What company does ride-hailing in Vietnam?

Ride-hailing companies in Vietnam: Grab vs Xanh SM

Navigating Vietnams ride-hailing scene requires knowing which service fits your needs. With ride-hailing companies in Vietnam offering varying benefits, understanding their unique features helps you avoid overpaying and ensures a pleasant journey. Learn the distinctions between major providers to travel smarter.

Which Ride-Hailing Apps Should You Use in Vietnam?

Vietnam currently has three major ride-hailing companies in Vietnam that dominate the streets: Grab, Xanh SM, and Be. While Grab remains the most recognizable name with the largest fleet, the rise of electric vehicles and local competition has shifted the landscape significantly for travelers and locals alike.

But there is one specific trick for getting out of Tan Son Nhat airport without waiting in the 30-minute taxi queue - I will reveal that secret in the section on airport pickups below.

The market has evolved rapidly. In late 2024, Gojek officially exited the Vietnamese market to focus on other regions, leaving a gap that was quickly filled by Xanh SM and Be. Grab currently commands roughly 58% of the total Vietnam ride sharing market share in the country, maintaining a massive lead through its integrated ecosystem of food delivery and digital payments.

However, Xanh SM has disrupted this dominance by deploying over 30,000 electric vehicles across 35 provinces within its first year of operation. This ^[2] shift toward green transportation is not just a trend - it is a fundamental change in how the country moves.

Ill be honest, when I first moved to Hanoi, I stuck exclusively to Grab because it was what I knew from other parts of Southeast Asia. I was skeptical of the bright cyan cars of Xanh SM at first. But after a few rides in near-silent electric SUVs, my loyalty started to shift.

The cars are consistently cleaner, and the drivers seem less stressed by the chaotic traffic when they arent wrestling with a manual transmission in a beat-up petrol car. It took me a month to realize that having at least two apps is mandatory if you want to get home during a tropical downpour.

Grab: The Reliable Giant

Grab is the default choice for most people entering Vietnam. It offers the most comprehensive suite of services, including GrabBike (motorbikes), GrabCar (private cars), and GrabTaxi (metered taxis linked to the app).

The app is particularly user-friendly for international travelers because it supports multiple languages and allows for seamless credit card integration. In the first half of 2025, user data indicated that GrabBike remains the most popular choice for short-distance commutes, handling nearly 60% of all two-wheeled bookings in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The ^[3] pricing is transparent, although surge pricing during rush hour - which typically runs from 5 PM to 7 PM - can double or triple the base fare. Rarely have I seen a platform manage such high density with this level of uptime.

One thing to watch out for is the driver messaging system. While it has auto-translate, drivers often send photos of their location to help you find them in a crowd. My advice? Look for the green helmet.

In a sea of a thousand motorbikes, that neon green Grab gear is your best friend. Just make sure the license plate matches what is on your screen. I once hopped on the back of a random guys bike who just happened to be wearing a green jacket - he was very confused when I tried to show him my app destination. We both had a good laugh, but it was a lesson in checking the plate every single time.

Xanh SM: The Electric Alternative

Xanh SM (GSM) is the newest heavyweight in the ring, operated by VinFast. It distinguishes itself by using a 100% electric fleet, ranging from small hatchbacks to premium electric SUVs.

The growth of this company has been staggering. Since its launch in April 2023,^[4] Xanh SM electric taxi Vietnam has reached 50 million passenger trips in just under 15 months, making it one of the fastest-scaling ride-hailing services in Asia. The service is often praised for its high standards: the drivers are formal employees rather than independent contractors, which often leads to better-maintained vehicles and more professional service. Prices are usually competitive with Grab, though they lack the frequent promo codes that Grab uses to lure repeat customers.

Beyond the professional service standards, there is a specific physical comfort factor that sets these electric vehicles apart from traditional taxis.

The real win with Xanh SM is the lack of a smell. Petrol taxis in Vietnam often have a distinct, heavy scent of air freshener mixed with exhaust that can be nauseating in the heat. The electric VinFast cars are fresh, silent, and have excellent air conditioning. If you are prone to motion sickness - and Vietnamese traffic is a masterclass in stop-and-go movement - the smooth acceleration of an electric motor is a game-changer. My stomach has thanked me more than once for choosing the cyan car over the traditional petrol option.

