Taxis in Nha Trang: Grab, Xanh SM, Be or Maxim — which app to install
How to get a taxi in Nha Trang: how Grab, Xanh SM, Maxim and Be differ, what to do without mobile data, getting from Cam Ranh airport, and how not to overpay.
In Nha Trang you get a taxi through an app. Install Grab or Xanh SM before you fly: you see the fare before you book, and you never have to explain the address to the driver. Maxim is handy if you want an app in Russian, and Be is a good backup. No mobile data yet? Call the Mai Linh or Taxi Quốc Tế dispatch line and make sure the meter is running.
Which app should I install?
| App | What you can book | Why it's useful |
|---|---|---|
| Grab | 4- or 7-seat car, motorbike | works in town and at Cam Ranh airport; you can book a car in advance |
| Xanh SM | VinFast electric car | lots of cars; besides the app there's a hotline, 1900 2088 |
| Maxim | taxi, courier | app in English, Vietnamese and Russian |
| Be | motorbike, 4- or 7-seat car, taxi | Vietnamese app, useful when the others can't find you a car |
Install two apps from the start. If one can't find a car, switch to the other.
Why start with Grab?
Most people who have travelled in Southeast Asia already know Grab. In Nha Trang you get GrabCar, GrabCar 7 and GrabBike. You can pay in cash or by card and sign up with a foreign phone number. The app has a chat with automatic translation, which helps when the driver can't find you.
One quirk: until you're actually in Nha Trang, the city may not show up in the app. That's normal — it appears once you arrive.
What's good about Xanh SM?
Xanh SM runs VinFast electric cars. It has been in Nha Trang since June 2023, and you'll see plenty of its green cars around town. Book in the Xanh SM app, call 1900 2088, or simply wave one down in the street. The app shows the fare before you book.
If the verification code doesn't reach your foreign number, try again in a couple of minutes or sign up with a Vietnamese SIM.
Why have Maxim too?
Maxim works in English, Vietnamese and Russian, so you don't have to deal with a Vietnamese-only menu. We use Maxim ourselves to get around town. You book rides in the app; the office at 5 Phạm Văn Đồng (Mon–Fri 8:00–18:00) is only for questions to the company.
What if I have no mobile data?
The apps need mobile data, so get a SIM card on day one — our guide SIM card in Nha Trang explains how.
Until then, call a regular taxi company:
- Mai Linh — dispatch line 0258 38 38 38 38, nationwide 1055; it also has its own app, Taxi Mai Linh;
- Taxi Quốc Tế — 0258 352 52 52, also goes to the airport;
- Sun Taxi — 0258 389 89 89, silver cars with an orange stripe; the Sun Taxi app is Android-only;
- Vinasun — 0258 3827 272; some lists print 0258 827 2727, so if one number doesn't answer, try the other;
- Taxi Asia (Á Châu) — 0258 3535 353 or 0258 6256 888; directories disagree.
If you hail a taxi in the street, only get into a company car with a logo and a number on the side, and check that the meter is on from the start.
How do I get from Cam Ranh airport?
The airport is 35 km from town. You can book Grab or Xanh SM right from the arrivals hall. Grab pick-up is at the international terminal exit and at gates A and B of the domestic terminal. Landing at night or travelling with kids? A pre-booked transfer is easier. Every option, including bus 18, is in our guide from Cam Ranh airport to Nha Trang.
How do I avoid overpaying?
- Check the fare in the app before booking, and compare two apps.
- Don't go with drivers who walk up to you at the airport or your hotel offering a "taxi".
- Check the plate: it should match the one shown in the app.
- Keep some small dong notes — drivers often don't have change for big ones.
The apps are listed in the taxi apps section; transfers and taxi companies are in taxis and transfers.
FAQ
Does Grab work in Nha Trang? Yes. GrabCar (4 and 7 seats) and GrabBike work in town and at Cam Ranh airport.
Which taxi app works in English? Maxim has an English interface, and Grab is available in English too. Grab also has a chat with automatic translation for messaging the driver.
Can I hail a taxi in the street? Yes. Xanh SM and company taxis stop in the street. Only get into a car with a company logo and a running meter.
Do I need a Vietnamese SIM? The apps need mobile data. Grab lets you sign up with a foreign number, but a local SIM is easier — the driver can call you.
Can I pay by card? In Grab, yes — cash or card. In the other apps, check the payment options in settings before your first ride.
How much does a taxi cost? It depends on distance, time of day and demand. The app shows the exact fare before you book.
Sources and checks
App details were checked on 1 October 2026 against the official pages: Xanh SM in Nha Trang, Be services, Maxim in Nha Trang and Grab at Cam Ranh airport. We also used The Leader's report on Xanh SM's Nha Trang launch (1 June 2023), the vietnamtourism.com guide to Grab (updated 30 May 2026) and a TripAdvisor forum thread on taxi apps in Nha Trang. Phone numbers for Mai Linh, Taxi Quốc Tế, Sun Taxi, Vinasun and Taxi Asia come from our catalogue listings (the last three checked on 12 October 2026; for Vinasun and Taxi Asia the sources give different numbers, so we list both); the 1055 line and the Mai Linh app are from the official mailinh.vn site (opened 12 October 2026). What we say about Maxim is from our own rides. Text updated 13 October 2026.