Vietnam is not a one-app transport market. Grab has the strongest published national footprint, Be and Green SM provide useful competition, and established taxi fleets remain valuable when an app cannot confirm a suitable vehicle.
Install Grab first and compare Be or Green SM when the live wait or quote is better. Use a car for airport luggage and a motorbike only when one passenger, light baggage, weather and road confidence all make sense. At airports, follow the app's current terminal instructions, then match the plate and vehicle before boarding.
| Your trip | Best move |
|---|---|
| An ordinary city ride | Check Grab first, then compare Be and Green SM at the exact pickup.2113 |
| An airport arrival with luggage | Book a car and follow the current terminal, lane or PIN instruction shown in the app.8910 |
| One person with light luggage | Consider a motorbike only with a proper helmet, suitable weather and confidence riding in local traffic.41 |
| Ride-app supply is weak or signup fails | Ask the property to call Mai Linh or Vinasun, or book through the fleet's official app.12131 |
The easiest visitor default for cars, motorbikes and licensed taxis across Vietnam's main cities and tourism hubs.
The electric ride-hailing service formerly called Xanh SM, with cars, motorbikes and dedicated airport options.
A Vietnamese multi-service app for cars, motorbikes, taxis and other transport in many cities.
The official booking app for a long-established metered taxi network with broad provincial coverage.
The official app for a major licensed taxi fleet concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam.
Not available here Uber has not operated in Vietnam since its Southeast Asian services transferred to Grab in April 2018. Use Grab, Green SM, Be or a reputable licensed taxi instead.
On 5 March 2026, Grab said it had expanded services across all 34 of Vietnam's provinces and centrally governed cities, with at least three services in each. That is stronger evidence than an old city list. Coverage can still vary by district, and GrabCar, GrabBike and GrabTaxi will not all appear everywhere.24
Enter the exact pickup and destination before deciding. A transport product shown live in the app is the reliable local answer; a national press announcement can't guarantee driver density, vehicle size or late-night availability at a particular pin.24
Vietnamese platform Be offers car, motorbike, taxi and airport-oriented transport products where available. Compare its live quote and estimated pickup with Grab rather than installing it only after a problem occurs.11
Xanh SM changed its consumer name to Green SM on 13 April 2026. The service focuses on electric cars and motorbikes and also operates a Green Airport product. Older advice telling visitors to search only for Xanh SM is now stale, even though the former name may still be recognised locally.310
Grab supports international cards in Vietnam, but an issuing bank can still decline the payment or add its own currency-conversion charge. Add the intended card before a time-critical ride, select it before requesting and keep Vietnamese đồng as a fallback.65
Grab's service information, updated in July 2026, says Moca applies a 4% processing fee when the user pays with a foreign-issued card. It is calculated on the final payment amount shown in the app, excluding the tip, and the fee is subject to 10% VAT. Review the complete total before confirming because any separate issuer charge is outside Grab's control.75
Grab supports airport transfers and displays walking guidance at major airports. Exact flows change. For example, Da Nang introduced a trial PIN pickup option for selected GrabCar categories on 30 June 2026, alongside ordinary bookings. Follow the lane, zone and PIN instructions in the current booking after landing.89
Green SM also publishes a dedicated airport service. Compare the complete quote and vehicle size, then request only when you can reach the named meeting point. Ignore a person claiming to be your driver without the matching live booking and plate.101
Motorbike trips can be fast in dense traffic, but the UK travel authority says motorbike travel in Vietnam is materially riskier and that both driver and passenger must wear a helmet. Use the provided helmet correctly and choose a car if you have a suitcase, cannot sit securely, face heavy rain or simply do not feel safe.14
For a conventional taxi, use a recognised fleet or ask a hotel or restaurant to book one. Mai Linh and Vinasun both publish official booking channels. Match the company markings and vehicle, confirm whether the trip is metered or fixed, and agree how tolls and airport fees appear before departure.12131
If no app confirms a suitable car, ask the airport transport desk, hotel or restaurant to arrange one. Identify the provider and agree how the price will be calculated before departure.12131
Start with Grab because it publishes service across all 34 provinces and centrally governed cities. Compare the live vehicle and wait with Be or Green SM instead of assuming every product has equal local supply.
Yes. Add it before the ride and inspect the final total. Grab currently applies a published foreign-card processing charge, while your issuer may add another fee or decline the payment. Keep Vietnamese đồng as a backup.
Yes at supported airports, but pickup systems differ by terminal and can change. Follow the current in-app walking directions, lane or PIN flow after landing rather than memorising an old pickup point.
Motorbike travel carries materially higher road risk. Use it only for one person with light luggage, wear the provided helmet correctly and choose a car whenever traffic, rain, luggage or confidence makes the bike a poor fit.
These apps need data
Guac eSIM covers Vietnam with plans from $0.58 per GB. Install it before you land and activate instantly.
Use official entry portals, keep cash, and match each island with the right app
Use local ride apps, official entry portals, and current border advice
Compare rides by city, keep Lao kip, and expect the official railway app to be fallible
Check official warnings, plan every route, and keep cash and offline backups
Use Grab widely, treat Touch 'n Go card and eWallet as separate tools, and verify every terminal
Register eTravel, keep pesos, and download maps before moving between islands
