Hai Phong taxi: 3 verified phone numbers and booking tips

Hai Phong Railway Station is at 75 Luong Khanh Thien Street, Gia Vien Ward; older listings may still show Cau Dat Ward. Cat Bi International Airport is now in Hai An Ward following the 2025 administrative changes. You can skip learning every new ward name to catch a taxi; just enter the actual station, terminal or hotel entrance rather than a vague city name.

1. Three Hai Phong taxi numbers worth saving

Right after arrival, an official dispatch number is sometimes more useful than a long list of companies with unverified contact details. All three belong to the operators themselves. They are not a ranking, and the quickest option will still depend on where you are and whether a suitable car is available.

Green SM introduced its new hotline on 14 April 2026 and discontinued the old 1900 2088 number on 1 June 2026. The company says 1555 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Press 1 for booking or general advice, 2 for service feedback and * for English-language support. Calls to 1555 cost VND 1,000 per minute. That is a phone-call charge, separate from the taxi fare.

The En Vang number is the taxi company’s official contact number. Mai Linh publishes 1055 as its national call number; there is no need to rely on a local landline copied from an old travel directory. Foreign SIMs cannot always dial short local numbers, so try the provider’s app over mobile data or Wi-Fi, or ask your hotel’s front desk to call. Adding +84 to a four-digit shortcode is not a dependable workaround.

Photo: Vuong Tri Binh

There is no single universal Hai Phong taxi number covering every operator. When someone answers, confirm the company name, your pickup location, destination and fare method. A minute spent doing that is much easier than trying to settle a misunderstanding after arriving at your hotel.

2. Green SM, Xanh SM and En Vang: understanding the names

You may see a green taxi, a yellow car branded En Vang, the old Xanh SM name on a travel website and Green SM in the app store. That can look like several different providers. In Hai Phong, the relationship is simpler than it appears.

Xanh SM became Green SM in April 2026. En Vang had already entered an exclusive partnership to operate the Green SM electric taxi service in Hai Phong in October 2024. En Vang partner drivers still take rides through the Green SM Driver app. The two names should therefore not be treated as two entirely separate electric taxi fleets competing head to head in the city.

Photo: Lê Huỳnh Bộ

An electric taxi booked through Green SM can be a convenient choice for short rides around town. For a long transfer, enter the complete destination first. Some electric taxis will not take a trip to Hanoi, Noi Bai Airport or all the way across the ferry to Cat Ba. If an option does not appear, call the operator and ask what it can actually arrange.

3. Is there Grab in Hai Phong?

Yes. GrabCar operates in Hai Phong, including at Cat Bi Airport. Grab announced a driver queue-management feature for GrabCar airport bookings there, effective 8 January 2026. So GrabCar does run at the airport, though a car will not always be waiting when you land.

Open Grab, set your exact pickup and drop-off points and see which car services the app offers at that moment. The price is shown before you commit to a GrabCar ride. Read the fare breakdown carefully: depending on the service and circumstances, tolls, airport access charges, parking fees, ferry charges or changes to the journey may affect the final amount. Grab explains these adjustments in its passenger help center.

Prices can also change with demand. A ride on a quiet weekday afternoon and one immediately after a busy flight arrival might be quoted differently. To compare providers fairly, check Grab and Green SM for the same route within a few minutes of each other. You can also phone a dispatcher for an alternative quote, especially if you are traveling with several bags.

Not every app feature is available in every part of the city. A seven-seat option, advance reservation or another service category may only appear where the platform has capacity.

Visitors who do not speak Vietnamese get another advantage from an app beyond the upfront price. Your destination stays on the screen, so there is less room for confusion over street pronunciation. Still, a correct booking pin matters more than the language of the interface.

4. Cat Bi airport taxi: where and how to meet your driver

Cat Bi International Airport uses the code HPH and serves Hai Phong itself. It is not Noi Bai Airport, which serves Hanoi. The drive between Cat Bi and the older central area of Hai Phong is roughly 9-10 km and often takes 20-30 minutes, depending on the hotel and traffic. Those are road-journey estimates; clearing the arrivals area takes extra time.

