Taxi in Vietnam: Grab, Xanh SM, Be and Metered Cabs
The easiest way to get a taxi in Vietnam is an app. Grab publishes fares for 25 provinces and cities, Xanh SM for 27, and Be lists 33. If you do not use an app, metered cabs from Mai Linh and Vinasun still work.
The catch is that an app needs data right at the curb. At Hanoi's Noi Bai airport, a Grab driver cannot wait more than 5 minutes and does not see your phone number. The free airport Wi-Fi opens through a login page and drops you after 30 minutes. Sometimes you can see the network and still not connect. So sort out data before you fly.
Fares are in Vietnamese dong. Dollar amounts use about 25,800 dong to $1, the rate on 2026-10-30.
In short:
- A 5 km city ride costs about 61,000 dong ($2.40) on GrabCar and 75,000 dong ($2.90) on Xanh SM, before fees.
- Noi Bai airport to central Hanoi runs about 250,000 to 350,000 dong ($9.70 to $13.60) by Grab's own estimate.
- Grab adds 4% when you pay with a card issued outside Vietnam. Cash has no such fee.
- Without data you cannot book, see the plate number, or chat with the driver.
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Which taxi apps work in Vietnam
| App | Where it works | What you can book | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab | 25 provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Dalat, Hue and Sapa | Car with 4 or 6 seats, electric car, motorbike | Cash or card |
| Xanh SM | 27 provinces, not Lam Dong | Electric car, electric motorbike | Cash or card |
| Be | 33 cities and provinces, not Khanh Hoa | Car with 4 or 7 seats, taxi, motorbike | Cash, card or wallet |
| Maxim | 15 cities | City rides, intercity, airport | Cash or local wallet |
Grab has the widest choice of classes. It also runs GrabCar Tieng Anh, a pilot where the driver speaks English and confirms your pickup point and route. It now covers Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Dalat.
Xanh SM appears as Green SM on its website. The whole fleet is electric. It has no fares for Lam Dong province, which now includes Dalat, Phan Thiet and Mui Ne.
Be has cars, motorbikes and regular taxis, but it skips Khanh Hoa, the province of Nha Trang.
A motorbike taxi carries one passenger with a light bag. If you are thinking of riding one yourself, read the license rules for Americans first.
How much a taxi costs in Vietnam
Fares for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Grab was checked on 2026-10-30, the others on 2026-10-19. The last column is our own math for 5 km in about 10 minutes, without fees.
| Ride | First 2 km | Each extra km | 5 km ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrabCar, 4 seats | 28,473 | 9,818 | 61,000 ($2.40) |
| beCar, 4 seats | 31,501 to 31,704 | 10,568 to 11,805 | 63,000 to 67,000 ($2.45 to $2.60) |
| Xanh SM car | 30,500 | 14,700 to 15,200 | 75,000 to 76,000 ($2.90) |
| Vinasun meter, Ho Chi Minh City | 16,000 for 500 m | 16,400 | 90,000 ($3.50) |
| Xanh SM motorbike | 10,200 to 13,200 | 4,150 to 4,200 | 24,000 to 27,000 ($0.95 to $1.05) |
| GrabBike | 12,273 to 13,255 | 4,222 | 27,000 to 28,000 ($1.05 to $1.10) |
| beBike | 13,817 to 14,472 | 4,633 to 4,918 | 28,000 to 29,000 ($1.10) |
Real prices move. Grab adds a small time charge after the first 2 km and a platform fee of 5,000 to 19,000 dong ($0.20 to $0.75) for cars or 3,000 dong ($0.12) for motorbikes. Grab and Be raise prices with demand. Xanh SM's start price can be up to 24,400 dong ($0.95) higher, and Be adds 20,000 dong ($0.80) per ride from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. You also pay airport fees and road tolls.
How to pay as an American
Grab, Xanh SM and Be let you pick the payment method when you book. A Xanh SM driver takes cash only if you chose cash in the app.
Grab's fine print says a card issued abroad adds a 4% processing fee on the final amount. On a $10 airport ride, that is 40 cents. Keep small dong bills anyway. Maxim takes cash or a local wallet, and the Vinasun app wants a local wallet or a Vietnamese bank card.
How to book a ride
- Download the app and sign up at home. Be and Xanh SM text a code to your phone number, and Be says the number must be in your name.
- Set your pickup point and destination. For a hotel, picking it on the map is easiest.
- Pick a class. With a suitcase you need a car. The price shows before you confirm.
- Choose cash or card.
- Before you get in, match the plate number with the app.
What fails without mobile data
- Booking. The app cannot find a car or show a price.
- Meeting the driver. The plate number and walking route are in the app. A Grab driver sees only your name, photo and order.
- Chat. GrabChat translates messages, but only online.
Without data, you are left with metered cabs and airport taxi stands.
Metered cabs: Mai Linh and Vinasun
Mai Linh cars are green. You can book across the country at 1055, and it has its own app.
Vinasun runs in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Dong Thap and Da Nang. The booking number is (028) 38 27 27 27.
