One crooked cabbie

I spent three weeks with a group in Hanoi, Vietnam, starting Nov. 3, 2008. Some of us frequently took a cab between our hotel and the Old Town shopping center. Usually the cab cost around 45,000 dong (near $2.50).

One time we took a cab back to the hotel and the meter showed 91,000 dong ($5). Obviously, a crooked meter! We refused to pay, settling for, I think, 50,000 dong.

Be aware!

VAUGHAN PARKER

Santa Barbara, CA