🔄 Last updated: 21 July 2026
The traffic looks chaotic — but getting around is easy
Everyone's first look at Vietnam's rivers of motorbikes is overwhelming. But install a couple of the right apps and you'll move around the city easily — no Vietnamese, no bargaining.
🔑 The trick: use ride-hailing apps as your main tool. Fixed fare shown upfront, driver info, GPS tracking — no more "how much will this cost?" worry.
🚗 Ride-hailing apps — install these first
As of 2026, the two dominant platforms are Grab and Xanh SM; Be is a worthwhile extra.
🟢 Grab — the most foreigner-friendly Around since 2014, wide coverage, an English interface, accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard, works with international phone numbers. Services: GrabBike (motorbike, 30–50% cheaper than a car, fastest through traffic), GrabCar (4/7-seat), GrabTaxi (books a metered taxi like Mai Linh/Vinasun with a fixed upfront fare).
🔵 Xanh SM — electric taxis, an equal rival By Vingroup, an all-electric VinFast fleet, launched 2023 and grown fast. Often cheaper on comparable routes, newer/cleaner cars, handy when Grab surges in rain/peak hours. Offers both cars and electric motorbikes; strong in Hanoi & HCMC.
🟡 Be — cheap for motorbikes A local app that often undercuts Grab on short motorbike rides in cities.
💡 Tip: install at least two apps (Grab + Xanh SM). When one surges or has no cars, open the other. You'll need a working SIM/data to use them → SIM in your own name
🛵 Motorbikes — fastest, but you need the right documents
- Rent (usually ~$50–70/month) or buy; a helmet is mandatory
- To ride legally yourself, you need a valid licence — Vietnam recognises an IDP under the 1968 Vienna Convention (not the 1949 Geneva one). → Driving & licences for foreigners
- Don't want to ride? Use GrabBike / Be / Xanh SM motorbike
⚠️ New note (Hanoi): the city has a roadmap to restrict petrol motorbikes in central areas, rolling out from around July 2026. If you plan to buy/rent a petrol motorbike in Hanoi, check the latest rules first.
🚕 Traditional taxis
Mai Linh and Vinasun are two reputable companies with meters and their own apps. Safety tip: use clearly branded taxis, ask for the meter, or book via an app to avoid being overcharged.
✈️🚆🚌 Travelling between cities
- Domestic flights (Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo) — fast & often cheap for long distances (e.g. Hanoi ↔ HCMC)
- Trains (the North–South line) — slower but scenic, a lovely experience
- Coaches/sleeper buses — connect cities affordably
(If you need to reach a border to renew your visa, a Visa Run Tour handles all the transport so you don't navigate it yourself.)
🛬 From the airport to the centre
- Use Grab / Xanh SM / a branded taxi; note that GrabBike usually can't pick up at international airports
- Cam Ranh Airport (Nha Trang): how to get to Nha Trang
- Want someone to meet you and move faster through the steps? See Fast Track (meet-and-assist, faster & priority on the shared route — delivered by an operating unit)
💡 Practical tips
- Payment: apps accept foreign cards (fees may apply); or pay cash; for long stays a Vietnamese account/wallet is handy → Banking & money
- Set an accurate pickup pin so the driver finds you
- Check the plate & driver name in the app before getting in
- Keep your phone charged — a dead battery means no ride app
⚠️ Common misconceptions
❌ "There's Uber in Vietnam." → No. Uber left the region in 2018; use Grab / Xanh SM / Be.
❌ "Grab covers everywhere, even remote areas." → Apps are strong in cities; rural/mountain areas may lack cars.
❌ "I can just rent a motorbike and ride, no licence needed." → You need a valid licence (IDP 1968) and a helmet; Hanoi is also tightening petrol motorbikes.
❌ "All taxis are the same." → Choose a reputable company, use the meter or book via app to avoid overcharging.
❌ "I can hail a ride without a SIM." → Apps need data/a working number; get a SIM in your own name.
Sources
- Ride-hailing landscape (2026): Grab & Xanh SM (electric VinFast fleet) lead, Be is a worthwhile extra; no more Uber; traditional taxis Mai Linh/Vinasun — service details are indicative and change over time
- Hanoi: a roadmap to restrict petrol motorbikes in central areas from around July 2026 — check the latest rules
- Driving licences: Vietnam recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP
Note: This article compiles publicly available information as of the update date and is for reference; traffic rules and services can change. ViEntry is a technology platform; it operates no passenger transport and sells no tickets — the apps/companies above are independent third-party services. ViEntry supports Fast Track (via an operating unit), Visa Run Tour (via a travel unit), and Visa Tracker; it is not an immigration authority.
New to Vietnam and want getting around (and the visa side) kept simple? Message us — free advice in your language.
🔗 Driving & licences: Read the guide 🔗 SIM in your own name (to use the apps): Read the guide 🔗 From Cam Ranh Airport to Nha Trang: Read the guide 🔗 Turn on free visa reminders: Visa Tracker
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