
As is widely known, Uber was taken over by Grab in most Southeast Asian countries and is now a popular choice for transportation in the region.
Is Grab safe in Vietnam? Straight off the bat, I say yes. I would never put myself in any danger, but more importantly my family also and while travelling in Ho Chi Minh City, I never had a bit of fear in using Grab ride-hailing transportation.
I do have a few pet hates in life. One is getting ripped off and being taken advantage of in life, especially when in a vulnerable situation. It’s life’s little cruel acts that happen to us all from time to time that annoy me. I know, I know, it’s only small things. But, we all have those little things that piss us off, and it is each to their own.
As a traveller, I am always mindful of such circumstances when travelling abroad, primarily locals who think they can up the price upon clumsy tourists — for example, getting the cost-driven up on you while shopping at a local market, or a taxi driver ripping you off by a deliberately taking a more extended route home.
You all know what I am talking about and I am sure you have been there and seen it all before.
Enter Uber in Vietnam, now Grab. You know, that new craze taking the world by storm. Where you order a driver through the Uber app on your phone, the fee is pre-determined and pre-paid by your registered credit card. From day one into Vietnam, Grab truly was my saviour when I ventured into Ho Chi Minh City, and it became a useful friend and my number one means of transports, so often I used it at least 20 times in a two week period.
Are you Heading to Vietnam? Check for hotels on TripAdvisor!

Is Uber safe in Vietnam? You bet it is.
The Ease of using (Grab) Uber in Vietnam
Convenience is the key when using Grab anywhere in Southeast Asia. You know the fee before you get in the car. No ifs, no buts, no arguments. You don’t get ripped off by the driver and vice-versa, you can’t cheat the driver. It’s a win-win situation for all involved.
Sure you may run into a little trouble from time to time, I didn’t, but we don’t live in a perfect world, but in my own opinion, Grab is safe in Vietnam and very convenient.
Save your coins
No need to get your foreign cash-out or go digging for your coins, save your money for shopping in the markets or a good meal where you take advantage of a delicious Vietnamese soup.
When you sign up, it’s valid in any Grab operating country, and your credit card is registered through the Grab app, and the rest is taken care of for itself, from the moment you click for a driver on the smartphone.
Grab is cheaper than a taxi
I used a taxi once in Ho Chi Minh City, what a fool, but to be fair it was when I first entered the city from the airport, and I was still getting my bearings right. In saying that, I know on average I saved from that trip with a taxi and it’s fair to say I saved a good 4-5 dollars per trip, using Uber over a standard taxi.
Maybe it doesn’t seem such a big deal for a single trip, but times it by ten and all the sudden you’re looking at a significant saving. That equals a heck of a lot of meals or singlets in a Southeast Asian country.
The drivers are quite cool and Friendly
The driver’s got me from point A to point B in a safe manner. In Vietnam as you are probably aware, the locals English is not so good, so the drive is rather quiet, but you get to your destination safely, and timely manner as the driver does his best to dodge the insane traffic of Saigon.
I had to get out of my comfort zone in a foreign country to get hooked on to Uber, I never use it much in Australia because I have no real need to do so, and while I know their services have been around a while, I’m just glad I got hooked on Uber in Vietnam and with the number of times I used their services, I saved a heap of cash and never had one bit of fear using the services.
Yes, Grab or Uber in Vietnam is safe.

Uber your way around Ho Chi Minh City

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Hi Anthony,
Uber is brilliant.
Inexpensive and the set price – before the ride – is beyond convenient.
As 3rd world cultures see the value in Uber old taxis and tuk tuks will go the way of the dinosaur. While bartering prices the Uber driver just got paid and tourists got from A to B quickly and safely. Also dig the review system too; keeps both sides honest.
We Uber regularly here in Qatar. Nepali driver gave us a freaking guided tour the other day. As we sat in traffic – happens all the time here – he generously shared all types of tidbits about Doha and Qatar in general.
45 minute drive. 10 USD. Awesome man, awesome.
I reckon Vietnamese Ubers speak little English but a smile and Thank You in Vietnamese go a long way. Or even a Thank You in English because it’s kinda universal.
Cool post dude.
Ryan
Thanks a heap for your comment Ryan.
Uber was the saviour in Vietnam no doubt, especially when travelling with a family of four. It certainly was worth the ten minute wait, even though Taxi’s were always available.
Uber is quite new to me, while it is available in Australia, it is not in the town I live in. It was great to experience it and trust that it is the real deal.
Cheers.
That is a great savings just by using Uber! Thanks for the tip.
No worries. Thanks for commenting.