Uber in Vietnam: Guide to Using the Grab App (Uber Alternative)
There is no Uber in Vietnam, instead, Vietnam has its own version of Uber called Grab. Grab is an easy, cheap, and safe ride-hailing app that I recommend using on your next trip to Vietnam – It works in all major cities in the country including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, etc. I traveled in Vietnam for a month and I used the Grab App to get around every day, including from the airport in Hanoi.
✔️ Grab in Vietnam – Key Takeaways
- Grab works in all major cities in Vietnam.
- You can take Grab taxis directly from airport terminals.
- The Grab App accepts foreign credit cards.
- Doesn’t require a Vietnamese phone number if you sign up with your WhatsApp account.
- Grab vs. Taxi: Grab cars are usually cheaper, especially for foreigners.
- A 10-minute Grab taxi costs around 50k Vietnamese Dong ($2)
- You’re not expected to tip taxi drivers in Vietnam, but it would be appreciated.
- Grab is generally safer than traditional taxis, because the rides are tracked.
- You can order food for delivery through the Grab App.
Why There is No Uber in Vietnam
Uber was available in South East Asia until 2018 when the entire SE Asian branch of Uber was bought by the Grab company. Now, all of Uber’s former clientele has been redirected to Grab, making it the best Uber alternative in Vietnam.
Uber Alternatives
Grab is the main Uber alternative in Vietnam. Besides Grab, the most popular taxi apps are Gojek, and Be Taxi. Grab, Gojek, and Be Taxi all operate similarly, but Grab is the largest and most established ride-hailing app in the country.
🚕 Using the Grab App in Vietnam
Grab is the original “Super App” in South East Asia. Grab was founded in Malaysia in 2014 and has since become the premier ride-hailing app in Asia after buying out Uber in 2018 and expanding to Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
What You Need to Use Grab in Vietnam
✔️ A Whatsapp account or Vietnamese phone number ✔️ Wifi or cellular data ✔️ The Grab app ✔️ Cash or credit card
How to Use the Grab App
Using the Grap App is incredibly simple. You can download it once you reach Vietnam or your home country. If you don’t have a Vietnamese SIM card and local number I also recommend downloading the app Whatsapp, which works internationally with your home phone number free of charge. I use WhatsApp everywhere so I have cell service while traveling internationally.
After you have downloaded the Grab app and put in your phone number, Grab will send you a confirmation text with a PIN code. Once you submit the PIN into your Grab app your account will be ready to go!
💰 How to Pay for Grab Taxis: Grab works with your credit or debit card just like Uber does, but if you have Vietnamese Dong you can also pay for your rides in cash.
How Much is a Grab Taxi in Vietnam?
Grab taxis are consistently very inexpensive. As of writing this, a 10-minute taxi ride in a Grab car only costs around 50k Vietnamese Dong ($2) and can accommodate up to 4 passengers.
🛵 Scooter Taxi Budget Tip: If you’re traveling alone, you can take a Grab Scooter Taxi, and the same 10-minute ride would only cost around 25K Vietnamese Dong ($1).
Which is Cheaper, a Taxi or a Grab Car?
Taxi rides and Grab rides should cost the same, but since most taxi drivers up-charge tourists and foreigners, it’s a lot cheaper for tourists to use ride-hailing apps like Grab instead of taxis.
Different Grab Services in Vietnam
Grab is what’s known as a “Super App” because it can do a lot more than just order taxi rides. Grab in Vietnam has the capabilities to order taxis, hire private drivers by the hour, order food from restaurants and groceries from supermarkets, deliver packages, pay bills, book hotels, and more.
Is Grab Reliable in Vietnam?
Grab is extremely reliable in Vietnam as well as all over Asia, as long as you’re in a city. If you’re in the countryside or suburbs, ride-sharing apps are not usually available.
Taking Grab From Hanoi Airport
Taking a Grab from Hanoi Airport is the easiest way to get from Hanoi Airport to the city center. Unlike in some other countries, Grab can actually pick passengers up directly from the airport terminal, right outside of international arrivals. The airport wifi works in the arrivals terminal, and Grab takes international credit cards, which makes it incredibly easy to go directly from Noi Bai International Airport to your hotel without needing to take out Vietnamese Dong, or needing to have a local Vietnamese phone number.
✈️ Cost of Grab Airport Transfer: Taking a Grab car from the airport is also inexpensive, as well as easy. My Grab car from Noi Bai International Airport to my hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter only cost around 400K Vietnamese Dong ($17).
Where Does Grab Work in Vietnam?
Grab operates in any large city in Vietnam – think Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh, Can Tho, Da Nang, etc. If you’re going to a tourist area in the countryside, like Sa Pa, expect there to be no ridesharing apps and plan ahead. You’ll likely need to rent your own scooter, hire a private driver, or join a guided tour.
List of all the cities in Vietnam where Grab currently operates
Traveling Between Cities in Vietnam (No Grab)
While ride-hailing apps are extremely reliable in Vietnam, you can’t use a Grab car or a Goejek car for long distances. If you want to travel between cities in Vietnam you instead need to fly or take long-distance buses, or trains. The major cities in Vietnam are connected by a reliable railway network, but honestly, I just choose to fly most of the time.
✈️ Flights: Internal flights in Vietnam are so cheap and easy. A flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is typically around $40, and Hanoi to Hoi An is only $27.
