Getting Around Vietnam

Grab, taxis, buses, trains, domestic flights and motorbike rental — drawn from the Getting Around sections of the destination guides. Prices checked November 2026.

Grab & taxis

Grab and Xanh SM (listed as “Green SM: Electric Mobility” on the App Store) operate in the main cities — the fare shows in the app before you book, so there is no haggling. Traditional metered taxis run on the meter; ask the driver to turn it on, or agree a fixed price before you get in. Skip unmarked cars touting for business at piers and stations.

Verified taxi numbers from the guides

Motorbike rental

Foreign visitors need a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) plus their home licence, and must wear a helmet. Check the brakes and lights and photograph the bike before you take it. Rental is typically 100,000–150,000 VND (~$4–6) per day in the guides; bicycles run 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1–2) per day and many stays lend them free.

Buses, trains & domestic flights

Trains run on the Reunification Express line (book on the official Vietnam Railways site, dsvn.vn); sleeper and soft-seat trains connect Hanoi with the north and the centre. Long-distance buses and limousine vans connect the big cities — limousines pick up at your hotel and are the most convenient option for first-timers. Domestic flights connect Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Lat; check prices again when you plan, as the guides do not fix flight prices.

Hanoi — getting around

The Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake are best on foot — the historic core is only about two square kilometers, and walking is how you find the good stuff. That said, Hanoi traffic is the real deal: cross the street slowly and predictably, never stop or run, and let the motorbikes flow around you like water around a stone. It feels terrifying the first time and normal by the third.

Grab is the default way to get around the wider city. A short city hop under 5 km costs about 30,000-70,000 VND (~$1-3) by GrabCar and 15,000-25,000 VND (~$0.60-1) by GrabBike. Grab shows the fare before you book, and surge pricing kicks in during rush hour (roughly 07:00-09:00 and 17:00-19:00) and in the rain. Xanh SM (electric taxis, listed as "Green SM: Electric Mobility" on the App Store) is the other big app, often slightly cheaper off-peak.

Metered taxis: use only Mai Linh (green) or Taxi Group (yellow) and check the company name on the door before boarding — fake Mai Linh taxis with tampered meters operate around tourist areas. The flag fall is about 12,000-15,000 VND (~$0.50-0.60), then roughly 12,000-17,000 VND (~$0.50-0.65) per km. Published hotlines: Mai Linh 1800 6868 and Taxi Group 1800 5454 (found in one 2026 guide — see Unverified). Always confirm the meter is running before the car moves.

Cyclos (three-wheeled bicycle taxis) are a fun, slow way to see the Old Quarter, but agree the price in full before you get on — 100,000-150,000 VND (~$4-6) for a short ride is a fair reference, and the classic scam is a quoted price that multiplies at the end.

City buses cost 7,000-9,000 VND (~$0.30) per ride and run from about 04:30 to 22:30. The metro has two elevated lines running as of 2026. Motorbike rental runs about 100,000-300,000 VND (~$4-12) per day, but Hanoi is the hardest place in Vietnam to ride — if you have never ridden in Asian city traffic, do not learn here. You need a valid International Driving Permit plus your home licence, and a helmet is mandatory.

Ha Long — getting around

Ha Long City is spread out, so you will need wheels. Grab and Xanh SM work in Ha Long City, and the fare shows in the app before you book. A short ride inside Bai Chay costs roughly 30,000-70,000 VND (~$1-3). Metered taxis: Mai Linh Quang Ninh 0203 3628 628 and Ha Long Taxi 0203 3626 262 (both checked against two sources). Ask the driver to turn on the meter or agree a fixed price first.

Motorbike rental costs about 100,000-150,000 VND (~$4-6) per day and is a good way to explore Bai Chay, Hon Gai and the coastal road — the roads here are wider and calmer than in Hanoi. You need a valid International Driving Permit plus your home licence, and a helmet is mandatory.

The bay itself is only reachable by boat. Day cruises and overnight cruises leave from Tuan Chau Marina or Ha Long International Cruise Port (confirm which one with your operator — they are in different places). The cable car and a taxi or Grab connect Bai Chay with Hon Gai across the bay; walking across the Bai Chay Bridge is possible but long and exposed to traffic.

Ninh Binh — getting around

The sights are close together, so a motorbike and a bicycle will cover almost everything. Motorbike rental costs 100,000-150,000 VND (~$4-6) per day (manual bikes are cheaper than scooters), fuel is your own. Renting from your homestay is the most common way. Foreign visitors need a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) plus their home licence, and you must wear a helmet. Check the brakes and lights and photograph the bike before you take it.

