How much should I pay for a taxi in Vietnam?

How much should a taxi cost in Vietnam?

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City: 12,000-18,000 VND/km. Flag down: 12,000-15,000 VND. Short hops: 30,000-50,000 VND. Airport? 150,000-300,000 VND. Meter up. Grab it. Cheaper.

• Major Cities (Hanoi/HCMC): 12,000-18,000 VND per kilometer. Ripoff common. Watch the meter.
• Initial Charge: 12,000-15,000 VND. Negotiate, if you dare.
• Quick City Trips: 30,000-50,000 VND. Still, haggle.
• Airport Transfer: 150,000-300,000 VND. Pre-book. Fixed price. Less stress.
• Ride-hailing Apps: Grab. Gojek. Better. Usually cheaper. Fixed price. No scams. My go-to.

My last trip: District 1 to Tan Son Nhat. GrabBike. 60,000 VND. Easy.

How to pay for a taxi in Vietnam?

Cash is king, baby! Like, seriously. Dong is where it’s at. Think crumpled, colorful Monopoly money, but it buys you pho. My grandma once paid for a whole week of taxis with what looked like a wad of dryer lint. True story.

• Cash (Vietnamese Dong): The ultimate taxi hack. Works every time. No “oops, the card reader’s on vacation” moments.
• Credit Cards (Sometimes): Big city slicker move. Might work. Might not. Bring cash backup. Think of your credit card like a fancy umbrella. Great when it works. Useless when it’s windy (aka, the card reader is down).
• Contactless Payments (Occasionally): Tap and go? More like tap and pray. Again, Dong is your friend. I once saw a tourist try to pay with a banana. Didn’t go well.

So, picture this: You’re in Hanoi, it’s hotter than a furnace, and you just want to get back to your hotel. You whip out your credit card, feeling all modern and stuff. The driver gives you a look like you just offered him a pickled egg. Dong, my friend, Dong. Remember the dryer lint story? Learn from my grandma. She’s 92 and still hails cabs like a boss. Cash, baby! Always cash. I once saw a taxi driver accept a live chicken. True story.

How expensive is a taxi in Hanoi?

Dude, Hanoi taxis? Cheap! Really cheap. Like, a ridiculously low starting fare, maybe 12,000 to 15,000 dong, that’s, what, less than a dollar? Crazy, right? Then it’s like 10,000-14,000 dong per kilometer, so, you know, still super affordable. A short hop downtown? 30,000 to 70,000 dong, tops. Maybe even less, depending on traffic, which is, um, always nuts in Hanoi. Airport? Ouch, that’s a bit more. Expect 250,000 to 350,000 dong. Still cheap comparatively! Use Grab though, way cheaper than flagging one down on the street. Trust me. I know, I lived there for, like, six months last year.

Key things to remember:

• Starting fare: 12,000-15,000 VND (Under $1 USD)
• Price per kilometer: 10,000-14,000 VND (Under $1 USD)
• Short trip: 30,000-70,000 VND ($1.30-$3 USD)
• Airport trip: 250,000-350,000 VND ($11-$15 USD)
• Grab is your friend! Seriously use it. Avoid street taxis unless you are really, really desperate.

I even remember this one time, I took a Grab to the night market. Cost me, like, 25,000 dong. It was awesome. The traffic was insane, but still…cheap! The airport ride is more, but even that’s nothing compared to what you’d pay back home, you know? So yeah, don’t stress about taxi costs in Hanoi. It’s a steal! Just use Grab, okay? It’s way easier.

How much is a taxi from HCMC airport to District 1?

Ho Chi Minh City taxis, huh? A trip from the airport to District 1? Think of it like a rollercoaster – the price, a wild, unpredictable ride itself. Expect 250,000 to 350,000 VND in 2024. Thirty to forty-five minutes? More like a “negotiating-with-a-street-vendor” kind of timeframe, depending on traffic. Think rush hour? Add an extra hour, maybe two – or three if you happen to hit a parade.

Was the meter moving like a caffeinated cheetah? Possible. HCMC drivers are…enthusiastic. They’re like those squirrels that hoard nuts, except they hoard kilometers.

Here’s the lowdown:

• Price: The quoted range is outdated. It’s way more expensive than that now.
• Time: Prepare for some serious traffic.
• Meter: Always check it. If it feels off, politely but firmly ask for clarification. (My friend’s meter once spun faster than a slot machine in Vegas. It was a hilarious, expensive, lesson.)

Pro-tip: Use Grab or Gojek, ride-hailing apps. Predictable pricing, fewer surprises. It’s like choosing a guided tour over hitchhiking. My last Grab ride cost 200,000 but that was a late night fare on a holiday. Much better than some experiences!

Is a taxi in Vietnam expensive?

Cheap as chips, mate. Vietnamese taxis? Think dollar menus, but with wheels. Twelve to fifteen thousand dong a click. Half a buck! Like buying candy, practically. Mai Linh and Vinasun? Your budget buddies. Cheaper than a bowl of pho, almost.

• Meter running? Check it! Like a hawk. Or get scammed faster than a street vendor can sell you a knock-off Rolex.
• Negotiate. Haggle like your life depends on it. Channel your inner market god/goddess.
• Peak hours? Holidays? Surge pricing like it’s the stock market on steroids.
• Grab app? Your secret weapon. Like having a personal chauffeur, but without the top hat and monocle (unless you’re into that).

My trip last week? From Ben Thanh Market to District 7. Cost me less than my usual Starbucks run. Seriously. I even tipped the driver like a king. Felt like a millionaire. Not that I am one. Just saying.

• Pro-tip: Look for the green or white taxis. The legit ones. Avoid the dodgy dudes lurking in the shadows.
• Another pro-tip: Learn some basic Vietnamese. “Xin chào” and “cảm ơn” go a long way. Even if your pronunciation sounds like a strangled cat.

I once took a taxi across Hanoi for like, five bucks. Five! Dollars! Thought I was dreaming. Woke up. Still in Vietnam. Still cheap. Winning.

What time is Grab most expensive?

Okay, so Grab? Most expensive, huh? Look, it’s like this… Peak hours, obvi.

Mornings, weekday mornings, are brutal. Everyone needs a ride to work, right? Evenings too. Duh.

It’s always gonna cost more during rush hour. Like, when everyone is trying to get somewhere all at once. My commute’s at 7am, always a surge.

• Peak hours: Weekday AM and PM commutes.
• Special events: Concerts, games, the parade I saw last week? Pricey!
• Holidays: New Years, and Christmas always suck.

Special events always bump it up. Holidays? Forget about it. Christmas to New Years. Prepare to pay double, triple, whatever.

It’s simple, really: more people = more money for them. Supply and demand! And sometimes my Grab drivers are total jerks, like that guy last Tuesday.

What is the cheapest way to travel through Vietnam?

Vietnam travel: Budget? Buses.

Cheap. Numerous routes. Modern AC buses. Comfortable.

• Sleeper buses: overnight journeys.
• Local buses: cheaper, slower. More authentic. My experience: chaotic, yet exhilarating.
• Private transfers: Avoid unless essential. Pricey.
• 2024 prices: Expect variations. Saigon to Hue? ~$15-$30.

Consider:

• Travel time: Buses are slower. Plan accordingly. My 2023 trip: delays.
• Comfort: Vary widely. Book reputable companies. Avoid overcrowded.
• Safety: Generally safe. Still, be vigilant.

Pro tip: Negotiate. Especially local buses. Got a better price that way last year. Seriously.