This guide covers which companies to trust in each city, what a fair fare looks like in 2026, how meter scams work, and when a taxi still beats Grab or Xanh SM.
The three names worth knowing
Mai Linh is the largest traditional taxi brand in Vietnam, with a presence in most major cities. Cars are green and white, drivers wear uniforms, and the meter starts at a published flagfall. Quality varies by city and by individual driver, but the brand itself is legitimate.
Vinasun is the southern counterpart, strongest in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. White cars with green and red stripes. Vinasun has a reputation for refusing fewer fares than its rivals and for keeping its meters honest.
Xanh SM is the electric taxi arm of Vingroup, launched in 2023 and now operating in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and elsewhere. Cars are bright cyan-blue, silent, and priced through the app. There is no meter to argue about, which removes most of the classic scams in one stroke.
Smaller operators exist. Some are fine. Some are not. If the car does not belong to one of the three brands above, treat the ride as a gamble unless you booked it through an app.
Fares per km in 2026
Prices vary by city, vehicle size and time of day. These are realistic ranges for metered or app-quoted fares in 2026.
| Service | Opening fare | Per km | 10 km city ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mai Linh (4-seat) | 11,000 to 12,000 VND | 14,000 to 16,000 VND | 150,000 to 175,000 VND |
| Vinasun (4-seat) | 11,000 to 12,000 VND | 14,000 to 16,500 VND | 150,000 to 180,000 VND |
| Xanh SM (electric) | 10,000 to 11,000 VND | 13,000 to 15,000 VND | 140,000 to 165,000 VND |
| Grab Car (4-seat) | app-quoted | 12,000 to 16,000 VND | 130,000 to 170,000 VND |
| Grab Bike | app-quoted | 5,000 to 7,000 VND | 40,000 to 60,000 VND |
In USD terms, a 10 km ride costs roughly $6 to $7. That is cheap by Western standards, which is exactly why a scam adding 50 percent to the fare is easy to miss.
Always confirm the fare structure before the wheels move. In a metered taxi, the driver should reset the meter to the flagfall in front of you. In Xanh SM or Grab, the price is locked in the app before you get in.
Airport taxis: where the scams live
Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai in Hanoi are the two biggest trap zones. Both airports have official taxi ranks with staff, and both have touts working the exits, offering "taxi" rides in unmarked cars at two or three times the real price.
At Tan Son Nhat, the official rank is outside the arrivals hall. Mai Linh and Vinasun both have counters. A metered ride to District 1 runs 150,000 to 200,000 VND ($6 to $8) depending on traffic and terminal. Grab and Xanh SM pickups work but require walking to a designated app-pickup zone, which is signed and usually a two to five minute walk.
At Noi Bai, the run to Hoan Kiem district is longer, around 30 km, and costs 350,000 to 450,000 VND ($14 to $18) by meter or app. The airport bus (route 86) costs 45,000 VND and drops at the Old Quarter edge.
For a full breakdown of the Saigon airport run, including bus 109 and the metro connection, see the Tan Son Nhat airport to District 1 guide.
How to spot a fake taxi
Fake taxis copy the livery of Mai Linh or Vinasun almost exactly. The differences are small and deliberate.
- The phone number. Every legitimate Mai Linh car displays 1055. Vinasun displays 028 38 27 27 27. If the number on the door is different, it is not the real company.
- The logo details. Fake Mai Linh cars often have a slightly wrong shade of green or a distorted logo. Look at the phone number first, because it is harder to fake convincingly.
- The meter. A rigged meter jumps in large increments, or starts already above the flagfall. Watch it for the first 30 seconds.
- The driver's uniform. Real Mai Linh and Vinasun drivers wear branded shirts and have a photo ID card on the dashboard. No uniform plus no ID is a red flag.
- The refusal to use the meter. "Meter broken" is the oldest line in the book. Get out.
- The detour. If the driver takes a route that does not match the map on your phone, say so. Apps make this easy to check in real time.
If a driver insists on a flat price at the airport that is more than double the app quote, walk to the official rank or open Grab. The difference is usually 100,000 to 200,000 VND, which is a meal and a coffee.
Taxi vs Grab vs Xanh SM: which to use
Grab remains the default for most travelers. The price is fixed before pickup, the driver's plate and photo appear in the app, and payment can be cash or card. Grab Bike is the fastest option in dense traffic and costs roughly a third of a car. For a full comparison, see Grab Bike vs Grab Car in Vietnam.
Xanh SM is the strongest alternative. Electric cars, fixed app pricing, no haggling, and a fleet that has grown fast in tourist cities. In Da Nang, Hoi An and Phu Quoc, Xanh SM is often the easiest car to book at short notice. The app is in English and Vietnamese.
Traditional taxis still win in three situations. First, when there is no phone signal or data. Second, when the app surge is high and a metered car is cheaper. Third, at smaller train stations and bus stations where app drivers are scarce. Mai Linh and Vinasun are the only two brands worth flagging down on the street.
A useful rule: if the ride is under 5 km and traffic is heavy, take a Grab Bike. If it is over 10 km, compare Grab Car, Xanh SM and a metered taxi. If it is an airport run at 5 am, book Xanh SM or Grab the night before.
