Getting to know taxis in Vietnam
When you travel around Vietnam's cities, taxis are an indispensable way to get around.
In major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, taxis crisscross the streets and have become a convenient way for tourists to get around. But behind that convenience lie some pitfalls. Rip-offs where the driver doesn't run the meter, fake taxis, and more — get in without knowing better and you could find yourself in unexpected trouble.
This article explains, in order, how to arrange a ride, verify your vehicle at boarding, pay, and get to safety in the event of trouble — without relying solely on company names or vehicle colors. Because no company or app can guarantee safety, the aim is to give you judgment criteria you can recheck on the ground.
How to choose a trustworthy taxi company
Three major taxi companies
Knowing which taxi companies you can ride with confidence is the first step to staying safe on your trip.
VINASUNis an operator seen in Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere, but vehicle color, uniform, meter, and being a major company alone cannot guarantee a legitimate vehicle or correct fare. Use the official app, official phone number, hotel-arranged rides, or designated taxi stands, and verify the vehicle number before getting in.
MAI LINHis also a candidate, but do not judge authenticity by a green vehicle color or uniform alone. Confirm current operating areas and contact details through official information, and prioritize methods that leave a booking record over flagging down vehicles on the street.
Xanh SMis another transport option that can be arranged via app and similar services. Operating areas, vehicle types, and payment methods are subject to change, so check the official information. Electric vehicles and high ratings are not a guarantee of safety for any individual trip.
Watch out for fake "white taxis"
Never get into a "white taxi" that mimics a major company!
There is no reliable way to identify unlicensed or imitation vehicles by appearance alone. Do not treat vehicle color or being spoken to in Japanese as proof of legitimacy. Avoid these situations by not following touts at airports or tourist sites, arranging rides through official counters, apps, or hotels, and verifying the vehicle number.
How to use the Grab ride-hailing app
Grab app basics
Grab is a ride-hailing app you can use across Southeast Asia.
Grab allows you to use records of the vehicle, driver, and route, as well as trip-sharing features. However, this is not a guarantee against fraud or accidents. Depending on the service type, the displayed amount may not be a fixed fare, and GrabTaxi fares can change based on the meter or additional charges. Check the conditions on the booking screen each time.
Fares and arrival times vary depending on distance, demand, traffic, vehicle type, airport surcharges, and other factors, so the yen conversions in older versions of this article cannot be used as current rates. Before confirming a booking, check the VND amount displayed, the fare breakdown, and the service type, and determine whether it is a fixed fare or metered.
How to use Grab
It's surprisingly simple to use.
Install the app before you leave and confirm SMS verification, payment methods, and emergency and trip-sharing features. Even if you can operate the ride-hailing app over Wi-Fi, continuous connectivity is needed to contact the driver at the pickup point and track the route. Prepare a local SIM, eSIM, or alternative mobile data solution.
Available payment methods vary by account and service type. Even after entering your destination, you may need to confirm the entrance, road restrictions, and drop-off point, so save addresses in local-language format. Before getting in, verify that the vehicle and driver shown in the app match the actual car, and share your trip.
How to take a taxi and what to watch for
How to hail a taxi
The customs and signals for hailing a passing taxi may differ from those in Japan. Prioritize official apps that keep a booking record, hotels, and authorized counters or stands at airports.
Areas around major tourist sites, hotels, and shopping malls are convenient. Find a taxi with its "vacant" light on and raise your hand to signal it. Once it stops, tell the driver where you're going. Just be very careful of collisions, since there are so many motorbikes around.
If you're heading out straight from your hotel, ask the front desk and they'll call a trustworthy taxi for you. If there's a dispatch attendant, they may hand you an information card with the vehicle number and pickup point, so take it when you board.
Key checkpoints when you get in
The doors don't open automatically!
Vietnamese taxi doors don't open and close automatically like in Japan, so waiting won't get you anywhere. If there's a dispatch attendant, they'll open it for you, but as a rule passengers open and close the doors themselves.
To avoid mix-ups with facilities that share the same name, show the official local-language name, address, and entrance on a map for your destination. Rather than making assumptions about the driver, keep track of your current location with the understanding that the route may change due to traffic or regulations, and if something seems off, calmly ask for an explanation.
Once you're in, always check that the meter is running properly. There are cases where the driver "forgot to start the meter" and charges you more than usual, and cases where the meter climbs abnormally fast and you're hit with a high fare over a short distance.
Make a habit of noting the vehicle number
The secret to avoiding trouble is keeping records.
Vietnamese taxis have the vehicle number marked on the rear of the car, the upper left of the windshield, and the headrest of the seat. Noting it down is reassuring in case of trouble or if you leave something behind. The very act of doing so also helps deter driver misconduct.
Typical fares and payment methods
How taxi fares work
How expensive a fare feels depends on the exchange rate and distance. Rather than going by an impression of cheapness, it is important to check the number of digits in the VND amount, the fare structure, and any surcharges.