Photo: Challenger2016

After collecting your luggage, open your booking app and check the designated pickup point before walking outside. Ride-hailing pickup areas may sit some distance from the curb immediately in front of the door you have used. Follow the app’s directions, airport signs and instructions from staff, especially when several flights have arrived together.

Use the airport Wi-Fi, where available, to confirm your booking and save a screenshot of the license plate, driver’s name and pickup instructions. Without mobile data, you can still call Green SM, En Vang or Mai Linh instead. Tell the dispatcher that you are at Cat Bi Airport arrivals, state the number of people and bags, and ask exactly where the driver will meet you.

The airport is now in Hai An Ward. You may still find older addresses listing Thanh To Ward or the former Hai An District, but choosing the named airport terminal in the app is safer than choosing an outdated administrative label. The official airport location will normally be clearer than a manually entered street address.

Heading straight to Cat Ba Island after your flight? Ask the driver to identify the actual ferry or boat terminal. “Cat Ba transfer” may mean a short taxi journey to a mainland pier or a car that takes you to your accommodation on the island. Those are very different services.

5. Getting a taxi from Hai Phong Railway Station

The main Hai Phong Railway Station is at 75 Luong Khanh Thien Street, Gia Vien Ward. Older documents call the area Cau Dat Ward, Ngo Quyen District. Both names may still surface in search results, but the street address and station entrance are what you should give a driver.

The station is in the traditional city center. It is not Thuong Ly Station, which is a different stop. A train ticket that says Hai Phong means Hai Phong Railway Station, so choose that in the taxi app rather than picking the first railway icon that appears on the map.

When you leave the platform, move to a suitable passenger pickup area and check where the app has placed its pin. Should a driver call, you can say you are at the railway station’s main entrance and mention a nearby visible sign. Drag the pin or select a permitted stopping place if it lands around the corner. With suitcases, a misplaced pin can turn a simple five-minute pickup into a long search along the street.

Many hotels around the Opera House and older shopping streets are relatively close to the station. Depending on your luggage and the weather, walking may be perfectly reasonable. But there is no prize for dragging a heavy case through rain or across a busy street just to avoid one short taxi trip.

Changing from a train to a flight means allowing time to leave the station, find your car and complete check-in at Cat Bi. The often-quoted 20-30-minute airport drive is only one part of that transfer. A confirmed evening booking is usually less stressful than hoping for an immediate match at dawn before an early departure.

6. Booking from a hotel, restaurant or side street

At a large hotel, the hotel name may be enough for an app to find the front entrance. Smaller guesthouses and serviced apartments can be harder. Some have an entrance in a narrow lane while their map pin sits on the main road; others use a building name shared by several properties.

Use the street number, street name and a map pin together. If the pickup is awkward, mention a clear landmark such as the nearest shop sign or the entrance that faces the main road. A driver should not have to guess which end of a long street you are standing on.

Photo: Én Vàng Taxi

A Vietnamese phrase you can show on your phone is “Cho tôi đến địa chỉ này” - “Please take me to this address.” To check a negotiated long-distance journey, try “Giá này đã gồm phí cao tốc chưa?” - “Does this price include motorway tolls?” A written address and the booking details matter more than a perfect accent.

Hotels can help confirm where a car is legally able to stop, particularly on busy central streets. After dinner, arrange to meet at a specific entrance rather than somewhere vaguely “near the restaurant.” A little precision saves a lot of unnecessary calling back and forth.

Around the compact central area, mix taxi rides with walking or local public transport. A car makes sense when you have luggage, when the weather turns or when the next stop is across town. Between two nearby food stops, waiting for a driver to loop around a one-way street may take longer than walking.

