Nightmare in Saigon I

Be a millionaire in Saigon, again.

The exchange rate apparently has gotten better than 3 years ago, from S$1 = 10,000 VND to 13,000 VND (in Singapore) or even 14,900 VND (in Vietnam)!!! But for sure, everything do cost a lot more now. I suggest to change minimum here and do the rest over there, easily in the malls or hotel reception :)

We took the afternoon flight by Jetstar and arrived past 2pm. As I was aware that going by meter would be cheaper, I went up to the security and asked for a taxi. Unknowingly, we got lured into one driven by a touting driver. Damnit, why didn't I realise it when the meter was already starting at 328,000 VND instead of 10,000 VND and he even locked the doors before we entered and after. I must really be alert the next time in other countries!!

During the first few minutes, he tried to make a conversation with his very bad English. As soon as we got out of the airport, he had to pay maybe 5,000 VND on exit, he asked me for 300,000 VND. I was stunned, I saw the ticket prices for leaving the airport and it was nothing near 300,000 VND, after some argument, he said 100,000 VND and then 10,000 VND which he said by mistake I believed. I passed him 20,000 VND if it was 10,000 VND as it was more reasonable but he changed his mind and said it was 100,000 VND. I told him it was too much and I would call my friend in Vietnam to check. He heard me talking on the phone, got anxious and decided to get his accomplice to ring up to convince me that I had to pay 300,000 VND. My friend assured me it was nothing more than 150,000 VND (maximum) to get to the hotel.

I was getting desperate. Believe it or not, I was so pissed too that I even wanted to escape from the car when it stopped but we were locked in! There wasn't any taxi hotline or taxi no. labelled in his car and I was on the verge of thinking I could hit him with my luggage at the last resort! LOL. I know, all my violent tendency was about to emerge at that desperation. Fortunately, I saw a no. on a sticker right in front of the front seat, we were at the back... and my eyesight didn't fail me! I managed to text my friend the no. as well as a no. on the sticker on the back window (which is their car identity no. I believe) and he rang up the taxi company. At one point, I even threatened to call up the police once we got to the hotel, and fortunately he never drove us to anywhere else! Just before we were nearing the hotel, he got a call (I believe from the complaint my friend has lodged). A few metres away from the hotel, he suddenly reset the meter to 100,000 VND and then once the doorman opened the door, he jumped out and complained that we wouldn't pay him! ASSHOLE! I told the doorman calmly that this idiot tried to charge me 300,000 VND for getting out of airport and over 400,000 VND on the meter. I believe I'm not the first to have met touting taxi drivers, so the doorman said it would be around 150,000 VND usually and I just gave him that. That asshole was trying to cover his ass, it left me very pissed for sure... but not for long after I had a swim :)

Personally, I don't recommend you doing what I did to the driver as I do admit it was a bit rash and might even ended up with very bad consequences if the driver had worse intentions. But calling up my friend and spotting the hotline certainly saved my day, thank God for that!