Quick facts
| App | What it is for | Useful to know |
|---|---|---|
| Grab | Cars, motorbikes, food, delivery | Cash or card; 4% fee on foreign cards |
| Be | Motorbikes, cars, taxis, airport rides | App in English and Vietnamese |
| Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) | Electric car taxis and electric motorbikes | Booking hotline 1555 |
| Zalo | Messages and calls with people in Vietnam | Sign-up confirms a phone number |
| Messages and calls with home | Stays on your home number | |
| MoMo | E-wallet payments | Accepts foreign passports for verification |
All of these need mobile data when you are away from Wi-Fi. VietSim sells prepaid eSIMs for that, so we have a commercial interest in this page.
Grab
Grab offers GrabCar, GrabBike, GrabTaxi, GrabFood, GrabMart and GrabExpress in Vietnam. You see the fare before you book and follow the driver on the map.
Paying. As of September 2026, Grab’s Vietnam help centre lists these cashless methods: payment cards, ZaloPay, MoMo and Viettel Money. Cash is also accepted. Two details matter for visitors:
- Since 18 March 2024, a 4% foreign payment fee (VAT included) applies to cards issued outside Vietnam. It is charged on the final amount, excluding tips.
- Cash cannot be set as the default payment method, and you cannot combine two methods for one booking.
Be
Be is a Vietnamese app for beBike, beCar, beTaxi and airport rides, plus food and delivery. Its site lists service in Hồ Chí Minh City, Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng, Nha Trang, Huế and many other provinces. The app is available in English and Vietnamese.
Green SM (formerly Xanh SM)
Green SM is an electric taxi company that was called Xanh SM. It offers Green SM Car, Green SM Premium and Green SM Bike, an electric motorbike service. You book in the Green SM app or on the hotline 1555.
Zalo
Zalo is Vietnam’s own messaging app. VietNamNet reported 78.3 million monthly active users in mid-2025, and 2 billion messages a day. If a Vietnamese contact sends you a Zalo link, this is the app you need.
Zalo’s help page describes sign-up as: enter your name and phone number, then confirm the number to activate the account. Install it before you fly, while your home number receives SMS easily.
WhatsApp keeps working when you switch to a Vietnamese SIM or eSIM, because the account stays on the number you registered. WhatsApp only asks for a new code if you register again. It sends that code by SMS or phone call, so keep your home line reachable. Telegram is a different case: Vietnam ordered operators to block it in May 2025. More detail is in the Vietnam phone and internet FAQ.
E-wallets and banking
Vietnamese payments run heavily through e-wallets and bank apps, and both are tied to verified identities.
- MoMo says it accepts foreign passports to verify a wallet account.
- Bank transfers. Since 1 July 2024, the State Bank of Vietnam has required biometric authentication for online transfers over VND 10 million. Below that, a one-time code is enough while the daily total stays under VND 20 million.
When a Vietnamese number helps
Apps send one-time codes by SMS. A code to your home number works if your home line can receive SMS abroad. A Vietnamese number helps when a hotel, driver or delivery needs to call you locally. Some VinaPhone plans on VietSim include a Vietnamese number for incoming calls and SMS; the plan card says so. See the VinaPhone eSIM plans or all plans in the Vietnam eSIM store.
Before you fly
- Install Grab, one other ride app, Zalo and your maps app over home Wi-Fi.
- Sign in to each app while your home number receives SMS.
- Add a card to Grab if you do not want to carry cash for rides.
- Install your eSIM: see how to install an eSIM.