How to use Grab and taxis in Vietnam

Last updated: August 2026Written by Anthony Toast13 sources

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.

Choose the right Vietnam ride

Your trip	Best move
An ordinary city ride	Check Grab first, then compare Be and Green SM at the exact pickup.2 11 3
An airport arrival with luggage	Book a car and follow the current terminal, lane or PIN instruction shown in the app.8 9 10
One person with light luggage	Consider a motorbike only with a proper helmet, suitable weather and confidence riding in local traffic.4 1
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.12 13 1

App details

GrabEssential

The easiest visitor default for cars, motorbikes and licensed taxis across Vietnam's main cities and tourism hubs.

Pro tip: Use the payment method and complete quote shown in the app. Keep đồng as a backup, and never cancel simply to move the fare outside Grab.

App Store Play Store Website

Green SMEssential

The electric ride-hailing service formerly called Xanh SM, with cars, motorbikes and dedicated airport options.

Pro tip: The name changed to Green SM in April 2026. Use only the new app, check the plate and carry cash in case a foreign payment method is unavailable.

App Store Play Store Website

Be

A Vietnamese multi-service app for cars, motorbikes, taxis and other transport in many cities.

Pro tip: Compare its live fare and pickup time with Grab and Green SM. Keep cash available because visitor signup and foreign-card handling can vary.

App Store Play Store Website

Mai Linh Taxi

The official booking app for a long-established metered taxi network with broad provincial coverage.

Pro tip: Useful when ride-hail supply is poor. Confirm the vehicle markings and payment method, make sure the meter is running and carry đồng.

App Store Play Store Website

Vinasun Taxi

The official app for a major licensed taxi fleet concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam.

Pro tip: Check the plate and Vinasun markings before boarding. The app is a safer way to request the real fleet than accepting a street solicitation.

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At a glance

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.

Grab now has a national footprint, but products remain local

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.2 4

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.2 4

Be and Green SM solve different needs

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.3 10

Foreign cards work, with a published 4% processing fee

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.6 5

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.7 5

Airport pickup instructions change by terminal and date

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.8 9

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.10 1

A cheap motorbike ride can still be the wrong fit

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.1 4

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.12 13 1

If the app does not work

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.12 13 1

What this does not cover: App products, airport lanes, payment compatibility and driver supply change live. Recheck the exact terminal, pickup pin, plate, vehicle and complete quote for each trip.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best ride-hailing app in Vietnam?

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.

Can I use a foreign card with Grab in Vietnam?

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.

Can I take Grab from airports in Vietnam?

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.

Is GrabBike safe for tourists in Vietnam?

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.

A data eSIM gives you internet, not a local phone number, so it cannot receive SMS verification codes.

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