Bicycles cost 30,000-50,000 VND (~$1-2) per day, and many homestays lend them free. The flat roads around Tam Coc, Bich Dong and Hang Mua are perfect for cycling through the rice fields — best early in the morning or after 16:00.

Grab and Xanh SM do operate in Ninh Binh, but there are far fewer cars than in Hanoi. Getting a car in the town center and around Tam Coc is usually easy, but calling one from a quiet spot like Am Tien or Van Long late in the afternoon can take a long time or fail altogether. Fares show in the app before you book.

Traditional taxis run on the meter at about 15,000-18,000 VND (~$0.60-0.70) per km. Ask the driver to turn on the meter, or agree a fixed price before you get in. A Tam Coc to Trang An ride costs roughly 100,000-150,000 VND (~$4-6) as a reference. Verified taxi switchboard numbers (checked against multiple sources, 06/11/2026): Mai Linh 0229 625 2525 (secondary number 0229 6251 888), Taxi Ninh Binh 0229 3633 788, Taxi Xuan Thanh 0229 368 6868, Taxi Hoa Lu 0229 2211 444. Call the switchboard for a metered car with published fares, and skip unmarked cars touting for business at the piers.

A private car with a driver for the day costs around 1,000,000 VND (~$38). That suits families, older travelers, or a day combining Bai Dinh and Van Long. Ask your hotel to book it and confirm the route and price in writing or by message first.

The smartest way to spend two days: stay in Tam Coc, use a bicycle and your feet on day one around the Tam Coc cluster (boat pier, Bich Dong and Hang Mua are all within cycling distance), then rent a motorbike or a car on day two for the Trang An and Hoa Lu cluster (plus Bai Dinh if you still have energy). That way you only pay for a rental for one day.

Sa Pa — getting around

Sa Pa town is walkable — the centre is compact and most hotels, restaurants and the church square are within a ten-minute walk. The valleys are a different story: trails are steep, and the sights are spread out.

On foot and trekking. The best way to see the valleys. A guided half-day trek costs roughly 300,000–500,000 VND (~$12–19) per person including a local guide; a full-day trek with lunch is roughly 500,000–800,000 VND (~$19–31). Prices vary by group size and season — agree the price and what is included before you set off. Always trek with a local guide in the villages: trails are unmarked, and a guide from the village is also how the money reaches the community.

Motorbike rental. About 150,000–250,000 VND (~$6–10) per day, petrol extra. You need a valid International Driving Permit with your home licence to ride legally, and you must wear a helmet. Mountain roads are steep, foggy and slippery after rain — only ride if you are confident. Check brakes and lights and photograph the bike before you take it.

Taxi and ride-hailing. Grab and Green SM (Xanh SM) both operate in Lao Cai province, though cars can be scarce on foggy evenings. For metered taxis, the nationwide Mai Linh hotline is 1055. Always confirm the fare or ask the driver to use the meter before you set off. A short ride inside town is usually 30,000–60,000 VND (~$1–2). Note: two local sources gave different Lao Cai numbers for Mai Linh, so we only print the national hotline here — see the Unverified section.

Bicycle. A few hotels rent bicycles for about 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–3) per day. The town is hilly, so cycling suits the valley floor better than the climbs.

Phong Nha — getting around

Phong Nha town is tiny and flat — you can walk everywhere in the centre in ten minutes. The caves are spread out, so you need wheels for those.

Bicycle. The best way to explore the town and the surrounding countryside. Most homestays lend bicycles free or rent them for about 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1–2) per day. The road along the Son River is flat, quiet and beautiful at sunset.

Motorbike rental. About 150,000–250,000 VND (~$6–10) per day, petrol extra, from your homestay. You need a valid International Driving Permit with your home licence, and you must wear a helmet. Roads are quiet but can flood after heavy rain — check conditions at your homestay before riding to the caves.

Taxi and ride-hailing. Grab is technically available in Dong Hoi but is very sparse in Phong Nha town — do not rely on it. In town, ask your homestay to call a local driver, or use the taxi companies in Dong Hoi (Mai Linh national hotline 1055). No verified local Phong Nha taxi phone number was found — see the Unverified section. Agree the price before the ride.

Private car with driver. About 800,000–1,200,000 VND (~$31–46) per day for a car and driver around the park area — worth it if you are visiting two caves in one day or travelling with children. Price not verified at the counter; confirm with your hotel.

Hue — getting around

Hue is compact and flat, and the main sights cluster around the river. Grab works well here for cars and motorbikes, and prices are shown up front. Cyclos (pedicabs) wait around the Imperial City and the tourist streets — agree the price and the route before you get on, and expect to pay by the hour. Bicycles are a lovely way to explore the river road and the tombs; rentals are available at most hotels.

