Does Hanoi, Vietnam have Uber?

How do you get around in Hanoi Vietnam?

Hanoi moves fast. Keep up.

• Airport Taxi: Expect to pay 350,000-400,000 VND (USD 15-20) from Noi Bai. Bargain, always.

• City Taxi: plentiful; meter’s your friend. Watch for scams. Seriously.

• Grab: Bike and car. Your phone’s best friend here.

• E-Buses: Cheap. Routes? Learn them. (Or get lost.)

• Cyclo: Tourist trap alert. If you must, negotiate hard.

• Xe Om (Motorcycle Taxi): Risky, but fast. Helmet on, life in your hands.

• Scooter Rental: Proceed at your own peril. Hanoi traffic eats the unwary. Insurance? Questionable. My knee still remembers that pothole from last year. Maybe it was the year before.

Airport Alternatives:

• Airport Bus: Significantly cheaper. Drops you off at designated points. Be prepared to walk or grab a shorter ride.
• Pre-booked Transfer: Arranged in advance. Supposedly reliable, but verify reviews.

City Navigation Notes:

• Walking: Viable in the Old Quarter. Beware of sidewalks occupied by vendors, parked bikes, and sometimes, rogue chickens.
• Negotiate EVERYTHING: Prices are rarely fixed. Smile, haggle, walk away if needed. Seriously, WALK.AWAY.
• Traffic Lights: Suggestion, not law. Be assertive.
• Honking: Constant. It’s not personal. Or maybe it is. Who knows?
• Crosswalks: Treat them as suggestions as well.
• Street Food: Embrace it. Be cautious, but embrace it.
• Water: Bottled, always bottled.
• Sim Card: Get one. Data is cheap. Navigation is priceless.
• Learn basic Vietnamese phrases: “Hello,” “Thank you,” “How much?” show respect.
• Personal Experience: I once paid triple for a ride because I was too trusting. Never again. Grab bikes saved me so much during travels in 2023, but don’t do what I did, and forget to bring your helmit. Don’t trust the weather for the ride.