Grab, Xanh SM and Taxi Fares in Ho Chi Minh City: Avoiding Overcharges
Grab's official fare table for Ho Chi Minh City, the electric taxi Xanh SM, official fares and payment methods for Vinasun and Mai Linh taxis, and the taxi meter rules in force since 2025. Using a ride-hailing app and matching the license plate avoids most fare disputes.
Which is safer in Ho Chi Minh City, Grab or a taxi?
App-booked cars (Grab, Xanh SM, Be) are the most predictable, because the fare is shown in the app before departure and the route is recorded. Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseas travel safety guidance also recommends using taxi apps to reduce the risk of being overcharged by taxis in Vietnam. If you must hail on the street, choose a large taxi company that publishes an official fare table, such as Vinasun or Mai Linh.
How is the Grab fare calculated?
Grab Vietnam's official page lists the following GrabCar fares for Ho Chi Minh City (as of the verified date).
- 4-seater: first 2 km VND 25,000, then VND 9,000 per km + VND 300 per minute
- 7-seater: first 2 km VND 30,000, then VND 11,000 per km + VND 300 per minute
- GrabCar Plus: first 2 km VND 30,000, then VND 11,500 per km + VND 500 per minute
- Night surcharge: VND 10,000 for trips between 22:00 and 05:59
- Surge pricing applies at times of high demand. Tolls, airport access fees, and parking are paid by the passenger on top of the app fare.
The same distance can cost nearly twice as much during a rainy evening rush hour, so if you are not in a hurry, check again 10–20 minutes later. You can pay with a foreign-issued card registered in the app.
What is Xanh SM and how is it different?
Xanh SM (now written Green SM) is an electric taxi service that launched in Hanoi in April 2023 and began operating in Ho Chi Minh City on the 30th of the same month. It uses only VinFast electric vehicles, and since August 2023 it has also offered electric motorbike rides (Green SM Bike). You can book via the app or hail one on the street, and the hotline is 1555. Payment can be cash, the in-car card terminal, a credit or debit card registered in the app, or the MoMo e-wallet. Motorbike rides carry a VND 10,000 night surcharge between 22:00 and 05:59.
How much do regular taxis cost?
Based on Vinasun's official fare table (VAT included).
- 4-seater: first 500 m VND 16,000, then VND 16,400 per km up to 25 km, VND 13,500 per km from the 26th km
- 7-seater: first 500 m VND 17,000, then VND 18,200 per km up to 25 km, VND 15,900 per km from the 26th km
- Payment: cash, Visa and Mastercard, local ATM cards, app payment (MoMo, QR)
Vinasun's booking line is (028) 38 27 27 27, and Mai Linh's nationwide call center is 1055. Mai Linh uses regional fare tables and has accepted Apple Pay on its in-car terminals since 2023.
Under Vietnam's road transport decree (158/2024/NĐ-CP), in force since January 1, 2025, taxi meters must be inspected and sealed by the metrology authority, and a receipt printer connected to the meter must issue a receipt at the end of the trip. A reflective "XE TAXI" sign must be fixed to the windshield. Avoid any car missing these three things.
What are the four habits that prevent overcharging?
- Match the license plate to the app screen before getting in. There have been reports of cars impersonating Grab drivers at Ho Chi Minh City's airport and overcharging.
- In a taxi, check that the meter is switched on, and get a receipt when you get out. In 2023 Ho Chi Minh City transport authorities caught taxis fitted with meter-tampering devices at the airport and sanctioned the companies and drivers. A receipt makes it easy to file a complaint.
- Carry small bills for cash. Disputes over change for large bills are the most common.
- If a large amount looks wrong, contact the app's customer service or the taxi company's call center on the spot.
Ride-hailing apps are especially useful for stores outside downtown. GayoGayo stores a little farther from Bến Thành, such as the Korean barbecue restaurant in the former District 10 or the northern Vietnamese restaurant in An Phú, are a direct Grab ride away.
KBB COOK Korean BBQ Buffet15% 优惠券 · CC10, Trường Sơn, Cư xá Bắc Hải, Hòa Hưng, Hồ Chí Minh 700000
HÀ BÉO - HƯƠNG VỊ BẮC15% 优惠券 · 72-73 Song Hành, Khu đô thị An Phú An Khánh, An Khánh, Hồ Chí MinhAll discount stores in Ho Chi Minh City are at 查看胡志明市全部优惠店铺 ›, and airport pickup points are at Tân Sơn Nhất Airport to Bến Thành: Bus 109, Grab, and Taxi Options.
Verified date and sources
Verified on: 2026-10-10. Fares are as of the verified date, and each company adjusts them from time to time. The app screen and the in-car fare table take precedence.
- Grab Vietnam official — Ho Chi Minh City GrabCar fare table, night surcharge, surge pricing, tolls and airport fees extra: grab.com
- Vietnam Government Portal (2023-04-14) — Xanh SM launch in Hanoi, VinFast electric vehicles: thanglong.chinhphu.vn
- GSM official press release (2023-04-28) — start of service in Ho Chi Minh City (April 30): greensm.com
- GSM official — payment methods: greensm.com · Green SM Bike night surcharge: greensm.com
- Vinasun official fare table and payment methods: vinasun.vn · Mai Linh official (call center 1055, Apple Pay): mailinh.vn
- Road transport Decree 158/2024/NĐ-CP, Article 6 — taxi meter inspection and sealing, receipts, XE TAXI sign: hethongphapluat.com
- Tuổi Trẻ News (2023-06-21) — airport taxi meter tampering caught and sanctioned: news.tuoitre.vn
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseas travel safety — Vietnam safety information (recommends taxi apps): 0404.go.kr
Photo: Vinasun taxi, Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
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