No verified Hue-specific taxi number found — use Grab, or ask your hotel to call a local company for you. A Grab across the city centre usually costs 30,000–60,000 VND (~$1.15–2.30). Motorbike rental costs about 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8) per day; you legally need an International Driving Permit with a motorbike endorsement, and a helmet is mandatory.

Da Nang — getting around

Da Nang is flat, compact and easy to get around. Grab works well here for cars and motorbikes, and prices are shown up front, which removes the haggling. For street taxis, use these verified companies:

• Mai Linh Taxi: 0236 3 56 56 56
• Vinasun Taxi: 0236 3 68 68 68
• Tien Sa Taxi: 0236 3 79 79 79

Always ask the driver to run the meter, and check that it starts at the flag-fall rate. A ride across the city centre usually costs 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4). A Grab or taxi to Hoi An (about 30 km, 30 minutes) costs 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–15).

Motorbike rental costs about 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8) per day. You legally need an International Driving Permit with a motorbike endorsement to ride in Vietnam, and your travel insurance may not cover you without one. Wear a helmet, keep your speed down, and photograph the bike before you take it — rental shops sometimes claim damage you did not cause.

Walking works well in the riverside and beach areas, but the city is spread out, so you will still want a ride for Ba Na Hills, the Marble Mountains and Son Tra Peninsula.

Hoi An — getting around

The Ancient Town is best explored on foot. Cars are banned from the main streets (Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Bach Dang) during pedestrian hours, 09:00–11:00 and 15:00–21:30, so the old town is pleasantly quiet. Bicycles are the classic way to reach the beaches and villages — rentals are available everywhere in town; prices were not verified, so agree the rate before you ride. Grab works in Hoi An for cars and motorbikes, and the Da Nang taxi companies also serve the town:

• Mai Linh Taxi: 0236 3 56 56 56
• Vinasun Taxi: 0236 3 68 68 68
• Tien Sa Taxi: 0236 3 79 79 79

No verified Hoi An-specific taxi number found — use Grab or one of the Da Nang companies above. A Grab to An Bang Beach (about 4 km) costs 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–3). Motorbike rental costs about 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8) per day; you legally need an International Driving Permit with a motorbike endorsement, and a helmet is mandatory.

Nha Trang — getting around

On foot. The beachfront strip along Tran Phu Street is flat, walkable, and made for evening strolls. Most central hotels, restaurants, and the night market are within a 15-minute walk of each other.

Grab and taxis. Grab works well in Nha Trang for both cars and motorbikes, with fares shown before you book. For street taxis, Mai Linh (call 1055) is the trusted brand; Vinasun also operates here. A ride across the city center usually costs 40,000–80,000 VND (~$1.50–$3). The airport run is the one fare worth agreeing on in advance.

Motorbike rental. Scooters rent for roughly 100,000–150,000 VND (~$4–$6) per day from hotels and rental shops around Biet Thu Street. The coastal road north to Ba Ho Waterfalls and south to the airport is a lovely ride, but wear a helmet and carry an international driving permit with a motorcycle endorsement.

Bicycle. Several hotels lend bicycles for free, and the flat promenade is ideal for a morning ride. Rental shops near the beach charge around 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–$4) per day.

Boat. Island trips leave from Cau Da Port, at the southern end of Tran Phu. Book through your hotel or a licensed operator at the pier — not from touts on the beach. A full-day island-hopping and snorkeling trip typically costs 400,000–800,000 VND (~$15–$31) per person including lunch.

Da Lat — getting around

Da Lat's centre is compact and walkable around Xuan Huong Lake, but the waterfalls, Langbiang and the coffee farms are 5–30 km out, so you need wheels most days.

Motorbike rental. About 150,000–250,000 VND (~$6–10) per day, petrol extra, from your hotel or a rental shop. You need a valid International Driving Permit with your home licence, and you must wear a helmet. Da Lat's hills are steep and the roads can be foggy — only ride if you are confident. The popular "Easy Rider" option — a local driver-guide on a motorbike — costs roughly 500,000–800,000 VND (~$19–31) per day and is a great way to see the countryside without riding yourself.

Taxi and ride-hailing. Grab and Green SM (Xanh SM) both work in Da Lat, and local companies include Lado Taxi and Mai Linh (national hotline 1055). A short ride in the centre is usually 30,000–60,000 VND (~$1–2). A half-day private car with driver costs roughly 600,000–1,000,000 VND (~$23–38) — not verified at the counter; confirm with your hotel.

Bicycle. A few hotels rent bicycles for about 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–3) per day. The lakeside is flat and lovely, but the hills beyond the centre are serious work.

