Scam in VietnamTaxis
Airport taxi touts in Vietnam
How it works
Touts approach arriving passengers and lead them to taxis that may be illegal and likely to overcharge.
Warning signs
- Someone approaches inside arrivals to arrange a taxi.
- You are led away from the official taxi stand.
How to avoid it
- Go directly to the official taxi stand.
- Use a ride-hailing booking or an agreed hotel pickup.
- Have your destination written down.
If it happens to you
Before departure, leave the arrangement if the vehicle or price is unclear. If already travelling, ask to stop somewhere public.
- Get to a safe, public place. Do not chase thieves or risk being dragged into traffic.
- If cards or a phone were stolen, freeze the cards and secure your phone, banking and email accounts.
- Save receipts, messages, booking details and photos. Write down the time, location, vehicle details and what happened.
- Report theft to police. In Ho Chi Minh City, use a station near the theft and take a Vietnamese speaker if possible. Ask for a written record.
- Contact the relevant hotel, transport company, booking provider or card issuer. Explain the disputed charge and provide your evidence.
- Contact your insurer about a claim. If your passport was stolen, contact your embassy or consulate for replacement-document help.
What travellers report
Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.
- Government advice2025Detecting and handling a tout who defrauded passengers at T2 International Terminal - Noi BaiNoi Bai Airport reports that a tout used a fake ride-booking app to charge Taiwanese passengers 900,000 dong for a journey officially assessed at 367,000 dong.Read on Government advice
- Redditr/VietNam2024How I got out of an airport taxi scamA traveller describes being drawn into a fake Grab pickup after arriving at Hanoi Airport.Read on Reddit
Questions
What is the airport taxi touts scam in Vietnam?
Touts approach arriving passengers and lead them to taxis that may be illegal and likely to overcharge.
How can I spot it early?
Someone approaches inside arrivals to arrange a taxi. You are led away from the official taxi stand.
How do I avoid airport taxi touts in Vietnam?
Go directly to the official taxi stand. Use a ride-hailing booking or an agreed hotel pickup. Have your destination written down.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Before departure, leave the arrangement if the vehicle or price is unclear. If already travelling, ask to stop somewhere public.
Where in Vietnam does this happen?
Nội Bài International Airport arrivals It has been reported in Hanoi.
How common is this scam in Vietnam?
Occasional. Vietnam is generally safe for tourists, but scams and petty theft are more common in tourist areas and larger cities. The main problems involve transport, hotel prices, restaurant bills, shopping and stolen phones or bags. Outside tourist hotspots, scams against foreigners are rare.
Are there similar scams in Vietnam?
Yes: taxi overcharging and rigged meters, airport toll padding, unnecessarily expensive airport transfers.
Who can I report it to?
Local police: report theft, threats or being prevented from leaving at a police station. In Ho Chi Minh City, report a stolen item near where the theft happened. Bring a Vietnamese speaker if possible. Ho Chi Minh City police contacts for forced coconut sales: the listed contacts are +84 8 3829 7643 and +84 8 38299835. These use an older number format and may be outdated. District 2 police station, Ho Chi Minh City: 989 Dong Van Cong, W. Thanh My Loi, D.2. Listed phone: +84 8 37451325. Listed hours: 07:30–11:30 and 13:00–17:00. Contact details may be outdated. District 3 police station, Ho Chi Minh City: 01 Nguyen Thuong Hien, Ward 4, District 3. Listed phone: +84 8 38392764. Listed hours: 07:30–11:30 and 13:00–17:00. Contact details may be outdated. District 4 police station, Ho Chi Minh City: listed at 14 Doan Nhu Hai, Ward 12, District 1. Listed phone: +84 8 39400188. Listed hours: 07:30–11:30 and 13:00–17:00. Confirm the address before travelling, as the listed district details conflict. District 5 police station, Ho Chi Minh City: 359 Tran Hung Dao, Ward 10, District 5. Listed phone: +84 8 38550878. Listed hours: 07:30–11:30 and 13:00–17:00. Contact details may be outdated. Binh Thanh police station, Ho Chi Minh City: 18 Phan Dang Luu, Ward 6, Binh Thanh. Listed phone: +84 8 38414882. Listed hours: 07:30–11:30 and 13:00–17:00. Contact details may be outdated. Phu Nhuan police station, Ho Chi Minh City: 181 Hoang Van Thu, Phu Nhuan. Listed hours: 07:30–11:30 and 13:00–17:00. Confirm the location and hours before travelling. Card issuer: use your bank's app or the contact number on your card to freeze a stolen card, report unauthorised transactions or ask about a disputed charge. Transport operator, hotel or booking provider: use the contact details on your booking or receipt. Include the agreed price, amount charged, trip details and supporting evidence. Ho Chi Minh City bus operator: for belongings lost on a city bus, ask at the station where the route starts or ends. Give the route, direction and approximate travel time. Bus cameras may help. Embassy or consulate: contact your country's embassy or consulate through its official contact details if your passport is stolen or you need consular help. Travel insurer: contact the claims service on your policy. Keep police reports, receipts and evidence of ownership.
Reviewed by @snuck