Using Grab and Other Ride-Hailing Apps in Hanoi

For many visitors, a ride-hailing app is the easiest way to get around a city they do not know yet. You set the pickup point and destination on a map, see the price before you agree, and do not need to explain the address in Vietnamese. This guide covers using Grab in Hanoi, the other apps you will see on the street, how to pay and how to ride safely.

Your options at a glance

The table near the top sums up the services, how fares are calculated, payment methods and safety tools. In short, there are three kinds of ride:

• Motorbike. For one person with light luggage. You ride on the back, behind the driver.
• Car. Private cars with four or seven seats, better for families, bags, rain or longer trips.
• Taxi through the app. A taxi booked from the same app.

Grab in Hanoi in detail

Grab describes itself as an everyday super app. In Vietnam it offers GrabBike (motorbike), GrabCar (private car) and GrabTaxi, and its car service covers urban Hanoi.

• GrabBike is marketed by Grab as a quick, low-cost way through traffic, and suits short trips around the city centre.
• GrabCar is the comfortable choice for groups, luggage and the airport run. Seven-seat cars are available when you need more space.
• GrabTaxi sends a taxi to your pickup point when you book in the app.

Other ride-hailing apps

Grab is not the only option, and it is worth having a second app installed in case prices are high or no driver is free.

• Green SM, renamed from Xanh SM in 2026, runs a fleet of electric cars and motorbikes, booked through its own app.
• Be, a Vietnamese app, lists bike, car and taxi services. Check in the app whether it covers the area you need.

We do not recommend one company over another. Prices change with demand, so comparing two apps before booking is a sensible habit.

Booking and paying

1. Install the app and create an account before you need a ride, ideally while you still have Wi-Fi.
2. Make sure you have mobile data; you need it to book and track the driver.
3. Enter your pickup point and destination, check the fare and choose the service.
4. Follow the driver on the map, and check that the plate number and driver details shown in the app match the vehicle that arrives.

The fare is fixed when you book, though the app may charge more at busy times. Tolls, airport fees and parking are added on top, and a night surcharge applies to GrabCar. Changing the route or adding stops also costs extra, so set your real destination from the start.

You can pay the driver in cash, or link a bank card, MoMo or ZaloPay account in the app. Carry some small notes if you plan to pay cash.

Local tip In the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, move the pickup pin to a corner or landmark the driver can reach easily, and keep the app open in case the driver messages you.

Tips and common problems

• Wrong pickup point. The map pin is not always exact. Check the pin before you confirm and use the in-app chat to describe where you are.
• Card problems. Link your card before you travel so there is time to sort out any problem, and keep cash as a backup.
• High prices. When demand is high, prices rise and drivers can be scarce. Waiting a little or trying another app may help.
• At the airport. Pickup points at Noi Bai are fixed; see the table above and our airport transfer guide.

Safety notes

On a motorbike, both the driver and the passenger must wear a helmet that meets Vietnam’s national standard, with the strap fastened. Make sure you have a helmet on, strap fastened, before the ride starts.

The Grab app has several safety tools: drivers pass a selfie check before taking bookings, you can share trip details with friends or family, an in-app Safety Centre runs around the clock, and you can turn on audio recording during the ride. Phone numbers are masked, so you can call or chat with the driver without sharing your own number.

Only get into a vehicle that matches the booking in the app. If anything feels wrong, do not start the ride.