Grab, Xanh SM & Be in Vietnam: Which Ride-Hailing App Should You Use?

Even if this is your first time in Vietnam, you’ll notice something different from the old travel blogs. While the iconic green Grab jackets are still everywhere, they now share the road with a massive wave of bright blue electric bikes and cars. This is Xanh SM, a local giant using an all-electric VinFast fleet that has shifted the market so fast. Gojek has already left Vietnam entirely.

Whether you’re looking for a quick motorbike hop through Hanoi’s Old Quarter or a clean EV ride to the airport, the landscape has changed. What hasn’t changed: you still need apps to get around cities without getting ripped off. The real question now is: Grab, Xanh SM, and Be in Vietnam – Which Ride-Hailing App Should You Use? In this article, we explain what actually matters to tourists.

The Quick Win:

• Install Grab before you land. It works with your international phone number, accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard, has a full English interface, and covers every city you’re likely to visit. For most tourists on a first trip, Grab handles 90% of situations without friction.
• Add Xanh SM if you’re staying more than a week or spending time in Hanoi and HCMC. It’s often cheaper on comparable routes, the cars are newer (all-electric VinFast fleet), and it’s useful as a backup when Grab surges during rain or peak hours.
• Be is worth having too — particularly for motorbike rides in cities, where it often undercuts Grab on price.

I. What you need to know about Grab – Xanh SM – Be

1. Grab – The safest default for first-time visitors

Grab has been in Vietnam since 2014. It remains the most foreigner-friendly option:

• Full English interface,
• works with your home phone number,
• accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard out of the box.
• handles 90% of situations for most tourists on a short trip without friction.

Services available:

• GrabBike — motorbike taxi, 30–50% cheaper than GrabCar, fastest through traffic. Not available for international airport pickups.
• GrabCar (4-seat) — standard sedan with AC, good for airport runs or when you have luggage
• GrabCar (7-seat) — groups of 5–7, heavy luggage, family travel
• GrabTaxi — books a licensed metered taxi (Mai Linh, Vinasun) with fixed upfront fare
• GrabFood — food delivery in all major cities
• GrabExpress — same-day parcel delivery within city
• GrabMart — grocery and convenience store delivery to your hotel

Coverage: nationwide — Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Can Tho, and beyond. The weakest outside of major cities and urban districts, rural highlands and remote areas.

Fare: more expensive than Be and sometimes Xanh SM on the same route – about 30-40% on busy days.

✅ Best for: First-time visitors, anyone without a local SIM, airport transfers, groups with luggage, advance bookings (up to 7 days ahead)

⚠️ Watch out for: Surge pricing during rain and peak hours — fares can jump 30–40%. Worth checking Xanh SM as a backup before confirming.

Phone number needed? No — home number works for registration and full use.

Common misconception: Grab drivers don’t call your phone number. They contact you through the app. You only need mobile data, not a local number, to communicate. The in-app chat has auto-translated preset messages that handle most coordination (locating each other, confirming pickup point) without needing Vietnamese.

2. Xanh SM – Vietnam’s new market leader — cleaner cars, often cheaper

Operated by Vingroup, Xanh SM runs an all-electric VinFast fleet. It launched in 2023, grew faster than anyone expected, and has now overtaken Grab as Vietnam’s largest ride-hailing platform. The cars are consistently newer and cleaner than the average Grab vehicle.

Services available:

• Xanh SM Bike — electric motorbike taxi
• Xanh SM Car (4-seat) — VinFast EV sedan
• Xanh SM Car (7-seat) — VinFast EV MPV for groups

Coverage: Strong in Hanoi, HCMC, and Da Nang. Expanding to other cities but noticeably thinner outside major urban centers.

✅ Best for: Travelers who’ve been in Vietnam a few days, anyone wanting cleaner/newer cars, Hanoi and HCMC locals-mode, using as a price-check backup when Grab surges

⚠️ Watch out for: English interface is still partial, and foreign credit cards aren’t fully supported yet — cash is the safe option. App setup is less intuitive for non-Vietnamese speakers.

