Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam

Bridgetown...
Level Contributor
49 posts
127 reviews
199 helpful votes
Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

I landed at Hanoi Airport on 31 July 2009 and was expecting a driver (pre-arranged) to take me into Hanoi (this was my fourth trip to Hanoi). I was unclear what the driver would be wearing or what signage he'd be carrying due to a misunderstanding when booking the transfer.

As I was exiting the Customs Hall, I spotted a Viet male waving furiously at me and smiling as if he was expecting me so I waved back thinking this was my transfer. He took me upstairs to the taxi stand explaining that he'd been waiting for me for an hour and that he didn't have a car but I was to catch a taxi get a receipt and he'd repay me in the morning. So a taxi was flagged down, I got in and another man got into the front seat. He said it would be 600,000VND (about $AU41) and I handed over the money, thinking it was odd but not totally out of place. An hour later, the driver stopped in the middle of Hanoi somewhere (I didn't recognise it at all), it was dark and it was obvious that the driver had no idea of where my hotel was. Long story short, I eventually rang the emergency number of the transfer company who directed the driver to the hotel. I was scammed good and proper. But it was scary, particularly as it was very late at night (11pm) and the driver (as with most Viets) spoke nor read any English. Moral of this story, make sure if you've arranged a transfer not to get into any taxi unless it is clear the driver has your name and hotel clearly offered to you. This is a brand new scam, I was the 4th person that week to be caught (that my tour company knew about) and it has been reported to the tourism police so maybe they'll get on to it

Ho Chi Minh City...
Level Contributor
4,434 posts
4 reviews
7 helpful votes
1. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

Here's a tip for combatting Hanoi taxi scams. At the taxi rank outside the terminal, the price into the centre of town is clearly displayed on a board. Take a picture of this with your phone or digital camera then, if the driver asks for more when he drops you off, just show him the picture & pay him the exact amount. Any further problems, ask the hotel security to sort it out - hotels get as annoyed about this as travellers do.

Bridgetown...
Level Contributor
49 posts
127 reviews
199 helpful votes
2. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

I agree - the taxis are dreadful about sticking to quotes. My problem was that I'd booked and paid for a transfer but got caught up in this scam of the man pretending to be my contact in Hanoi (its not in Saigon airport yet). That is the danger for travellers who don't check the credentials of the supposed driver/transfer person. My fault entirely but it was still scary

Darfield, New...
Level Contributor
183 posts
18 reviews
17 helpful votes
3. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

AussieChook - what hotel did you arrange your transfer through?

Bridgetown...
Level Contributor
49 posts
127 reviews
199 helpful votes
4. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

I was on a travel agent famil to look at Vietnam and Cambodia. The transfer was arranged through the wholesalers and the driver they'd sent was there but he thought that I knew the scam driver so didn't intervene! I didn't see his sign that had my name clearly on it. So I got sucked in good and proper!

san francisco
Level Contributor
107 posts
5. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

So, did you get any refund from the company?

Bridgetown...
Level Contributor
49 posts
127 reviews
199 helpful votes
6. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

Hi Scott

I'm working on it! My complaint to the company (who shall remain nameless as I have absolute faith in their capabilities usually) was that if they were aware of the scam (and they'd been told about the three previous scams that week I arrived) why didn't they immediately go onto red alert and a) notify me as I was arriving alone on an evening flight and b) notify the sales reps for their company so that all agents were aware of the scam. I'm challenging them to reimburse me the $41 but I'm not hopeful! A full report was sent to the Hanoi police but as there was an airport policeman standing right next to me as the scam man was negotiating a rate with the taxi driver (who'd just dropped a load of passengers so wasn't part of the scheme but agreed to take me into town) who must have been listening to the scam man talking (and by the way he asked me if I spoke Vietnamese, now I know why!) I don't hold out much hope of the tourism police doing much. But you never know, they may act on it

Nha Trang, Vietnam
Destination Expert
for Nha Trang
Level Contributor
8,410 posts
45 reviews
22 helpful votes
7. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

I just don't know what to say.I'm sorry this happened but if it was not your fault(4th visit)it has to be your tour company.So they should re-fund you.I'm pretty sure you paid way to much,so if they do not re-fund you just name and shame them.

I don't think this is a brand new scam,they just took advantage of the situation.

I hope the rest of your trip went well.Maybe it was the best $40 you ever spent.You have learnt something and have helped your fellow TA members.

Hanoi
Level Contributor
218 posts
8. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

Hi,

Thank you so much for your helpfull feedback. Recently, there some tourists were cheated by some guy at the Noibai airport with the new scam. He takes the guest's name from the man of tour company or Hotel ( even 4*-5* hotel) and stands in front of him at the arrival terminal. Of course, when the tourists go out of the Customs Hall, they will see him first and ....to other taxi and be cheated a lot of money.

For advices:

Please check careful about the person who pick you up ( Name, company, Hotel...? )with confirmation paper. When you book the tour or hotel, you should ask the name and tel of the person who will go to airport to pick you up.

Good luck.

Hanoi, Vietnam
Level Contributor
832 posts
2 reviews
9. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

Hi,

There are even a lot warning of taxi scam, but there are many people who forget write down the name of driver and number plate of the car. In case you meet that situation you will know who is he? and call to taxi operator central to tell them about your problem, provide them the taxi's detail. The drivers are very scare of rules from Taxi operator central, he may lost his job.

Good luck,

David.

Bridgetown...
Level Contributor
49 posts
127 reviews
199 helpful votes
10. Re: Hanoi Airport new Taxi Scam
Save

Hi, yes I'm wondering if the scam driver got my name from the board being held up by my official driver and stood in front of him so that I didn't see him. ANyway, I'm sure the local people don't want these sort of scams to flourish and as I am very keen to return to Vietnam it certainly hasn't put me off at all.

Get answers to your questions about Vietnam
CA$CAD
United States
© 2021 TripAdvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.