What ride sharing app is used in Vietnam?

Ride sharing app in Vietnam: Grab vs Xanh SM

Finding a reliable ride sharing app in Vietnam involves understanding the competitive landscape of modern transportation. Travelers face risks of overpaying during peak hours without knowing how local ecosystems work. Exploring different platforms ensures efficient travel through major metropolitan areas. Understanding current options helps find the best local rates for every trip.

Which ride sharing app is used in Vietnam?

Grab is the primary ride sharing app used in Vietnam, providing widespread coverage for both cars and motorbikes across every major city.

While Grab dominates the market, the Grab vs Xanh SM vs Be dynamic has changed, with newer players like Xanh SM (electric vehicles) and Be (a local Vietnamese app) becoming major competitors, offering better pricing and cleaner cars. Your choice often depends on whether you want the most reliable coverage or the newest vehicle. But there is one specific mistake travelers make at Vietnamese airports that can turn a simple ride into a 45-minute headache - I will explain exactly how to avoid it in the airport navigation section below.

Grab currently holds approximately 36% of the total ride-hailing market share in Vietnam as of early 2026. ^[1]

This dominance is due to its early entry into the market and a massive network of drivers that ensures wait times are usually under three minutes in cities like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. However, the landscape shifted significantly recently. Xanh SM, an all-electric fleet, has rapidly captured 32% of the market by offering standardized service and premium vehicles. For users, this means you are no longer locked into one ecosystem; switching between two or three apps is now the standard way to find the best price during peak hours.

Grab: The Reliable Giant

Grab is the closest thing to help if you're wondering is there Uber in Vietnam, functioning as a super-app that handles everything from bike taxis to grocery deliveries. If you have used Grab in Singapore or Thailand, the same app works here automatically without a new download. It is the most robust option for tourists because the interface is fully English-optimized and it accepts almost all international credit cards without a hitch.

In my experience using Grab for over five years across Southeast Asia, the biggest advantage is the sheer volume of drivers.

Even during a tropical downpour in Da Nang, you can usually find a car within five to seven minutes. GrabCar and GrabBike are the two main services. GrabBike is especially popular as a motorbike taxi app Vietnam for solo travelers who want to beat the notorious traffic jams in District 1 - just remember that the driver will provide a helmet. It is fast. It is cheap. And quite frankly, it is the best way to see the city if you are not afraid of a little wind in your face.

Xanh SM: The Green Revolution

Xanh SM is the newest major ride sharing app in Vietnam, and it has completely changed the game by using a fleet of 100% electric VinFast vehicles. Unlike Grab, where the cars are owned by individual drivers and vary in quality, Xanh SM owns the fleet. This means every car is a modern electric SUV or sedan with functioning air conditioning and professional, uniformed drivers. Rarely have I seen a new company disrupt a market this effectively.

Since its launch, Xanh SM has grown to capture 32% of the market, primarily by targeting users who are tired of old, smelling internal combustion engine taxis. The pricing is often identical to Grab, but the Luxury tier provides high-end electric SUVs that are perfect for business meetings or long trips to places like Ha Long Bay. I will be honest - the first time I hopped into a Xanh SM taxi, the silence of the electric motor was a massive relief after the constant roar of Hanois traffic. It felt like a premium experience for a budget price.

Be: The Local Favorite

Be is the yellow app you will see everywhere. It is a homegrown Vietnamese ride-hailing service that pride itself on competitive pricing. While it lacks the massive marketing budget of Grab, it often offers the cheapest way to get around Vietnam for frequent users. For many locals, Be is the go-to for daily commutes because the BeBike service is consistently 5-10% cheaper than GrabBike during non-peak hours.

The app interface is clean, though some deep-level menus might still be in Vietnamese. However, for a simple A-to-B trip, it is perfectly intuitive. One thing Ive noticed - and this is just my personal observation - is that Be drivers often seem less rushed than Grab drivers. This might be because the platform has different incentive structures for its fleet. If Grab is showing a high surge price due to rain, always check Be. You might save enough for an extra bowl of Pho.

Navigating Airport Pickups Without the Stress

Here is the resolution to that airport mistake I mentioned earlier: ride-hailing apps are often banned from the immediate arrival curbside at major airports. At Tan Son Nhat (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City, Grab and Xanh SM drivers are usually restricted to specific lanes on the 3rd or 4th floor of the parking garage (Lanes D1 or D2). If you stand at the regular arrival exit waiting for your car, the driver will never arrive, and you will both be frustrated.

At Hanois Noi Bai (HAN) airport, the rules are slightly different. Drivers can usually pick you up at the second arrival lane, but you must be quick. Always check the Message feature in the app. Drivers will often send a photo of exactly where they are standing. I remember my first time at SGN - I spent 20 minutes wandering around the arrivals gate while my driver was actually five floors up in the parking building. It was a mess. Now, I always head straight to the elevators in the parking garage. It saves so much time.

Payment and Data Setup

While these apps accept cash, linking a credit card is significantly more convenient. Grab and Be support most international cards, but sometimes your home bank might block the transaction for security reasons. I highly recommend having a local e-wallet like MoMo or ZaloPay if you are staying for more than a week. These wallets are accepted everywhere and often provide an extra 10-20% discount on rides through integrated vouchers.

Grab vs Xanh SM vs Be: Which App Should You Choose?

Choosing the right app depends on your priority - whether it is the fastest pickup, the cleanest car, or the lowest price.

Grab (Best Overall)

• Varies significantly; range from old sedans to new SUVs
• Highest number of drivers; works in almost every province
• Seamless integration with international credit cards
• Excellent English interface and in-app translation for chat

Xanh SM (Recommended for Comfort)

• Consistent; brand new electric VinFast cars and bikes
• Good in major cities; expanding rapidly to tourist hubs
• Accepts cards, cash, and XanhSM e-wallet
• Good English app, though some drivers may speak less English

Be (Best for Budget)

• Middle ground; mostly newer local sedans
• Strong in major cities; limited in rural areas
• Cash, card, and strong integration with Cake/MoMo
• Basic English interface; localized primarily for Vietnamese

Minh's Guide to Avoiding the Airport Scam

Minh, a 28-year-old tour guide in Ho Chi Minh City, often sees tourists getting swindled by 'fake' taxi drivers at the airport exit. One traveler, Mark, was approached by a man claiming to be a Grab driver but with no app open.

Mark was tired and almost followed the man to a private car. Minh stepped in and showed Mark how to use the app's 'Booking Code' system. The struggle was real - Mark's foreign SIM card wasn't receiving the OTP for his credit card link.

Instead of panicking, Minh helped Mark switch the Grab payment method to cash. They then walked together to Lane D1 in the parking garage, as the app indicated. Mark realized that a 'Grab driver' will never approach you on foot at the arrivals gate.

The ride to District 1 cost exactly 120,000 VND (about 5 USD (exchange rate as of March 2026)), while the 'fake' driver had asked for 500,000 VND. Mark arrived at his hotel 30 minutes later, safe and for a fraction of the scammed price.