7. How taxi fares in Hai Phong are calculated

Vietnam does not require every taxi journey to use one universal per-kilometer rate. Since 1 January 2025, taxi operators can calculate fares by an inspected and sealed meter, by connected fare-calculation software, or by an agreed fare with the transport company based on its published price schedule. Licensed taxi vehicles must display the prescribed “XE TAXI” permit sticker inside the front windshield.

On a metered journey, the final amount follows the actual trip and the operator’s applicable tariff. Ask whether the car will run on the meter before you leave, and make sure it is visible from the passenger area. An agreed fare with the company is a different arrangement; do not mix the two methods halfway through the journey without clear confirmation.

On qualifying software-based taxi journeys, the passenger-facing system must provide information before transport begins, including the company, driver, registration plate, route, distance and total charge. This is why a booking screen is worth reading before you tap through.

For a traditional taxi booked by phone, ask the dispatcher whether the trip uses the meter or an agreed price. On a long-distance transfer, ask for the entire amount, not a rate per kilometer that might omit important costs. A quote is only useful if both sides are talking about the same start point, destination, vehicle type and route.

8. What to ask before accepting a long-distance quote

Trips outside Hai Phong call for written confirmation of these details. Is the journey one way or return? Are motorway tolls and bridge charges included? What about airport access and parking fees? Is there a waiting allowance? If the driver waits while you have lunch, does a separate charge begin? And if the car takes a ferry, who buys the vehicle and passenger tickets?

Also specify how many passengers and bags are coming. A quote for a standard car does not cover a seven-seat vehicle with a large luggage load. Mention any extra stop before the operator calculates the trip.

It is reasonable to ask the dispatcher to repeat the final pickup time and total price in a text message. That gives both you and the driver a clear reference. At the end, check the receipt before making an additional payment. If something differs from what was agreed, contact the booking platform or company using the official channel rather than arguing over an unexplained amount beside the car.

Clear information, an official booking channel and a fare method agreed before departure do more than aggressive haggling with every taxi driver in Hai Phong.

9. Hai Phong taxi with 7 seats: luggage matters too

A seven-seat taxi is not the same as a guaranteed seven-person airport transfer with room for everyone’s large suitcases. When the rear row of seats is occupied, luggage space can be limited. A group of five or six carrying multiple full-size bags should ask for the vehicle’s seating and storage arrangement before paying or confirming the booking.

Call En Vang, Mai Linh or Green SM using the official numbers above and explain exactly what you need. Say how many adults, children, cabin bags and large suitcases you have. If Grab displays a larger-car service for your area, select that category rather than booking a smaller car and hoping that it can fit your group.

Mention any mobility assistance requirements. With a young child who needs a child safety seat, ask the operator about the availability of a suitable restraint and the rules applicable to your trip. Never assume a standard taxi will arrive with the equipment you need.

A little extra space makes a significant difference on a long drive to Hanoi or Noi Bai. Choose a vehicle that can safely accommodate the passengers and luggage rather than simply picking the smallest number on the screen.

10. Hai Phong to Noi Bai airport taxi: timing the transfer

A taxi from central Hai Phong to Noi Bai International Airport generally needs around 2-3 hours on the road in ordinary conditions. Traffic, the precise pickup address and the destination terminal can change that estimate. It is a proper intercity transfer.

Tell the dispatcher which Noi Bai terminal you need - T1 or T2 - and provide your flight departure time. The terminal matters, as does the time you must actually be there for airline check-in. Start planning backwards from the airline’s check-in requirement rather than the scheduled takeoff.

Book ahead if you have a flight to catch, particularly for a very early departure. Include your hotel address, date, pickup time, passenger count, luggage and preferred vehicle type. Ask whether the proposed price includes tolls, airport access fees, parking and any planned waiting time. Ask for any fixed trip amount in writing before the pickup.

An app may also show a ride to Noi Bai. Enter the full airport terminal and see whether the service permits the route. An option that appears for a short trip around town may vanish for a much longer journey. Do not rely on an assumed distance-based calculation when you can ask the company for the full quotation.

