Is There Uber In Vietnam In 2024?

Before I spent a month backpacking Vietnam, I remember Googling if there was Uber in Vietnam.

I found it hard to find a clear answer, and this frustrated me since I wanted to know how I was going to get around while in the country.

After spending a month in Vietnam, I’ve come back to this query from the other side, to give you a complete guide to Uber in Vietnam.

Unfortunately, the answer likely isn’t what you were hoping. The ride-sharing app doesn’t operate in Vietnam.

Is There Uber In Vietnam?

No, there is no Uber in Vietnam.

Uber did operate in Vietnam from 2013 to 2018 but it wasn’t anywhere near as successful as it was in the US or Europe. 

Eventually, Uber withdrew from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries in 2018, selling its operations to Grab (there is no Uber in Thailand either). 

This leads me nicely to my next point: Vietnam has its own ride-sharing service called Grab. It’s available throughout all of Southeast Asia, and it’s how I got around when I was backpacking Vietnam.

Personally, I prefer Grab to Uber anyway because it’s an all-in-one app. It’s essentially Uber and Uber Eats in the same app, with a load of other benefits.

With Grab, you can book rides, order meals, order groceries, and even book things to do and tickets. And the best bit is, it’s incredibly cheap. Especially if you opt for bikes rather than cars like I did – not only is it cheaper, but it’s really fun too. 

I recommend paying by card so you don’t need to pay the driver in cash – they often don’t have the right change. I use Revolut in Vietnam to get the best exchange rates with no conversion fees.

Plus, there are so many drivers. You’re never waiting for more than a few minutes.

The only downside is that Grab does not operate everywhere in Vietnam. If you’re going to places which are a bit further out of the way such as Phong Nha or Mui Ne, you’ll have to wait a bit longer to get a Grab. And bikes are non-existent.

But if you stick to main cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Hanoi, you’ll get a driver almost instantly, no matter what time of the day it is.

When I had to get trains at 3 am, I always got a Grab straight away. It’s so convenient and I wish I had Grab back in the UK!

So while there is no Uber in Vietnam, there is a great alternative and in my opinion, Grab is even better than Uber itself. 

Equivalents Of Uber In Vietnam

Since there is no Uber in Vietnam, you might be wondering what to download instead.

As I said in the last section, Grab is the most like-for-like equivalent of Uber. It’s a must-have app to have downloaded on your phone when you are visiting Vietnam. 

If you don’t like the look of Grab for whatever reason then GoRide from Gojek is another alternative. From my experience, GoRide has fewer drivers so you have to wait longer, but in some situations, it’s cheaper.

I liked the convenience of Grab but if you’re travelling on a shoestring budget, then you might be willing to wait the extra 5 minutes to save $1. 

Other alternatives to Uber are Be and FastGo, but I really don’t see the need to venture into the less popular apps when Grab has everything you could need.

How To Get Around Vietnam

Even if Uber did exist in Vietnam, it’s unlikely that you would use the app for long rides such as from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. Thankfully, it’s really easy to travel around Vietnam and there are always a few options to choose from.

Train

Train travel in Vietnam is an experience, to say the least. I was in Vietnam for one month and I took 3 train journeys. 

The first was from Nha Trang to Da Nang. The second was from Phong Nha to Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) and the third was from Ninh Binh to Hanoi. All 3 of them were sleeper trains.

Honestly, they’re pretty hectic but fun at the same time. The bunks have barely enough space to even raise your head. I couldn’t sit up at all…it was like being in a coffin. But I had my expectations in check so I was anticipating it.

If you prefer, you can opt for normal seats, but they’re not as comfortable for longer journeys, but for short journeys, they’re worth considering.

I recommend downloading FUTA. It’s how you can book trains easily in Vietnam for the going rate rather than being charged a processing fee through third-party apps.

Bus

Buses made up the majority of my travel throughout Vietnam. I took 10 or more buses during my month in the country, ranging from 2-hour buses to 12-hour sleeper buses.

To be honest, the quality of buses in Vietnam ranges from 5-star luxurious buses with the most comfortable seats I have ever sat on, to 0-star scrapyard-esque buses which barely have seats to sit on.

I recommend booking through 12Go as you can read reviews for each bus company and each journey so you know what the quality is like, and you can compare all of the different price options.

If you choose your buses carefully and book ones with good reviews, then you’ll probably love bus travel in Vietnam. I loved the convenience because you can quite literally get from anywhere to anywhere with a bus in Vietnam. 

Private Car Hire

If you’re a fan of Uber, even for long journeys, then this is the next best thing for you. Since I was on a budget, I tended to avoid private cars, but if budget isn’t a problem, or if you are a family or group of friends, it’s a good choice.

When I was in Mui Ne, I met a man in a shop who was travelling with his family of 4. He told me he was getting a private car from Mui Ne to Hue for around $60. 

A bus ticket from Mui Ne to Hue costs around $15, so if you are a group of 4, it’s the same price to get a car as it is to buy 4 train tickets, and personally, I would much prefer a car to a train.

It’s the most convenient and comfortable way to travel around Vietnam, but it can also be the most expensive. But as I said, if you have a group of people, it’s worth considering. 

Is There Uber In Ho Chi Minh City?

No, there is no Uber in Ho Chi Minh City.

The best alternative is Grab and Ho Chi Minh City is one of the best places to use it in Vietnam. There are hundreds if not thousands of drivers and you are never waiting more than a few seconds for a driver to accept your ride.

Make sure to download Grab before you land in Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) as you can use it to get from the airport to the city, and it’s significantly cheaper than a taxi.

Is There Uber In Hanoi?

No, there is no Uber in Hanoi.

Uber does not operate in Vietnam, Hanoi included. The next best thing is Grab, which is the equivalent of Uber in Southeast Asia.

It’s an all-in-one app and has everything from ride-hailing to food delivery in the same place.

Like Ho Chi Minh City, as one of the major cities, Hanoi also has an abundance of drivers and you are never waiting too long for a ride to come.

Again, make sure you have it downloaded it before landing at the airport as you can use it to get into the city for much cheaper than getting a taxi once you land.

Vietnam is not expensive but some taxis do try to scam you by not using a meter, so Grab prevents any issues.

Is There Uber In Hoi An?

No, Uber does not operate in Hoi An or in the rest of Vietnam.

Grab is Vietnam’s equivalent and it operates in Hoi An. It’s really easy to get a ride in the city but in all honesty, most of the touristy part is very walkable.

You can get Grabs between Hoi An and Da Nang really easily, which is the most common use for Grab when in the city.

The drive between the two destinations is pretty scenic through rice fields and you pass the Marble Mountains.

FAQs

Below are some common questions related to Uber in Vietnam along with my answer to each question.

Conclusion

And there you have it, a complete guide to Uber in Vietnam.

Remember, there is no Uber, but there is Grab, which is even better in my opinion.

If you’re going for longer journeys between destinations, then trains and buses are the best options.

Now that you know to use Grab, make sure to learn how to say goodbye in Vietnam so you can be polite when leaving the car.