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Negotiating taxi ride to hotel in Vietnam

About this recording

Creator
Kristin Post
Date created
January 30, 2001
Duration
1:16
Location
Hanoi, Vietnam
File
MP3
License
This recording copyright ©2001. Terms of use

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In Asian cities and towns, the way to get around is by motorcycle, moto, tuk-tuk, or other two wheeled transport. In Hanoi, there were motorcycle cabs. There are no taxi meters, so you must negotiate the price of the ride before you begin your trip. Often, a Western tourist will be quoted a much higher price than the Vietnamese would normally pay for the same trip. But price is negotiable. This traveler was particularly good at negotiating the price down. (Keep in mind, we are negotiating in the national currency, Vietnamese Dong, not dollars. In November, 2006, 10,000 VND = $0.60. Our ride for two cost less than a dollar.)

Transcript

Man
Motobike!
Girl
Get back to the lake? The lake? How much?
Man
Two, two people. Where do you go?
Girl
To the lake?
Man
Girl
To the lake. Swim swim. (laughter)
Man
Can you map?
Girl
Map. Ok. uh.…Nam Long Hotel? Nam Long Hotel?
Me
Puppet theater.
Girl
Pup..Water puppet theater! Water puppet theater.
Man
Can you map? I see it.
Girl
Okay. Okay, okay. (men talk, horns.)
Man
Hang Hom, Hang Hom Street.
Girl
Yeah, yep. Yep. How much?
Man
Two people?
Girl
Yep.
Man
Twenty thousand.
Girl
Twenty thousand?
Man
Uh, ten thousand, one.
Girl
Ten thousand for two. Five, five.
Man
Oh, yes.
Girl
That was way too easy.
Kristin
Yeah, that was really easy.
Girl
Uh, two thousand! One, one. (laughter.)