After a month of investigation, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters uncovered a taxi fare scam perpetrated by drivers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Luan, a driver of a five-seater taxi carrying the number plate 60E-019.30, on May 12 afternoon drove the cab to the domestic passenger terminal of the airport.

Undercover Tuoi Tre reporters got in the taxi and asked to go to an address on Nguyen Luong Bang Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

The taxi was plastered with banners 'Cheap taxi,' 'Safe - professional - friendly - reliable,' and 'Saigon Taxi Corporation,' together with the phone number 028.36.36.36.36 on its sides.

When the vehicle began running, the meter showed a fare of VND11,000 (US$0.47).

Reaching Truong Son Street, which passes through the airport, Luan reasoned the rush hour to run slowly and electronic numbers on the meter began to blink abnormally.

The fare amounted to VND47,000 ($2) when the vehicle reached Hoang Van Thu Park in Tan Binh District, which is only one kilometer from the airport.

In another three-kilometer section from the park to the Cong Ly Bridge, the fare jumped to VND146,000 ($6.2).

In other words, the fare surged by VND99,000 ($4.2), or VND33,000 ($1.4) per kilometer, while the taxi firm’s service was priced at VND16,500 ($0.7) per kilometer.

The problem was that the meter only showed the fare, which jumped by every VND3,000 ($0.13). The distance and price unit were hidden.

During the trip, Luan proved to be friendly and talked a lot to distract the customers from the meter.

His right forefinger continuously pressed the gear lever and the fare also increased constantly.  

The charge amounted to VND450,000 ($19.1) when the taxi reached the destination.

Luan said that the service fee was VND460,000 ($19.6) with VND10,000 ($0.4) for the airport road toll.

As per the taxi firm’s service prices, the fare would have been around VND244,000 ($10.4) for a journey of less than 14 kilometers.

Thus, Luan overcharged by around VND216,000 ($9.2).

Similarly, Dat, a 31-year-old driver of another five-seater yellow taxi with the number plate 60E-009.50 supposedly belonging to Saigon Taxi Corporation, did exactly what Luan had done.

The undercover Tuoi Tre reporters asked him to take them to the same address on Nguyen Luong Bang Street.

With the same ruse, Dat collected a taxi fare of VND392,000 ($16.7), saying the amount included VND15,000 ($0.6) for the airport road toll, an overcharge of VND143,000 ($6).

Passengers from the international terminal of the airport faced the same fate, with even higher rip-offs.

A passenger caught a taxi to Pham Van Nghi Street in District 7 on May 29.

Minh, a taxi driver of Saigontourist Transport Corporation, which is headquartered at 25 Pasteur Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City and does not have any relation with major local travel firm Saigontourist Group, took the trip.

As soon as the passenger got in the cab, he turned on the meter.

The cab had yet to pass the tollgate at the airport, but the meter showed a fare of VND150,000 ($6.4).

Passing the tollgate, the charge climbed to VND180,000 ($7.7) for a 600-meter section. It then jumped to VND360,000 ($15.3) for a four-kilometer section, or VND90,000 ($3.8) per kilometer.

When the cab stopped on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, the numbers on the meter continued to blink.

For another one kilometer, the fare soared to VND600,000 ($25.5) from VND480,000 ($20.4), or VND120,000 ($5.1) for a kilometer.

Unlike Luan and Dat, Minh did not put his fingers on the gear lever but under the steering wheel.

Reaching the destination, the fare hit VND1.35 million ($57.5) but Minh collected VND1.2 million ($51.1) as the passenger had no small change.

With a 15.5-kilometer ride, the passenger should have paid about VND267,000 ($11.4) but Minh charged VND1.2 million ($51.1), a 4.4-fold increase.

Uncovering tricks

Unscrupulous drivers have used a device which helps inflate taxi fares.

“The devices are small, so [they are] hard to be detected, and are priced at several million Vietnam dong each, but not all drivers dare to install them to trick customers,” said a driver. 

The Tuoi Tre reporters found that Dat and Minh, besides working as taxi drivers, also installed the devices for other taxis in demand.

Dat revealed that the devices are home-made and drivers called them 'guns.' They installed the devices on gear levers.

With a press, taxi fares will increase by VND3,000 ($0.13).

“You should not think VND3,000 [$0.13] is small. [The fares] will increase even to millions of Vietnam dong," Dat said.

“You can earn as much as you want but do not be greedy.”

He added that many drivers had contacted him for the devices. He also provided them with detailed instructions on the use of the devices.

Dat quoted the device price at VND2 million ($85.1) each, including installation fees for his acquaintances.

For new customers, the price ranges between VND3.2-3.5 million ($136-149) each.

It takes only 5-10 minutes to install a device, Dat affirmed.

He was confident that no taxis installed with the devices had been detected.

“We did nothing abnormal; we did as normal. Do not be greedy.”

Dat also advised other drivers to offer free services to customers in case they detect their tricks.

He also provided a 10-day guarantee for the devices. If they are broken, he will replace them with new ones.

In addition to such devices, Dat offered remote controls like car keys.

“Remote controls have just been created. They are about VND1 million [$42.6] more expensive, at VND4.2-4.3 million [$178-183] each,” Dat said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!