Foreign Tourists Scammed by Taxi Brokers at Noi Bai Airport
Noi Bai International Airport has issued a warning to passengers about illegal taxi solicitation at Terminal T2, after reports of foreign tourists being overcharged.
On June 19, the airport received a complaint from a Taiwanese tourist who had arrived on June 7. While preparing to book a car via a ride-hailing app, he was approached by a man wearing a shirt with a motorbike taxi symbol near Column 10 of Terminal T2, who offered him a metered taxi.
Trusting the offer, the tourist followed the man to the parking area and was handed over to a female taxi driver. Upon arrival in central Hanoi, the fare was shockingly inflated:
- 700,000 VND for the ride
- 200,000 VND for parking fees. A total of 900,000 VND, more than twice the standard fare.
The tourist’s attempts to dispute the fare were unsuccessful. He took a photo of the vehicle’s license plate and later reported the incident to Vietnamese authorities after returning home.
“I had a terrible taxi experience… but my trip to Vietnam was amazing,” he wrote.
He shared that he loved exploring Hanoi’s Old Quarter, cruising in Ha Long Bay, visiting Trang An, climbing Hoa Lu, and seeing Bai Dinh Pagoda.
Noi Bai Airport Response
Upon receiving the complaint, Noi Bai Airport launched an investigation with airport police. Within three days, two individuals were identified and sanctioned for illegally soliciting passengers and violating transport regulations.
✔️ Advice for Travelers
The airport reminds all passengers to:
- Use official ride-hailing apps (e.g., Grab, Be, Gojek) or website like Hoi An Transport Service
- Stick to authorized taxi pickup zones
- Avoid unsolicited offers from strangers in the terminal
- In case of issues, take photos and report them immediately
Authorities stress that their teams remain vigilant and ready to act on any suspicious behavior.