Walking. The lake loop is about 5 km and makes a beautiful morning walk or jog, especially before 8:00 when the mist is still on the water.

Ho Chi Minh City — getting around

Metro Line 1. Saigon finally has a metro. Line 1 opened in December 2024 and runs 19.7 km from Ben Thanh Market in the center out to Suoi Tien in the east, with 14 stations. Trains run 5:00–22:00 daily. Single trips cost 7,000–20,000 VND (~$0.30–$0.80) in cash, or 6,000–19,000 VND by card or app; a day pass is 40,000 VND (~$1.50) and a 3-day pass is 90,000 VND (~$3.50). It is clean, cool, and cheap — but note that it does not serve the airport, and most central sights (War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame, the Palace) are a walk or short Grab ride from its downtown stations, not right at them.

Grab and taxis. Grab is the easiest way to get around: the price is fixed in the app before you book, and you can pay by card or cash. For street taxis, stick to the two trusted companies — Vinasun (call 028 38 27 27 27) and Mai Linh (call 1055 or 028 38 38 38 38) — and check that the phone number painted on the car matches. Copycat cabs in similar colors run rigged meters; a real Vinasun is white with green and red stripes, a real Mai Linh is green. A short ride across District 1 usually costs 40,000–80,000 VND (~$1.50–$3).

Motorbike rental. Renting a scooter costs roughly 150,000–250,000 VND (~$6–$10) per day. Saigon traffic is intense and is not a good place to learn to ride — only rent if you are already confident, wear a helmet, and carry an international driving permit with a motorcycle endorsement. Most rental shops will ask for your passport as a deposit; offer a photocopy and a cash deposit instead if you can.

Walking. District 1's core — Ben Thanh, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, the Opera House, the Post Office — is compact and best explored on foot in the early morning or after sunset. Cross streets slowly and steadily; the motorbikes flow around you if you do not stop or dart.

Saigon Waterbus. The river bus runs from Bach Dang Station (near Nguyen Hue) up the Saigon River for 15,000 VND (~$0.60) per ride. It is a cheap, breezy way to see the skyline, especially at sunset.

Can Tho & Mekong Delta — getting around

Can Tho city is flat and easy. The Delta beyond it is a maze of rivers and canals — you get around by boat, and that is the point.

Grab and taxi in the city. GrabBike starts at about 15,000 VND (~$1) for short hops; GrabCar averages about 70,000 VND (~$3) across the centre. Metered taxis (Mai Linh national hotline 1055) are available. No verified local Can Tho taxi phone number was found with two agreeing sources — see the Unverified section.

Bicycle. Rent a bicycle from your guesthouse for about 50,000 VND (~$2) per day. The flat orchard lanes of Phong Dien district, south-west of the city, are perfect for a slow morning ride.

Motorbike rental. About 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8) per day. You need a valid International Driving Permit with your home licence, and you must wear a helmet. Roads are flat and easy, but watch for sudden rain and for boats crossing at ferries.

Boat. For the floating market and the small canals, you hire a boat — see section D. For day trips to Ben Tre and Chau Doc, your hotel can arrange a car and a local boat. Do not try to navigate the small canals alone; the waterways all look alike, and a local boat driver is part of the experience.

Phu Quoc — getting around

There is no proper public transport on Phu Quoc. Taxis, Grab, hotel shuttles, and rented scooters do the work. The island is about 50 km long, so distances add up — Duong Dong to Sao Beach is 25 km, to Grand World in the north about 30 km.

Grab and taxis. Grab works in Duong Dong and the main tourist areas, with fares shown before you book — a car from the airport to Duong Dong runs about 180,000–220,000 VND (~$7–$9). Green SM (Xanh SM) electric taxis also cover the island. For street taxis, Mai Linh and Vinasun are the trusted brands. Agree on the meter or a fixed price before you set off, especially for longer runs to the north or south of the island.

Motorbike rental. Scooters rent for roughly 120,000–250,000 VND (~$5–$10) per day from hotels and rental shops in Duong Dong. The island's coastal roads are quieter than the mainland's, which makes Phu Quoc one of the better places in Vietnam to ride — but still wear a helmet, carry an international driving permit with a motorcycle endorsement, and photograph the bike before you take it.

VinBus. Free electric shuttle buses run the airport–Duong Dong–Grand World corridor (route 17, roughly every 15–20 minutes), which is handy if you are staying in the north of the island.

Private car with driver. A car and driver for a full day costs roughly 800,000–1,500,000 VND (~$31–$58), depending on distance. Your hotel can arrange one — it is the most comfortable way to see the south of the island in a day, and the cost splits well between three or four people.