Phone number needed? A Vietnamese number helps but isn’t strictly required. Cash payment removes most friction.

3. Be – budget option — especially useful for motorbike rides

Be is a local Vietnamese app that often offers lower prices than Grab, especially for motorbike taxis (BeBike). While the brand is smaller, it’s a powerhouse when it comes to saving money.

For short city trips—like going from your hotel to a restaurant or between local markets—it’s smart to check the price on Be alongside Grab. You’ll often find that Be is a few thousand Dong cheaper for the exact same route.

Services available:

• BeBike — motorbike taxi, frequently the cheapest option in cities
• BeCar (4-seat) — standard sedan
• BeCar (7-seat) — available in major cities

Coverage: Available in 28 cities. Strong in Hanoi and HCMC, limited elsewhere.

✅ Best for: Budget travelers, motorbike rides in Hanoi and HCMC, anyone with a Vietnamese number who wants maximum price comparison across apps

⚠️ Watch out for: Registration requires a Vietnamese phone number for full functionality — limited use without one. Interface is primarily Vietnamese-facing.

Phone number needed? Yes — a Vietnamese number is required for full registration and use.

II. Quick Comparison: Grab vs. Xanh SM vs. Be in Vietnam

This table helps you decide which app to open based on your current needs, whether you have a local SIM or just landed.

Criteria	Grab	Xanh SM	Be
Works with international number	✅ Supported	⚠️ Sometimes buggy	❌ Vietnam Number Required
Foreign credit card accepted	✅	⚠️ Developing	❌ No (Cash only for tourists)
English interface	✅ 100% English	⚠️ Mostly English	⚠️ Partial Partial English
Car availability (major cities)	✅ High	✅ High	👍 Medium
Car availability (smaller cities)	✅ Wide coverage	⚠️ Main hubs only	❌ Very limited
Pricing	Standard	Competitive	Cheapest for Bikes
Vehicle Type	Mixed (Old/New)	100% Electric (New)	Mixed (Old/New)
Best for tourists	First-timers	Clean & Green rides – Good backup	Budget travelers

To check the availability of each app in renowned cities in Vietnam, see the table below:

City-by-City Availability

City in Vietnam	Grab	Xanh SM	Be
Ho Chi Minh City	✅	✅	✅
Hanoi	✅	✅	✅
Da Nang	✅	✅	✅
Hoi An	✅	⚠️ Limited	⚠️ Limited
Hue	✅ Bike + Taxi only	⚠️	⚠️
Nha Trang	✅	✅	⚠️
Phu Quoc	✅	⚠️	⚠️
Ha Giang / rural areas	⚠️ Patchy	❌	❌

Note: GrabCar availability in Hue is limited — GrabBike and GrabTaxi are the reliable options there.

→ Need a Vietnamese number to use all three apps? A Vietnam eSIM with a +84 number is the easiest option — no passport, QR code by email in minutes.

→ Browse all Vietnam eSIM plans — data-only and number plans from Viettel, Vinaphone & MobiFone

III. Practical Tips to Avoid Scams and Save Money

1. Don’t book near the entrances of tourist hotspots

If you are at Ben Thanh Market, Hoan Kiem Lake, or any famous temple, do not book right at the main gate. Instead, walk one block away first. Drivers hovering at main entrances are often more aggressive and may try to pressure you into canceling the app for a “private” (and more expensive) ride. Booking a block away ensures a smoother, standard pickup.

2. The “15-Minute Rain Rule”

Vietnam’s tropical downpours are intense but usually very short. The moment it starts, prices on Grab and Xanh SM can spike 2–3x.

Instead of paying $15 for a $5 ride, duck into the nearest café for a coffee. Usually, after 10–15 minutes, the rain eases, the surge pricing drops, and you’ll save enough to pay for your drinks.

