Taxi driver admits fleecing foreign tourists in Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Ward police confirmed on Thursday they had identified and summoned the taxi driver involved in the alleged overcharging incident.

The driver confessed and returned the full fare to the victims, according to local authorities.

Officials are considering penalties in accordance with the law, adding that they have contacted the tourists to facilitate the return of the funds.

The incident occurred on Monday evening.

According to H., a local tour guide, the group of Filipino students had taken a taxi from an ATM booth near Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square to the intersection of Hang Tre and Lo Su Streets.

After the ride, they were charged VND1.5 million for the short trip.

“The tourists were mostly students and didn’t dare confront the driver, so they reported the issue to us,” H. said.

Messages shared by the tourists revealed that they had initially planned to walk to a nearby restaurant, but heavy rain forced them to take the taxi instead.

Despite providing the destination, the driver reportedly took a different route, claiming it was due to one-way streets and the weather.

H. posted about the incident on social media the following morning, prompting strong reactions from the public demanding strict action if the allegations proved true.

A Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper check of the route revealed the actual distance between the two locations was only about two kilometers.

In Tuoi Tre's estimation, typical taxi fares for a two-kilometer ride range from VND30,000 ($1.2) to VND50,000 ($2).