Last checked: 21 September 2026.
You do not need a phone full of travel apps for Vietnam. A handful cover almost everything: getting around, finding food, talking to people and handling money. Download them at home, while you have fast Wi-Fi, and sign in before you fly.
The short answer: the essential six
- Grab (plus Xanh SM or Be) for rides
- Google Maps, with offline maps downloaded
- Google Translate, with Vietnamese downloaded
- WhatsApp and Zalo for messaging
- Your airline’s app for domestic flights
- A currency converter
Getting around
Grab
Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing app works in every major Vietnamese city, for cars and motorbike taxis. The price is fixed before you ride, which removes any taxi-meter worries, and you can pay with a foreign card. Grab also delivers food. There is no Uber in Vietnam.
Xanh SM and Be
Two local alternatives. Xanh SM runs a fleet of electric cars and bikes and is very common in big cities; Be is another popular option. Having two apps helps at busy times when one shows no cars.
Google Maps
Reliable for walking, restaurants and opening hours. Download each city as an offline map, and save your hotels and meeting points with a star. Addresses are changing after the 2025 administrative reform, so navigating by map pin is safer than typing an address.
Talking to people
Google Translate
Download Vietnamese for offline use. The camera feature translates menus and signs instantly, and conversation mode works for simple exchanges with drivers and shopkeepers.
WhatsApp and Zalo
Many international guides and hotels use WhatsApp. Zalo is Vietnam’s most popular messaging app, used by many drivers, homestays and small businesses. It is worth installing if you will deal directly with local services.
Travel logistics
Your airline’s app
Domestic flight times change more often than you might expect. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and other carriers send updates through their apps. Check the day before and the morning of each flight.
Train tickets
Buy tickets for Vietnam Railways on the official website, or through a trusted agent, a few days ahead in busy periods.
A weather app
Useful all year, and essential in central Vietnam from September to December, when tropical storms can change plans.
Money
- A currency converter such as XE: dong has many zeros, and a quick check avoids mistakes.
- Your bank’s app, with notifications switched on and your bank told you are travelling.
- Vietnamese e-wallets such as MoMo usually need a local bank account, so most visitors pay with cash and card instead.
One habit worth more than any app
Keep a screenshot of each hotel’s name and address in Vietnamese. It works without signal, and showing it to a driver is far easier than pronouncing it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a VPN in Vietnam?
Not to access common apps and websites. Some travellers use one for privacy on public Wi-Fi.
Does Grab accept foreign credit cards?
Yes, in most cases. You can also pay the driver in cash.
Next step: get connected. Read SIM or eSIM in Vietnam.