3. Always verify Your Driver before you get in

This is the most critical safety tip, especially at Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat airports. A “fake” driver approaches you, showing a phone screen or claiming to be your Grab. They might lead you to an unmarked car, cancel your app booking, and overcharge you later.

Always match the license plate number and the driver’s face in the app before touching the car door. If a detail doesn’t match, walk away. The app also has a built-in SOS button if anything goes wrong mid-ride.

Rough fare reference (Grab, Hanoi & HCMC):

Service	Base fare (first 2km)	Per km after	Typical airport-to-city*
GrabBike	~13,000–13,500 VND ($0.50)	~4,200 VND ($0.16)	~50,000–80,000 VND ($2.00 – $3.15)
GrabCar (4-seat)	~28,500 VND ($1.12)	~9,800 VND ($0.38)	~150,000–250,000 VND ($5.90 – $9.80)
GrabCar (6-seat)	~33,500 VND ($1.31)	~12,800 VND ($0.50)	~200,000–300,000 VND ($7.85 – $11.75)

Notes:
*Airport-to-city estimates for Noi Bai to Hanoi city center (~30km) and Tan Son Nhat to HCMC city center (~8km). Always confirm the upfront price in the app — that’s the definitive number.
Prices can be changed over time. Check on the app for real-time updates.

4. At airports: find the Grab zone, don’t accept approaches

Noi Bai (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat (HCMC) both have designated Grab pickup areas separate from the taxi rank. Book through the app, then walk to the zone. If someone approaches you before you’ve booked — that’s not how Grab works.

5. Cash works everywhere, no setup needed

You don’t need to link a card to use any of these apps. Select cash, book your ride, pay the driver at the end. Simple as that.

6. Tipping isn’t expected

You are neither required nor expected to tip the driver. Tipping is a nice gesture if you feel like it. An amount of 10,000–20,000 VND in cash for a driver who helped with luggage or was genuinely helpful is always appreciated.

If you want to use all three apps properly, a Vietnamese number is the unlock — Be requires one, and Xanh SM works better with one. The easiest way is an eSIM: buy before you fly, no passport needed, activate when you land.

→ Do I need a Vietnamese phone number?

→ 2 Ways to get a Vietnam phone number as a tourist

IV. Traditional Taxis: Only Trust These Two Brands

If you don’t want to use an app, metered taxis are still an option—but only if you stick to the two reputable giants. Any other car approaching you at the airport is likely a scam.

• Mai Linh Taxi (Bright Green): Nationwide coverage and very reliable.
• Vinasun Taxi (White with Red/Green stripes): Best in HCMC and the South.

The advantage of bookingGrabTaxi option within the Grab app is that you get a Mai Linh or Vinasun vehicle with a fixed fare shown upfront. No meter-cheating, no surprises.

V. Setup Checklist for Ride-Hailing App – Do This Before You Fly

Do not wait until you land in Vietnam to set up your apps. Grab sends an SMS verification code that works internationally, so you should set it up in your home country while you still have a stable connection – only 2 minutes total.

Here are the steps:

1. Download Grab from App Store or Google Play
2. Register with your home phone number — SMS verification works internationally
3. Set language to English: Profile → Settings → Language
4. Add a payment method (cash requires no setup; card is optional but handy)
5. Stay connected

Note: the apps only work with mobile data. While hotel Wi-Fi is fine for booking from your room, you’ll need a signal to track your driver or book a ride on the street.

Optional but worth it: download Xanh SM and Be now, set them up properly once you have a local number

VI. Final words

Vietnam’s ride-hailing scene is moving fast. Grab is not the cheapest option now, but it’s the one that works reliably for foreigners without a local number, without a local bank card, and without knowing any Vietnamese.

The Bottom Line: Which one to choose?

• Just landed? Stick with Grab. It’s the only one that works perfectly with your home number and international cards.
• Staying for a week? Get a Vietnam eSIM and download Xanh SM. You’ll save money and enjoy much cleaner, newer electric cars.
• On a budget? Use Be for short motorbike hops. It’s almost always the cheapest way to zip through city traffic.