| Option | Price | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab car | price shown before the ride | most trips, especially with luggage | check plate and name |
| Grab motorbike (GrabBike) | very cheap | one light traveller, short trips | helmet provided, heavy traffic |
| Metered taxi (Mai Linh, Vinasun…) | meter; starts around 11,000 to 15,000 VND | no smartphone, outside Grab areas | fake taxis and rigged meters possible |
| Booked private transfer | fixed price in advance | late arrival, families | dearer than a Grab |
Using Grab without surprises
- A data plan or eSIM helps to book on arrival: see our guide to the eSIM for Vietnam.
- Check the plate and driver name in the app, then the route shown.
- The price is set in the app; pay in cash or by card at the end and keep small notes.
- At the airport, follow the "Grab Pickup" signs outside baggage claim, and do not follow drivers who approach you in the hall: they are touts with inflated prices. The full journey is covered in from Noi Bai airport to the centre.
- Tolls and airport fees (about 10,000 VND at some airports) are sometimes added to the price: ask before.
Traditional taxis: which to pick
Guides name Mai Linh (the largest network) and Vinasun (mainly in the south) as safe bets, but fake taxis exist: one traveller met forged papers with the Vinasun logo in Saigon. Look at the vehicle (logo, phone number and fares displayed), insist on the meter and check that it starts around 11,000 to 15,000 VND. A meter that runs 3 to 5 times too fast or a "broken meter" is the signal to get out.
If you would rather not look for a taxi on arrival (night flight, family, lots of luggage, first visit), Welcome Pickups offers a private transfer booked in advance: a fixed price agreed before you travel, an English-speaking driver waiting in the arrivals hall with a sign with your name, and flight tracking if you are delayed. Price seen on their site in October 2026, HAN → Hanoi: from €19 for a sedan. Read the cancellation terms shown on their site before booking. If you travel light and are happy to follow the meter or negotiate, a taxi taken on the spot costs less.
The most common traps
- Short change: some drivers claim you gave a smaller note. Say the note out loud and count the change.
- A "fixed" price quoted without the meter for a short ride: refuse and take Grab.
- Detours: follow the route on your phone.
- Other scams in the city: see scams to avoid in Hanoi.
In short
For most trips Grab is the simplest choice. Keep a known traditional taxi for moments without a network, and for a late arrival with children and suitcases book a private transfer in advance.
