I'd prepared thoroughly beforehand. I wasn't going to allow a repeat of the taxi situation I'd experienced in Bali while travelling through Vietnam. Lately, several of my acquaintances had journeyed to Vietnam and returned with vibrant, engaging accounts to relay. I felt anticipation, and admittedly some apprehension, about discovering this captivating destination.
Yet what's an adventure without a vibrant, thrilling tale? We experienced one within the opening quarter hour of arriving in Ho Chi Minh City. We stood in line for one of the two trustworthy taxi services in Ho Chi Minh and were promptly guided into the following vehicle. Our driver abruptly halted ahead of joining the queue for the airport exit toll. "1" he stated plainly. I passed him a 500,000 dong note convinced it would cover the fare comfortably, anticipating change to come back.
"No! No! Way too much! 1" he continued hollering as he thrust the note back into my hand. My mate gives him a 10,000 dong note, only for him to fling it back at her. We're staring at each other in complete bewilderment. I hand him the 500k note again, explaining I'll receive change and that's perfectly fine.
At that point the taxi driver snatched my bag and attempted to reach into my wallet. Fortunately, given my cautious nature as a traveller, I don't store all my cash in one place. He seized a 10 baht note and flung it back at me whilst trying to snatch the dong I held in my fingers. Holding tight to the notes, I said firmly "Stop. Release it now!"
We gave him the 10,000 dong note which was the fare required for the toll exit. Growing uneasy about being taken advantage of, I warned my companion that we ought to stay alert. The taxi driver then claimed the vehicle had malfunctioned and steered it to the roadside.
We collected our things and hurried out of the vehicle as he demanded payment whilst attempting to push us towards another cab. "Absolutely not. We've booked another one" my companion replied coolly. I was grateful she was there because I was struggling to keep my frustration in check at that moment.
Fortunately, we used the Grab application to book a dependable taxi to our accommodation. If you're travelling in Southeast Asia I strongly suggest installing this application. It functions much like Uber, though it's considerably less expensive and lets you view precisely what the fare (I am not receiving payment to endorse Grab. This application genuinely helped me through a tense, unsettling predicament).
Key takeaways from my travels: 1. Keep your wits sharp at all times. 2. Ensure someone in your group pays the $5 USD for a local SIM card to stay connected to the Internet during emergencies. 3. Even thorough planning can result in hilarious stories you'll recount to loved ones for years. 4. Most importantly, if anything feels off whether at home or abroad, always listen to your instincts!
Until we meet again...
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