and they start surrounding you.

However, even if you go to the taxi stand, you still cant choose the taxi you want. You have to take whichever one is in the front of the queue. try your best to avoid SASCO, Saigo Airport Taxi and Saigon Tourist.

This also dosent guarantee that the other taxi brands you take at the airport wont bring your for a Tour De HCMC...

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

Bro Reaper, is it a new arrangement that you cant choose your taxi now?

Previously i've chosen mai linh or vina that in the middle of the taxi Q and also once i reqested from the "queue master" (a guy who takes care of the taxi queue) to arrange for one when none is in the taxi queue.

Yah, other than Vina and Mailinh, the rest all cannot take one, smaller but meter jumps faster.......:(

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

Bro, do you know if ho chieu needs visa to go krung thep?:D

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

Wait, so how can that be enforced? Police? So you mean the cops will not enforce the meter law, but the cops WOULD enforce that you must get into that ripoff taxi and basically be its unwilling victim?? (I know first hand of tourists being demanded $50 to go downtown by these scammers -- and another case of some being charged $30 when dropped off in the backpacker district -- which they paid)

I'm not totally convinced this is correct -- I was there in February, left the international arrival terminal. I went to the front of the queue and was quoted an absurd price by the first driver, and the second. I moved on past them and soon met a Mai Linh driver who agreed to use his meter. His taxi wasn't physically there, so I had to wait about one minute for it to arrive.

I'm surprised nothing can be done about this. It's such a blatant and ruthless ripoff. This is a trip that costs less than $5 using the meter, which the law requires be used.

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

Its not the cops but rather the Airport Security which are a bunch of useless fucks anyway.. I encountered the sme problem but then I just insisted on taking VINASUN. Dont queue, jump it.

If you encounter a taxi driver that quotes you a price rather than use the meter, ask him to stop, get off and take another taxi.

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

I do it the conventional way.. I take the escalator up to the arrival side, choose what ever taxi you want.. be it Malinh or Vinasun and they will be happy to serve you with the meter, cos they no need to queue ma.. This sly move is introduced by Bro Carrot007, which I have been using ever since my 2nd trip to HCM..

Chairman, free to meet for breakfast plus LD4 at 9am on the 19th?

Regards,
vlover

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

This method works for most countries. Just that my concern is whether they will reject me cos I'm a foreigner i.e. ask me to go to departure hall instead.

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

only in Sillypore, you have to go to departure hall... :D

So Silly :D

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

Till to date, I haven been rejected at the arrival hall before.. In addition, I haven heard of any brothers who use this method but got rejected.. So you can try this during your next trip there :p..

Regards,
vlover

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

bro, im in hcm too..meet up? u stay which hotel? im in sophia

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

Thanks for the info. I always kana carrot head :p

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

I don't even get into a taxi until they've confirmed they're using the meter.

If people made enough noise about this issue, the authorities would have to clamp down on them -- they do anytime something threatens tourism. This does. These taxi guys are about the sleaziest scammers that tourists would come in contact with, and there's no way to avoid them. They dealt with this problem in Bangkok, setting up the official taxi stand. Even in HCMC they've clamped down on the pestering trinket sellers and cyclo drivers.

Re: Vietnam - HCM
 

Scammers are everywhere in Vietnam. Not just taxis. From hawkers to massage and "black" shops.

Other than Vinasun and Mai Linh the rest of the taxi companies are crooks!

If you don't have a lot of luggages and heading towards D1. Why not try taking Bus 152 from the domestic terminal? VND3000/S$0.27 flat fare. How's that for value? :D Takes you all the way to Ben Thanh Bus Station. Right smack in the middle of Cho Ben Thanh. :)