For a Noi Bai-to-Hai Phong arrival transfer, the same checks apply in reverse. Provide your flight number and arrival terminal, and ask how delays are handled. On an international arrival, passport control and baggage claim can add substantial uncertainty to the exact time you reach the meeting point.

11. Taxi from Hai Phong to Hanoi: the destination changes the trip

Central Hai Phong to central Hanoi is roughly 110-130 km by road, depending on the exact locations and route. Via the expressway, allow around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes when traffic is favorable, with additional time possible when entering Hanoi during peak periods.

Ask someone where in Hanoi they are going and the answer might be the Old Quarter, Long Bien, My Dinh, a business district farther west or the airport. Those are not interchangeable destinations. Do not ask for a “Hai Phong to Hanoi taxi” quotation without supplying the full address.

A private car makes sense for a family or a small group with luggage, especially if the destination is well away from a railway station or bus stop. A solo traveler with flexible plans may find the train or an intercity coach a more economical and equally practical option. There is no need to book an entire vehicle when a scheduled service gets you close to where you need to be.

For a same-day return, ask whether the quote includes waiting while you attend a meeting or visit a place. A one-way ride and a car hired for several hours are different products. The operator should know in advance if you intend to change stops or travel back with the same driver.

Send the driver the actual accessible entrance of your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Some streets have restricted vehicle access at certain times, and being dropped near a walkable entrance can be better than asking a driver to reach a door that cars cannot legally access.

12. From Hai Phong to Ha Long: get the right cruise port

The drive from central Hai Phong to the Ha Long passenger cruise port area in Bai Chay is approximately 49 km and may take 45-60 minutes when roads are clear. Add a margin for port check-in, luggage handling and traffic. A cruise departure time is not the same as the time the operator expects you at its meeting counter.

This is where a destination name can become expensive. Bai Chay, Ha Long International Cruise Port and Tuan Chau should not be treated as one identical pickup or drop-off address. Your cruise confirmation should state its actual terminal or check-in office. Send that address to the taxi company before you leave Hai Phong.

For a private transfer, give the cruise operator’s check-in time and ask the driver to plan arrival before that, not exactly at the moment the boat departs. If you are returning to Hai Phong the same evening, agree on the return pickup location and time as well. Cruise passengers often come ashore in a crowd, and “pick me up at Ha Long” is not a usable meeting instruction.

Before accepting a quote, ask about expressway tolls and any detours or extra stops. A resort or harbor elsewhere around the bay needs its own quote, separate from Bai Chay.

13. Hai Phong to Cat Ba by taxi: two piers, one important decision

Cat Ba is still part of Hai Phong, but there is water between the mainland approach and the island. For a car journey, the key crossing is Dong Bai Ferry Terminal to Cai Vieng Ferry Terminal. Dong Bai is on the Cat Hai side; Cai Vieng is on Cat Ba Island. From Cai Vieng you still have a road transfer to Cat Ba Town and most hotels.

The former Got ferry terminal was replaced by Dong Bai on 1 March 2024. Some older guides continue to use the Got name. When arranging a taxi, say Dong Bai Ferry Terminal and ask the company to confirm it understands the operating terminal.

Before booking, decide whether you want a taxi only to Dong Bai or a vehicle and driver all the way to your Cat Ba hotel. If the car is taking the ferry, ask whether it can board, whether ferry tickets are included, how vehicle queues are handled and what happens if you miss the last crossing. Otherwise, you will need to arrange another transfer from Cai Vieng after leaving the ferry.

By road from central Hai Phong to Cat Ba Town via the ferry, allow approximately 2-3 hours in normal conditions, longer when the ferry queue is busy. This is not a fixed travel-time guarantee. The road trip to Dong Bai, waiting, the crossing and the road from Cai Vieng all take time.

