Wonkyknee

Could I please have advice on where and how to get taxis from airports on arrival such as Hanoi, Saigon, Phnom Penh - I have read so many conflicting views on prices and bad experiences that I am totally confused. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

lcuy

In saigon, you get them right in front of the airport exit.Make sure they use the meter and you'll be fine.

MichaelBKK

All of these airports have taxi counters, where you walk up to, tell them where you're going, and they assign you a taxi. At Phnom Penh the rate is fixed at something like $7. Hanoi also was fixed last time I was there, around $15 (Hanoi's airport is a looooong way from the city). Last time I was in Saigon, the rate there was fixed as well, but that might have changed.

In any case, the point is to go to the taxi counter, and ignore what anyone else tells you. The information you get at the taxi counter should be trustworthy, so if the sign says pay the meter, you pay the meter, and make sure the driver turns it on. Most of the scams and complaints I read about are the result of people being stupid or greedy (sometimes both).

ees12

when you get off the airplane,arrrive the exit of airport there will be many taxis wait here,you can get one of them ,
and tell the driver what you want to go is ok.
have a good trip.

daawgon

First of all, the number 1 rule for all of Vietnam - only use Mai Linh cabs.

Second - It's more convenient to have your hotel meet your plane. It might cost a few dollars more, but it's well worth the few extra bucks.

Kathy88

I prefer to book in advance the private car for transfer, it is not expensive than take a taxi so much but safety and convenience.

Bisbeee

"First of all, the number 1 rule for all of Vietnam - only use Mai Linh cabs."

????

There are plenty of other reputable taxi companies to use in VN. No need to stick with just Mai Linh. Vinasun, Saigon Tourist and Vinataxi are all fine.

someotherguy

<b>Hanoi</b> airport has one big terminal, domestic is to the right as you
face it and international to the left.

As you leave the domestic end of the building (I don't know about
international, but you could always walk down to domestic--it's only a
hundred yards or so), you will see several taxi lines. Some of these
are labeled with the name of the company serving that line, and some
of these will have a sign up saying "$15 fixed fare to Hanoi" or
similar.

Reliable companies that do this are Noi Bai Taxi (often has a long
line) and Vietnam Airways Taxi. You tell the dispatcher at the front
of the line where you want to go and she tells the driver. It's
prudent to confirm the $15. Pay the driver when you arrive.

You can also reserve Noi Bai on the web at http://www.noibaitaxi.com
(it costs $16 that way). The airport is nearly 20 miles outside the
center of town and the journey generally takes up to an hour, and can
take considerable longer as they are working on the bridge and close
the road randomly.


<b>Saigon</b> airport has a new International terminal and an old domestic
one. My arrival experience is limited to the international one. As
you exit immigration and customs, but before you reach the public
area, there's a line of booths stretching at right angles to the left
and to the right. Several of these offer prepaid taxis. I've used
the first one to the right. It costs $9: pay the girl, she gives you
a voucher receipt and takes you out to the taxi rank, finds a suitable
taxi, gives the driver his voucher and tells him where you want to go.
The airport is only 3 or 4 miles from the center of town but the
journey can take up to 30 minutes in heavy traffic.

I don't know about <b>Phnom Penh</b>, but the general rule in Asian airports
is to look around the baggage claim area or just outside: there's
usually some sort of desk, booth, or stall for airport taxis or buses.
It may cost you $1 or $2 more than you could get by negotiating in the
street, but it works well for most people.

gard

Hi

I think it was 9-10 USD in both Saigon and in Phom Penh. Here are two trip reports that I have made that might be of some help: http://www.gardkarlsen.com/Ho_Chi_Mi...rip_report.htm and http://www.gardkarlsen.com/Phnom_Pen...rip_report.htm . Get in touch if you have any questions.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Southam

At Ho Chi Minh there is a taxi desk near the luggage pick-up which will sell you a voucher for downtown. The area was quite busy at mid-day and airline reps were checking baggage
tags at the exit. Passengers had to line up for the rep from the correct airline, delaying some irritated tourists who were rushing for international connections. The taxi agent disappeared while I waited but materialized outside the doors and led me through the crowd to the correct cab.

In my experience, things in Vietnam work pretty well and can be trusted despite the initial urge to panic.