Using Grab and other ride-hailing apps in Vietnam

Ride-hailing removes the whole argument about meters, because the price is shown before you book. The apps • Grab works almost everywhere and has an English interface. • Be is a local app, often a little cheaper. • Xanh SM runs electric cars and bikes, and you can also flag their taxis on the street. Car or bike GrabBike is a motorbike. It costs much less, gets through traffic faster, and the driver carries a spare helmet. Take the car if you have luggage, if it is raining, or if you are not comfortable on two wheels. Practical tips • Set the destination by searching in Vietnamese or by dragging the pin. English place names sometimes match the wrong district. • Stand exactly at the pin. Drivers cannot always stop where you imagine. • Check the plate number before you get on. Drivers rarely speak English; the in-app chat has ready-made phrases. • Pay cash unless you have added a card. Have small notes ready. • If a driver calls and asks you to cancel and pay him directly, decline and book again. You lose the fixed price and the trip record. At airports and big malls, go to the marked app pick-up zone rather than the main door.