Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 14:08 GMT+7

Hanoi police investigate motorbike taxi driver accused of overcharging American tourist

The Hoan Kiem Ward People’s Committee in Hanoi on Wednesday said local authorities were verifying a social media post accusing a ‘xe om’ (motorbike taxi) driver of charging an American tourist VND1 million (US$38.27) for a roughly 7km ride.

According to the post, on the afternoon of February 24, the tourist left the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Nghia Do Ward, Hanoi and was heading to a restaurant on Trang Tien Street in Hoan Kiem Ward.

The distance for the trip was about 7km.

A 'xe om' driver approached and offered her a ride at around 5:05 pm.

Despite having agreed on the destination beforehand, the driver stopped at places not included in the itinerary, including the popular Train Street coffee area.

When they arrived, the driver demanded VND1 million. The tourist paid the amount to avoid trouble. It was around 5:50 pm.

For comparison, the same roughly 7km trip would typically cost around VND50,000 ($1.81) if booked via a ride-hailing motorbike service during non-peak hours.

Later that evening, the tourist and a Vietnamese friend went to Hoan Kiem Ward Police to report the incident.

“The ward police have received the case and are carrying out necessary professional procedures,” a Hoan Kiem Ward official told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.