Grab vs Be vs Gojek vs Xanh SM in Vietnam (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Vietnam's four ride-hailing apps in 2026, covering coverage, pricing, driver quality, safety, and payment options.

Published 2026-06-30· 8 min read· Vietnam Knowledge

Last reviewed: 30 June 2026Report outdated info

Vietnam's ride-hailing market has consolidated around four apps: Grab, Be, Gojek, and Xanh SM. Each has a slightly different footprint, driver pool, and pricing model, and picking the right one for a given trip can save both time and money. This guide compares them across the dimensions that typically matter to visitors and residents — coverage, pricing, driver quality, safety, and payment — and suggests when each app tends to be the better choice. For a deeper dive into Grab, Be, and Xanh SM specifically, see Grab, Be and Xanh SM: ride-hailing apps in Vietnam.

The four apps at a glance

Grab — the regional giant, largest fleet and widest coverage across cities and towns. The default choice for most travellers.
Be — Vietnamese-owned, generally competitive on price, strongest in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, patchier elsewhere.
Gojek — the Indonesian entrant, present mainly in Ho Chi Minh City and to a lesser extent Hanoi; useful as a secondary price check rather than a primary app in most other cities.
Xanh SM — the VinFast-backed all-electric fleet, run largely by salaried drivers rather than gig contractors, which in most cases means more consistent service and fewer cancellation games.

None of the four typically require a Vietnamese phone number to register — a foreign mobile number usually works fine for sign-up and OTP verification, though it's worth confirming this at setup since verification requirements can change.

Coverage by city and region

Grab has, in most cases, the broadest geographic reach — it operates in every major city and a large share of smaller towns, including places covered in our regional guides, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hoi An. Xanh SM has expanded quickly since its 2023 launch and now typically covers every major city plus a growing number of provincial capitals. Be is strongest in Hanoi and HCMC and thins out noticeably in secondary cities. Gojek's footprint is the narrowest of the four — it's concentrated in HCMC, with more limited presence in Hanoi, and may not be available at all in smaller towns or in central and northern tourist hubs. Before relying on any single app outside the two largest cities, it's worth checking availability in the app itself, since coverage maps change frequently.

Pricing and how fares compare

Indicative fares for a roughly 5 km trip in Hanoi or HCMC, current as of mid-2026:

Service	Motorbike fare	Car fare
Grab	25,000–45,000 VND	60,000–110,000 VND
Be	24,000–42,000 VND	55,000–105,000 VND
Gojek	22,000–40,000 VND	55,000–100,000 VND
Xanh SM	30,000–48,000 VND	70,000–120,000 VND

Gojek and Be tend to run slightly cheaper than Grab on comparable routes, while Xanh SM sits at the higher end — the trade-off is newer vehicles and, in most cases, a smoother ride. Surge pricing applies across all four during rush hours (roughly 6–9am and 5–8pm) and rain, typically in the 1.3–2x range. Fares display upfront before you confirm a booking on every app; the price shown is generally what you pay, and a driver asking for extra cash "for traffic" is not standard practice — that request can be reported through the app's support form.

Because coverage and driver pools differ by app, it's often worth checking two apps side by side during peak hours — if one is surging heavily, another may not be.

Driver quality and consistency

Driver experience differs meaningfully between the platforms because of how each sources its workforce. Grab and Be both run on a gig-driver model, so quality varies by individual driver — most are professional and courteous, but ratings and reviews are worth a glance before confirming a longer trip. Gojek, with a smaller driver pool in most cities, can mean slightly longer wait times but a similar overall service standard to Grab and Be. Xanh SM's salaried-driver model is the main differentiator: drivers are company employees rather than independent contractors, which in most cases translates to more consistent behaviour, fewer cancellations after acceptance, and vehicles that are newer and better maintained.

Safety considerations

All four apps show the driver's name, photo, licence plate, and real-time GPS route before and during the trip, which is a meaningful safety improvement over hailing an unmarked taxi on the street. Sharing your trip status with a contact via the app's built-in share-trip feature is a reasonable habit, particularly for late-night rides or solo travel. For riders considering the motorbike options (GrabBike, beBike, Xanh SM Bike, or Gojek's equivalent), a helmet is provided and required — see motorcycle taxi safety for more detail on what to expect and how to assess a driver before getting on. If you'd rather ride yourself instead of taking motorbike taxis throughout a trip, motorbike rental covers the alternative.

Payment options

All four apps typically accept cash, in-app wallet balance, and Momo (Vietnam's dominant e-wallet). Linked foreign credit or debit cards work in most cases but can be declined intermittently by Vietnamese payment processors, so keeping cash as a fallback is sensible, especially in the first week or two before a payment method is confirmed reliable. Residents who stay longer often find it worth setting up a local payment method — see payment apps for expats for how Momo and similar wallets fit into everyday spending, and money and banking for the broader picture on cards and cash in Vietnam.

When to pick each app

Grab — the default for most trips, especially outside HCMC and Hanoi, or when English-language support and the widest driver pool matter most.
Be — worth checking as a price comparison in Hanoi and HCMC, particularly when Grab is surging.
Gojek — mainly relevant in HCMC as a secondary option or price check; not a reliable primary app elsewhere.
Xanh SM — a reasonable choice when vehicle condition, driver consistency, or a quieter electric ride matter more than shaving a small amount off the fare, or when hailing a metered taxi on the street since its published tariff is fixed and transparent.

Motorbike vs car across all four platforms

The same general logic applies regardless of app: a motorbike option is typically faster and cheaper for a solo traveller moving light over a short distance in city traffic, while a car is the better choice for two or more people, any real luggage, after-dark trips, or heavy rain. This holds whether booking through Grab, Be, Gojek, or Xanh SM — the underlying trade-off between the two vehicle types doesn't change much between platforms.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Vietnamese phone number to use Grab, Be, Gojek, or Xanh SM?

In most cases, no — a foreign mobile number typically works for sign-up and verification, but it is worth confirming at setup since requirements can change.

Which ride-hailing app is cheapest in Vietnam?

Gojek and Be tend to run slightly cheaper than Grab on comparable routes in Hanoi and HCMC, while Xanh SM is usually the most expensive of the four, reflecting its newer vehicle fleet.

Is Xanh SM better than Grab?

Not universally better, but its salaried-driver model typically means more consistent service and fewer cancellations, at a somewhat higher price than Grab.

Does Gojek work outside Ho Chi Minh City?

Coverage is limited — Gojek has some presence in Hanoi but is far narrower than Grab or Xanh SM in most other cities, so it is best treated as a secondary option rather than a primary app.

Can I pay for rides in cash?

Yes, all four apps typically accept cash alongside in-app wallet balance and Momo, and keeping cash as a fallback is sensible since foreign cards can be declined intermittently.

Is it safe to take a motorbike taxi through these apps?

In most cases yes — drivers are identified with photo, name, and licence plate before pickup, and a helmet is provided, though it is worth reviewing basic precautions in the motorcycle taxi safety guide before a first ride.