Glover's Hanoi taxi story
Feb 24th, 2011, 03:28 PM
#21
"The teahouse scam is a scam from start to finish and the people who go into that know it from the start." - the taxi scam is also a scam from start to finish. The drivers deliberately set their meters on the wrong rate, and deliberately choose to drive the longest possible route.
"it was a good distance <b>and not too outrageous</b> as far as an airport taxi fare goes <b>compared to other places</b>" - that attitude is one of things that makes these scams work.
Why didn't you have the tour company call a taxi?
"it was a good distance <b>and not too outrageous</b> as far as an airport taxi fare goes <b>compared to other places</b>" - that attitude is one of things that makes these scams work.
Why didn't you have the tour company call a taxi?
Feb 24th, 2011, 04:13 PM
#22
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I had a similar encounter with a back-of-the-bike man in Saigon who wanted to charge me an outrageous amount for going round in circles. I too hopped off and threatened to call the police. Maybe the Vietnamese will soon be very scared of foreign ladies-of-a-certain age and learn not to mess with us.
Feb 24th, 2011, 04:40 PM
#23
Lol, gertie! Good for you.
I occasionally manage to get a rickshaw driver in India who will use the meter, who then tries to take the long route. I use the same "stop-get-out" technique with them. If we have actually made progress in the right direction, I pay what I think is the right rate for that distance.
BTW, LP says those fast-turning meters are rigged, so it's not just a matter of using the wrong rate. Sometimes I think you're better off bargaining, but you do need some idea of the correct rate to do that. (By "correct" I mean the rate a resident ex-pat would pay.)
I occasionally manage to get a rickshaw driver in India who will use the meter, who then tries to take the long route. I use the same "stop-get-out" technique with them. If we have actually made progress in the right direction, I pay what I think is the right rate for that distance.
BTW, LP says those fast-turning meters are rigged, so it's not just a matter of using the wrong rate. Sometimes I think you're better off bargaining, but you do need some idea of the correct rate to do that. (By "correct" I mean the rate a resident ex-pat would pay.)
Feb 25th, 2011, 05:30 PM
#25
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Our first taxi ride in Hanoi was a rip-off. Got out & paid half, and walked off with the driver yelling after us. Turns out what we paid was doulbe wha the fare should have been. THEN we went out with Hanoi kids for a day and learned the trick. In Hanoi the only reputable company seems to be Hanoi taxi, and you have to call for a cab rather than taking one off the street. I'll post the # tomorrow. The hotel will call one, or you can have the shop, museum office, restaurant, etc call. They come within a minute or two. Never had a problem that way. In Saigon Mai Linh or Vinasun are the reputable taxi companies.
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