Westerners are still a bit of a novelty in Vietnam and after you've taken your first few tentative steps outside the airport, you will be confronted with several choices, that will define to the masses waiting outside whether you're a HCMC newbie, or a seasoned traveler.
The first choice comes when you arrive at a T-junction set amongst the walls of people, at which you need to turn right. Turning left and looking around in a state of confusion is normally met by a few giggles from the locals and will signal to every overpriced taxi driver that's waiting around - Bingo! - you're new in town and the perfect target for an expensive cab ride.
Most cities around the world have opportunistic cab drivers waiting outside airports, ready to prey on the uninitiated and charge you a small fortune, but this guide should see you safely and cheaply to your downtown hotel.
So after you've navigated the T-junction, keep walking straight and just before you get to the end of the airport building, you'll see a door on your right hand side which leads to a lift and escalators.
You'll be hassled by numerous taxi drivers on your way there, simply ignore them or to sound like a real local say "khong ca'mon" which means no thankyou in Vietnamese and is pronounced phonetically "kom ca-mun".
Go through the door and take the lift up to Level 2. Upon getting out turn to the right and exit the building through a door in the same position as the one you entered, just one floor up.
You should see some taxis directly ahead of you and there is normally a man/woman with a clipboard waiting to greet you and establish which hotel you're going to. Usually they speak some English and will be able to explain to the taxi driver where you are heading, but it is worth having the name of the hotel and address written down to avoid any mispronunciation issues.
The only taxis you should use whilst in Vietnam are operated by Mailinh and Vinasun, see images below.
Most of you are staying in downtown district 1, so your taxi ride should take approx 25 minutes depending on traffic and cost between 150,000-200,000 VND (between US$8-10).
Some of the large hotels may offer to organize an airport pickup for you, which can be quite handy, but worth finding out whether it's free or not. I've known people to be charged $40 for someone wearing an ill-fitted suit meet them at the airport, hold up a sign with their name on and then drive them round the corner.
3 weeks and counting...
The first choice comes when you arrive at a T-junction set amongst the walls of people, at which you need to turn right. Turning left and looking around in a state of confusion is normally met by a few giggles from the locals and will signal to every overpriced taxi driver that's waiting around - Bingo! - you're new in town and the perfect target for an expensive cab ride.
Most cities around the world have opportunistic cab drivers waiting outside airports, ready to prey on the uninitiated and charge you a small fortune, but this guide should see you safely and cheaply to your downtown hotel.
So after you've navigated the T-junction, keep walking straight and just before you get to the end of the airport building, you'll see a door on your right hand side which leads to a lift and escalators.
You'll be hassled by numerous taxi drivers on your way there, simply ignore them or to sound like a real local say "khong ca'mon" which means no thankyou in Vietnamese and is pronounced phonetically "kom ca-mun".
Go through the door and take the lift up to Level 2. Upon getting out turn to the right and exit the building through a door in the same position as the one you entered, just one floor up.
You should see some taxis directly ahead of you and there is normally a man/woman with a clipboard waiting to greet you and establish which hotel you're going to. Usually they speak some English and will be able to explain to the taxi driver where you are heading, but it is worth having the name of the hotel and address written down to avoid any mispronunciation issues.
The only taxis you should use whilst in Vietnam are operated by Mailinh and Vinasun, see images below.
Most of you are staying in downtown district 1, so your taxi ride should take approx 25 minutes depending on traffic and cost between 150,000-200,000 VND (between US$8-10).
Some of the large hotels may offer to organize an airport pickup for you, which can be quite handy, but worth finding out whether it's free or not. I've known people to be charged $40 for someone wearing an ill-fitted suit meet them at the airport, hold up a sign with their name on and then drive them round the corner.
3 weeks and counting...
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