Be: The Local Favorite

Be is a homegrown Vietnamese app that has managed to survive and thrive against international giants. It is often the preferred choice for locals due to its frequent loyalty rewards and integration with the Be CAKE digital bank.

Currently, Be holds approximately 9% of the ride-hailing market share in Vietnam. ^[5] While its fleet is smaller than Grabs, it is often more reliable for booking intercity travel or hourly car rentals.

Many users find that Be drivers are less likely to cancel rides in peripheral districts where Grab drivers might be scarce. The app also features an integrated flight booking and insurance service, positioning it as a lifestyle super-app for the domestic market. If you are staying in Vietnam for more than a week, learning how to book a taxi in Vietnam using Be is a smart move for those times when Grabs surge pricing becomes unreasonable.

Airport Pickups: The 30-Minute Secret

Remember that secret I mentioned earlier? Here is how you bypass the chaos at Tan Son Nhat (HCMC) or Noi Bai (Hanoi).

Most people walk out of the terminal and try to book a GrabCar to the Arrivals lane. The problem? Those lanes are a gridlock of private cars and traditional taxis. Instead, take the elevator or stairs up to the Departures level or the designated ride-hailing parking floors.

For example, at Tan Son Nhat, Grab and Xanh SM have specific pickup stalls on floors 3, 4, and 5 of the TCP parking garage. Walking an extra 5 minutes to these stalls saves you 20 minutes of waiting for a car that is stuck 200 meters away in traffic. Using these transportation apps for Vietnam travelers correctly makes your arrival much smoother - getting to your hotel before the jet lag truly hits.

Also, be aware of airport surcharges. Most apps show you the fare, but they do not automatically include the airport entrance fee, which is typically 10,000 to 15,000 VND. The driver will ask for this in cash or add it to the final app price. Do not think you are being scammed - it is a standard fee charged by the airport authority, not the driver.

Which App Should You Choose?

Grab (The All-Rounder)

• Best support for foreign credit cards and GrabPay wallet
• Offers bikes, cars, taxis, food, and parcel delivery
• Widest coverage across almost all Vietnamese cities and towns

Xanh SM (The Premium Choice)

• Zero-emission travel using 100% VinFast electric fleet
• Best air conditioning and smoothest ride for those with motion sickness
• New, clean, silent electric vehicles with professional drivers

Be (The Local Hero)

• High frequency of discount codes for local food and services
• Excellent rewards program for long-term residents and expats
• Often cheaper during peak hours with fewer extreme surges

Sarah's Rainy Day in District 1

Sarah, a digital nomad in Ho Chi Minh City, needed to get to a meeting in District 3 during a sudden October downpour. She opened Grab, but the wait time was 18 minutes and the price had tripled due to surge.

She tried to wait it out, but the rain only got heavier. Every GrabBike driver nearby was canceling because they didn't want to ride in the knee-deep water gathering on the street corners.

The breakthrough came when she remembered her friend's advice to check Xanh SM. While Grab was congested, Xanh SM had an electric SUV just 4 minutes away at a standard non-surge price.

She arrived at her meeting only 5 minutes late and completely dry. This experience taught her that relying on a single app in Vietnam is a recipe for frustration during the monsoon season.

Minh's Commute Strategy

Minh, a marketing professional in Hanoi, used to spend 15% of his salary on petrol and parking for his motorbike. He was tired of the heat and the constant maintenance.

He switched to using GrabBike daily but found the green helmets were hard to find during the morning rush. He often ended up being late for his 9 AM stand-up meeting.

He started using the Be app's 'priority' booking and linked it to his local MoMo wallet for extra cashback. He realized that the extra 5,000 VND for priority saved him 15 minutes of standing on the curb.

Minh now saves roughly 1.2 million VND a month compared to owning a bike, and his stress levels have dropped significantly because he no longer has to navigate Hanoi's rush hour traffic himself.