City by city: who to trust
Hanoi. Mai Linh and Xanh SM are the safest picks. Vinasun has a smaller presence. The Old Quarter has plenty of fake taxis, especially around Hoan Kiem Lake and the night market. Grab works well but pickup points in the narrow streets can be confusing.
Ho Chi Minh City. Vinasun and Mai Linh dominate, and both are reliable. Xanh SM is widespread. District 1 and the backpacker area around Bui Vien have the highest concentration of fake taxis. The metro line 1 has changed some airport and district-to-district trips; see Saigon Metro Line 1 one year on.
Da Nang. Xanh SM and Grab are both excellent. Mai Linh operates but the app options are usually cheaper and faster. The airport is only 3 km from the city center, so any fare above 100,000 VND is wrong.
Hoi An. No metered taxis cruise the old town. Use Grab or Xanh SM, or take a fixed-price taxi from the rank near the market. The ride from Da Nang airport takes 45 minutes and costs 350,000 to 450,000 VND.
Nha Trang, Da Lat, Hue, Phu Quoc. Grab and Xanh SM cover all four. In Da Lat, metered taxis are less common and app cars are the norm. In Phu Quoc, Xanh SM has expanded quickly but coverage thins out in the north of the island.
Can Tho and the Mekong Delta. Mai Linh is the main reliable brand. Grab works in Can Tho city but not in the smaller delta towns. For more on getting around the delta, see the Mekong Delta itinerary guide.
Meter tricks and how they work
The classic tampered meter adds 20 to 50 percent to the fare over a short ride. It is done with a hidden switch or a modified chip. Newer scams use a phone app that mimics a meter display, which is why checking the actual dashboard meter matters.
A second trick is the "airport surcharge" that does not exist. Some drivers claim a 50,000 VND airport fee on top of the meter. There is no such fee at any Vietnamese airport.
A third is the currency confusion game. The driver claims you handed over a 200,000 VND note when you gave 500,000. Count your notes out loud before handing them over, and say the amount.
A fourth is the "no change" move at the end of the ride. Drivers keep small notes scarce and hope you leave the difference. Carry small denominations.
Screenshot the app quote before you get in a metered taxi. If the meter ends up more than 20 percent above the quote for the same route, pay what the meter says but report the driver to the company hotline. Mai Linh and Vinasun both act on complaints.
Payment, tipping and receipts
All three main companies accept cash. Xanh SM and Grab accept card and e-wallet payments in the app. Mai Linh and Vinasun drivers increasingly accept MoMo and ZaloPay QR codes, but cash is still the default.
Tipping is not expected in a metered taxi. Rounding up to the nearest 10,000 VND is normal and appreciated. For a full picture of when tipping is appropriate, see Tipping in Vietnam 2026.
Ask for a receipt (hóa đơn) if you need one for expenses. Metered taxis print them. App rides send them by email.
When a taxi is the wrong choice
Short trips in District 1 or the Old Quarter are often faster on foot than in a car, especially between 5 pm and 7 pm. Motorbike taxis beat cars on any trip under 4 km in Hanoi or Saigon traffic.
For long intercity runs, a taxi is almost never the right answer. A Hanoi to Ninh Binh taxi costs 1,200,000 to 1,500,000 VND, while a limousine van costs 250,000 to 350,000 VND. For routes like these, see the Hanoi to Ha Giang route comparison or the Vietnam by train guide.
FAQ
Q: Is Grab safer than a taxi in Vietnam? Both are safe. Grab's advantage is the fixed price and the digital record of the trip. A metered Mai Linh or Vinasun taxi is equally safe if you confirm the meter and the company phone number. The risk is fake taxis, not real ones.
Q: How much should a taxi from Hanoi airport to the Old Quarter cost? Between 350,000 and 450,000 VND ($14 to $18) by meter or app. The airport bus route 86 costs 45,000 VND. Anything above 600,000 VND is a scam.
Q: Does Xanh SM work everywhere in Vietnam? Xanh SM operates in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Can Tho and several other cities. Coverage in rural areas and smaller towns is limited. Grab has wider coverage overall.
Q: What do I do if a taxi driver overcharges me? Pay the metered amount only if you are in a real Mai Linh or Vinasun car, then call the company hotline with the plate number. If it is a fake taxi, pay what you reasonably owe and walk away. Do not escalate physically.
Q: Can I pay for a taxi with a credit card? Rarely in traditional taxis. Xanh SM and Grab accept card payments in the app. Carry cash for metered rides.
Q: Are taxis in Vietnam metered or fixed price? Traditional taxis use meters. Xanh SM and Grab use fixed app quotes. Some airport taxis offer flat rates, which are usually higher than the meter.
Q: Is it safe to take a taxi alone at night in Vietnam? Yes, with the same precautions as anywhere. Use Grab or Xanh SM so the trip is tracked, share your route with someone, and avoid unmarked cars. For broader context, see the solo female travel safety guide.
The short version: download Grab and Xanh SM before you land, keep Mai Linh (1055) and Vinasun saved as backups, and never get into a car without confirming the phone number on the door. That combination handles 95 percent of taxi situations in Vietnam without drama.