Flag-fall, per-kilometer rates, and minimum fares vary by company, vehicle type, and time of year, so fixed amounts or yen conversions from older articles are no guarantee of current prices. Before boarding, check the official fare schedule or the itemized breakdown in the app, and confirm that the currency is VND and verify the number of digits.
Fares and travel times from the airport to the city center vary depending on the terminal, destination, traffic, demand, fare revisions, and airport or toll road charges. Do not use fixed amounts from older articles as a bargaining tool; instead compare official airport counters, hotel transfers, and ride-hailing apps, and confirm the pickup point and any surcharges at the time of booking.
Sources NEWT, "A Guide to Taking Taxis in Vietnam: Fares, How to Hail One, and How to Book via App"created from
Be careful how you read the meter
There's a point at payment time that's easy to get confused about.
Check the digits and units on the meter display for each vehicle, and do not assume every reading must be multiplied by 1,000. When boarding, check the initial reading and fare chart; when getting out, compare the meter, receipt and app breakdown instead of relying only on the amount stated by the driver.
With VINASUN and MAI LINH, taxis that accept credit cards are on the rise. Even so, there are times you can't avoid paying cash, so we recommend keeping small bills on hand. If all you have are large notes, you risk being shortchanged.
Avoiding rip-offs and other trouble
Common trouble scenarios
With the right knowledge, you can prevent trouble.
In overcharging cases, you may be billed far more than the fare you negotiated in advance, or pressured to tip when you get out. In meter-tampering cases, the driver may have rigged the meter to inflate the fare, or the meter may simply be broken, leaving you to pay whatever the driver demands. In detour cases, the driver deliberately takes the long way to your destination and charges you extra.
10 safety measures
Put the following measures into practice.
1. Confirm the fare structure: Use the official app or fare schedule to check whether the fare is fixed or metered, and whether airport or toll road charges are included. Do not engage in ad hoc individual negotiation with a properly metered vehicle.
2. Note the driver's name: Record the driver's name and vehicle number by memo or photo.
3. Keep a record of your booking: Save the booking screen, vehicle number, time, pickup and drop-off locations, and receipt. Unauthorized audio recording or photography can raise legal and safety issues, so do not provoke the other party by doing so.
4. Don't ride with taxis that tout for passengers: A taxi that approaches and calls out to you is often a white taxi (an unlicensed taxi).
5. Avoid paying in cash: Where possible, pay through the app to keep cash handling to a minimum.
6. Keep small bills ready: If all you have are large notes, you risk being shortchanged.
7. Check your destination on the app: Confirm your destination's location on the app so you're not taken on a detour.
8. Choose a vehicle with functioning seatbelts: Check the rear seatbelts before boarding, and if they are broken, avoid that vehicle if possible and arrange another. Holding onto a grab handle is not a substitute for a seatbelt.
9. Move to a safe place if you feel uneasy: Do not jump out of a moving vehicle or escalate a confrontation; instead ask to stop at a staffed location such as an operating hotel or commercial facility, and use the app's emergency function or other support resources.
10. Check the interior when exiting: Look at the seat, floor, and door pockets. Lost items are not always returned, so use your booking history, vehicle number, and receipt to contact the operator immediately.
What to watch for when riding with children
Extra care is needed on family trips.
Holding a child on an adult's lap cannot protect the child in a collision and is not a safe alternative. Book a vehicle or transfer service that can provide the appropriate type of child seat before your trip, and confirm the age, height, weight, installation method, and rear seatbelts. If this cannot be arranged, reconsider your travel plan or operator. Also check local regulations at the time of travel.
30-second pre-boarding checklist
- Book through an official app, official counter, or hotel
- Match the vehicle type, color, plate number, and driver against the booking screen
- Display the official name, address, and entrance of your destination in the local language
- Confirm whether the fare is fixed or metered, and check surcharges and payment method
- Fasten the rear seatbelt, and have children use an appropriate seat
- Share your itinerary, and do not agree to vehicles outside the app or changes of destination
- Keep the receipt and booking history for as long as needed after alighting
In the event of trouble, prioritize moving to a bright, populated place over trying to prove you are right. Keep a record within the bounds of safety, and consult the app, taxi company, hotel, or police. It is easier to use emergency functions and itinerary sharing in a real situation if you open them once before departure rather than searching for them when you need them.
Summary: Enjoy a comfortable Vietnam trip with safe taxi use
With the right knowledge, taking taxis in Vietnam becomes a safe and comfortable way to get around.
By choosing trustworthy taxi companies (VINASUN, MAI LINH, Xanh SM) and making use of the Grab ride-hailing app, you can greatly reduce the risk of being ripped off. When you ride, don't forget to check the meter, note the vehicle number, and clearly communicate your destination. Know the typical fares and you'll be quicker to notice an unfair charge.
Never ride a white taxi, avoid taxis that tout for passengers, and keep small bills ready. Simply putting these basic measures into practice prevents most trouble. Even on your first trip to Vietnam, put the information in this article to use and you'll be able to take taxis with confidence.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang — whichever city you're in — taxis are a reliable partner that keeps your trip comfortable. Take proper safety precautions and enjoy all that Vietnam has to offer.
