Traveling around Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) by Taxi

Ho Chi Minh City taxis are considered an important means of transportation for tourists, especially ones who first come to this big city. To make things easier for your trip, we have updated some need-to-know information about taxis in Ho Chi Minh City.

An Overview of Taxis in Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City, you can easily see and grab a taxi because the availability is quite high (about 30,000 taxis are active). There are so many brands of taxis operating, and based on 2 elements: convenience and fare, we recommend you choose these 2 well-known brands: Mai Linh and Vinasun. 

Pros and Cons of Traveling by Taxi in Ho Chi Minh City

If you visit the city for the first time and still wondering about how to travel around, Ho Chi Minh City taxi should be on your list for many reasons below: 

• Airport pick-up: There are lines of taxis parking at the airport ready to pick you up when you arrive. Without any difficulties, you can jump in a cab and hit the city center in about half an hour. 
• Taxi fare: It is about VND 15,000 per kilometer for 4-seat taxis and about VND 17,000 per kilometer for 7-seat taxis. You can also check out more detailed fares.
• Privacy and convenience: This should be the main reason why tourists choose taxis instead of other Vietnam transportation. You can enjoy Ho Chi Minh City’s beauty without any worry about air pollution, hot weather, or rains. 

On the other hand, there are also some inconveniences of taking a taxi for your trip. Sometimes taxi in Ho Chi Minh City is not suitable for short-distance tour because they take time to deal with heavy traffic jam and it is not quite easy to park a car in this city. Another disadvantage of taxis in Ho Chi Minh City is that taxi drivers speak limited English, and because of that, you should have business cards or the address of where you are going.

If you are looking for a new way to explore the city, traveling with a local guide on a motorbike is worth considering. 

Some Notices for Using Ho Chi Minh City Taxi

Taxi Scams. If you decide to travel by a Ho Chi Minh City taxi, you should be aware of taxi scams. For that reason, we suggest some tips below that might help you avoid these annoyances.

• Keep in mind 2 well-known Ho Chi Minh City taxi brands you should choose: Mai Linh and Vinasun
• Never negotiate a fixed price before traveling
• Pay with small cash

For detailed information, please go to our guide 3 Tips to Avoid Taxi Scam in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Transportation Apps on Mobile. There is a bonus for the transportation system in Ho Chi Minh City. That is the mobile apps of transportation services like Grab, Gojek, or Be (UBER is not available in South East Asia), which should help you save your budget a little more. In recent years, they have grown in number and popularity because of their easy-to-use features, the distance of your trip with the estimated fare, and a lot of promotion. You can book and hail a ride with ease.

Download these apps on your mobile app stores and install them. With some simple steps, you can freely book their many choices of vehicles to get around the city. One more thing you should take notice of is using these apps require you to have a SIM card for the driver to confirm the booking and contact you when they arrive at your place. Check out our updated information about sim cards in Vietnam in Where to Buy a SIM Card in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Some Useful Vietnamese Phrases. Besides the names of the destinations that you want to visit, you also need to know a few simple Vietnamese phrases to communicate with drivers in the direction when hopping on a taxi in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Go straight: Di thang
• Turn left: Re trai
• Turn right: Re phai
• Turn around: Quay lai 
• Stop: Dung o day
• Thank you: Cam on

Get a travel insurance plan for your trip to Vietnam:

Our Thoughts on Traveling around by Taxi in Ho Chi Minh City

In this big city where the diversity of transportation makes it unique, those who come to Ho Chi Minh City will have many choices to travel around. If you use the taxi, make sure to have the address and directions to your destinations, check the rate, and the meter clock before you go, and use small cash to make payment. It is a relatively convenient way to get around, but if you are looking for a new kind of experience, exploring Ho Chi Minh City on motorbikes with private tour guides is also a good choice.

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