Noi Bai airport says a taxi meter must have a valid inspection and an intact seal. Check that the meter is on before you leave. Taxis without an airport contract may not pick up at the arrival halls.
Noi Bai airport to Hanoi
International flights use Terminal 2. Six contract taxi services wait at columns 5 and 16: Taxi G7, Taxi Group, HP-Noibai, Xanh SM, Mai Linh and Airport Taxi. For a 5-seat car, the airport's table shows 15,000 to 16,700 dong ($0.58 to $0.65) per km after the first km, in force since March 1, 2025.
Grab's Vietnam notice, updated October 7, 2026, sends cars to parking lots P1 and P7. Its global airport page still lists pillars 8 and 11. Trust the map in the app. Airport entry is 9,000 dong ($0.35) for the first 10 minutes and 4,000 dong ($0.16) for each next 30, on top of the fare.
| To Hoan Kiem Lake, 28.2 km | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Xanh SM Green Airport | About 267,000 ($10.35) | 189,000 up to 20 km, then 9,500 per km |
| Grab | 250,000 to 350,000 ($9.70 to $13.60) | Grab's own estimate |
| Metered taxi | 15,000 to 16,700 per km | Set by each company |
| Bus 86 | 50,000 ($1.95) | To Hanoi Station, 7:00 a.m. to 10:05 p.m. |
Choose the Green Airport package over Xanh SM's normal fare. The regular rate would come to about 395,000 dong ($15.30).
Tan Son Nhat airport to Ho Chi Minh City
International flights use Terminal 2. Grab cars pick up at that terminal's parking area, and a driver may wait only 3 minutes. Pickup at T2 adds 14,000 dong ($0.54) to a Grab ride. Be charges 15,000 dong ($0.58) for airport pickup.
Tuoi Tre reported in August 2026 that drivers meeting flights now go to the left wing of T2, so confirm your point in the app.
Ben Thanh Market is 7.4 km from T2, or 12 minutes without traffic. By published fares, that is about 85,000 dong ($3.30) on GrabCar, 95,000 ($3.70) on beCar and 113,000 ($4.40) on Xanh SM. Grab's own estimate is 120,000 to 200,000 dong ($4.65 to $7.75). Skip Xanh SM's Green Airport package here: it costs 400,000 dong ($15.50).
Dalat, Mui Ne and the beach towns
In Dalat, Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, use Grab, Be or Maxim. Nha Trang's airport at Cam Ranh is about 35 km from the waterfront, so a fixed price works better there. In Da Nang, the airport is only 3 to 4 km from the center. Phu Quoc's airport stand has Saigon Phu Quoc Taxi, Vinasun and Mai Linh.
Get data before you land
If your US plan already includes data roaming in Vietnam at a price you like, you may not need anything else. Check first.
If not, a Vietnam eSIM from Moosetrip runs on Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone. It is data only, with no phone number. Install it at home over Wi-Fi with a QR code. Days start at your first connection in Vietnam, your normal number stays on as a second line, and you can add data to the same eSIM.
As a generous estimate, 1 GB covers about 5 hours of maps and rides. Prices on 2026-10-30:
| Trip | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A few days | 1 GB, 7 days | $4.50 |
| 1 week | 3 GB, 30 days | $9.50 |
| 10 days | 5 GB, 30 days | $14 |
Visiting other countries too? See the Asia plans. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked, so check your phone before you buy.
Questions
What is the best taxi app in Vietnam?
Grab is the widest choice and the cheapest base fare in our table for a 5 km ride. Xanh SM is a good second app in big cities. In Dalat and Mui Ne, use Grab, Be or Maxim.
Can I use a US credit card on Grab in Vietnam?
Yes, but a card issued abroad adds a 4% processing fee. You can also choose cash when you book.
Can I get a taxi in Vietnam without an app?
Yes. Use the airport taxi stands, or call Mai Linh at 1055 or Vinasun at (028) 38 27 27 27. Check that the meter is on.
Sources
- Grab, service and fare table, updated July 8, 2026, checked 2026-10-30
- Grab, Noi Bai airport page, checked 2026-10-30
- Grab, Noi Bai pickup points, August 5, 2026, updated October 7, 2026
- Grab, GrabCar Tieng Anh, updated September 14, 2026
- Grab, driver notes for Tan Son Nhat, updated June 23, 2026
- Noi Bai airport, transport and taxis, fares from March 1, 2025, checked 2026-10-30
- Noi Bai airport, vehicle stop fees, checked 2026-10-19
- Noi Bai airport, free Wi-Fi, checked 2026-10-19
- Xanh SM, car fares, motorbike fares, Green Airport and help, checked 2026-10-19
- Be, ride prices, checked 2026-10-19, and sign-up guide, March 13, 2026
- Maxim, Vietnam, checked 2026-10-19
- Mai Linh, checked 2026-10-19
- Vinasun, taxi fares and app, checked 2026-10-19
- Tuoi Tre, Tan Son Nhat traffic changes, August 28, 2026
- OSRM route data on OpenStreetMap, distances checked 2026-10-19
- ExchangeRate-API USD rates, checked 2026-10-30