Zooming Through Vietnam: Your Guide to Ride-Hailing, Taxis & Getting Around Safe
- MASX
- Nov 14, 2025
- 3 min read
1. Why transport in Vietnam deserves a section
Vietnam is a vibrant country where cities buzz, scooters swarm, and getting from A to B can be an adventure in itself. Whether you’re arriving in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or the coastal city of Da Nang, knowing your transport options makes your trip smoother, safer and more fun.
2. Ride-Hailing Apps: The go-to choice
The big name: Grab
Grab is the dominant ride-hailing app in Vietnam. It offers car rides, motorbike rides (GrabBike) and easy booking via smartphone. It’s particularly useful because you see the fare estimate, you get driver info, you can pay by card sometimes — which reduces the “what will the fare be?” worry.
Other apps worth knowing
Be — a local alternative that may cover similar services.
Xanh SM (aka “Green & Smart”) — newer, focuses on eco-friendly rides (electric cars) in Vietnam.
Why they’re great for tourists
You don’t need to negotiate the fare at the outset — the app gives you an estimate.
You have a record of driver name/plate in the app, which adds safety.
You can sometimes specify pick-up location, see car appear, avoid weird hails.
Ideal when you arrive late, when language barriers might make bargaining hard.
3. Traditional Taxis & Bike Taxis: The backup options
Traditional taxis
Good companies: Mai Linh and Vinasun are among the more reliable traditional taxi firms in major cities.What to check: make sure the meter is running, check that the car has official logos, check that the fare starts at the correct rate for that city/day-time.
Mai Linh has its own ride-hailing app and it allows users to book taxis easily, with features like fare estimation, real-time tracking, and payment options.
Bike taxis (“xe ôm”)
These are motorbike rides — very common in Vietnam. They’re quick and fun, especially in mock-traffic or narrow alleys. But be cautious: you should agree the price up front or use an app version (GrabBike) rather than someone grabbing you on the street.
4. What to beware of: common transport scams & tips
Unfortunately, with all the good things there are also some pitfalls. Knowing them helps you avoid trouble.
Fake ride-hailers: Drivers outside airports or busy areas calling “Grab!” but not booked via the app. Stick to booking inside the app and check plate/driver details.
Rigged taxi meters / detours: Some taxi drivers may take a longer route or stop the meter to overcharge. Always check your route on your phone map.
Unfixed fares: With bike taxis or rickshaws (cyclos), if you don’t agree a price up front you might get told at the end “it’s more”.
Hidden fees / switching hotel trick: Some drivers might claim your hotel is closed and divert you to another place (commission-based).
Location-specific issues: At airports, unlicensed drivers might approach you with fixed high fares. It’s safer to head to the official taxi queue or use the app.
Tips to stay safe
Always use the official app when possible.
Ensure you have data/Internet so you can book and track your ride.
Check the driver plate in the app before you enter the car.
Use Google Maps or another map app during the ride to confirm the route.
If using a street taxi, ask for the company name and car number, insist on the meter.
Have an estimate for your trip so you know approximate cost.
For bike taxi or cyclos: agree a fixed price before starting.
5. When to pick which mode of transport
Airport arrival / late night: Use ride-hailing app — easiest, safest.
Getting around big city core: Grab car or GrabBike can be fast.
Short hops in a taxi: Reliable taxi companies are fine if you check the meter.
Narrow alleys / tiny streets / fun short rides: Bike taxi or GrabBike.
Longer inter-city trips: Use official bus/train services. (Though not the main focus here, it’s good to know they exist.)
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