Police in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi handed over VND1 million (US$39.3), including VND500,000 ($19.6) that a local taxi driver charged a French couple for a 200-meter ride and another VND500,000 for taking back their belongings, to the couple, officers said on Tuesday.

M.H., a 51-year-old Frenchwoman, also confirmed that she and her husband had received the money.

The foreign couple had accused the taxi driver of charging them VND500,000 (US$19.6) for a 200-meter ride and forcing them to pay the same amount again to return the wallet and passport they left in the cab.

H. recounted that she and her husband caught a taxi for a trip from 114 Tran Nhat Duat Street to 9 Cho Gao Street in Hoan Kiem District, only about 200 meters away, on May 12.   

When they reached the destination, the cabby locked the rear door of the cab and forced the couple to pay VND500,000 ($19.6) before they could get out of the vehicle, H. narrated.

Presently, open-door taxi fares in Hanoi typically range from VND6,000 ($0.2) to VND9,000 ($0.3), while charges for the initial 30 kilometers vary from VND10,500 ($0.4) to VND16,000 ($0.6) per kilometer, contingent upon the type of vehicle.

After leaving the cab, H.'s husband found he had left his wallet and passport in the vehicle.

A short moment later, the taxi driver drove back and asked the couple to pay another VND500,000 to return their belongings.

Police said they were completing procedures to reach a conclusion on the taxi driver’s violations.

M.H. said “I am grateful to the Vietnamese police. They understand our circumstances, adding that they will not let other tourists face similar situations.”

The French couple returned to France on Monday after visiting Hanoi, Tam Coc in Ninh Binh Province, Sa Pa in Lao Cai Province, and Cat Ba in Hai Phong City, all in the north.

“Our trip went well. In the future, if we have an opportunity, we will return to Vietnam,” the tourist said.

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