If you are traveling without a vehicle and want to reach Cat Ba Town, compare the taxi-plus-ferry arrangement with a direct passenger speedboat from Ben Binh or a combined ticket that covers the necessary transfers. These can spare you a separate search for another car on the island. Check where the boat actually departs and where it drops you, since packages sold as “Cat Ba transfers” do not all end at the hotel door.

On a day trip to Cat Ba, work backwards from the last return crossing before arranging your taxi on the island. Leaving a restaurant at 5:30 pm is not the same as being at Cai Vieng ready for a 5:30 pm ferry.

14. When to book in advance

An on-demand app is often all you need for a short ride between central hotels. Open it, compare the live options and choose a car with a sensible pickup time. There is no benefit to fixing every five-minute transfer days ahead when you can simply walk or book when ready.

For early airport departures, a large group needing a particular vehicle, a transfer to Noi Bai or a cruise with a strict check-in time, booking ahead is the better choice. This does not guarantee an empty road or a driver arriving to the second, but it gives you a chance to confirm the details in a calm way.

Keep a written record of the operator, date, pickup time, full pickup and drop-off addresses, vehicle type, fare method and contact number. If the driver is not the same person who took your booking, having those details available is especially helpful.

An app screenshot from the previous day is not a guaranteed price for a new booking today. Confirm the current amount when making the actual reservation. A vague verbal estimate on a phone booking is not an all-inclusive fixed fare. Ask the dispatcher to state what is included.

Traveling to a ferry or cruise port brings another deadline into the equation. You must arrive early enough to check in and board. A car that is scheduled to arrive at exactly the final departure time is too late, even if everything goes perfectly on the road.

15. Five ways to avoid overpaying or taking the wrong car

Use the operator’s official channel. Book through the provider’s own app or an official dispatch number. Be cautious about anonymous signs and unofficial offers from people who approach you outside a terminal.

Enter the complete destination. A hotel name, street number and pin are more reliable than “somewhere in central Hai Phong.” Confirm the correct railway station, ferry terminal or cruise port when several similar names exist.

Know which fare method applies. Metered, app-calculated and operator-agreed fares are different. For intercity transfers, a full quotation with tolls and waiting conditions is more informative than a vague per-kilometer number.

Check the car before boarding. Match the registration plate, driver’s name and booking details. A green or yellow paint job is not enough. If the vehicle differs from your assigned ride, contact support before changing cars.

Keep the trip details. Save the booking and check the receipt. If you think an additional charge is wrong, you will have the route, time and operator details needed to raise a clear question.

Most rides are routine. These checks are not about treating every driver with suspicion; they are about removing the predictable points of confusion before the car moves.

16. Other journeys around Hai Phong

For Do Son, a taxi can be convenient, but specify whether you mean a particular beach section, hotel or another address in the resort area. If you intend to return to the city that day, ask the operator about the return trip rather than assuming a car will be available wherever you finish.

Within the older city center, walking, buses and taxis all have their place. A taxi is practical from the airport with bags, across town in heavy rain or after an evening meal. On short stretches between nearby cafés and sightseeing stops, you may spend more time waiting for a car than simply going on foot.

For Hanoi, compare a private car with scheduled trains and coaches. Heading to Ha Long, decide which port your boat actually uses. For Cat Ba, think about the journey as separate legs: taxi or bus to the pier, boat or ferry across, then transport on the island. Booking only the first leg can leave you with one more transfer than you expected.

If you are traveling around the wider municipality after the 2025 administrative reorganization, do not assume that the same app availability applies everywhere labeled “Hai Phong.” Vehicle supply near the traditional urban center and Cat Bi Airport may be different from supply in more distant areas. Check the exact pickup point in the app or ask the dispatcher before planning a tight connection.

Cat Ba taxi transfers from now until 31 December 2026 need the car and crossing plan confirmed the day before: the published last ferry is 6:00 pm from Dong Bai and 5:30 pm from Cai Vieng. For a flight from Noi Bai or a Ha Long cruise, use the check-in time on your ticket as your deadline, not the driver’s estimated arrival time.