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Motorcycle taxis in Hanoi, Bangkok and Jakarta: what to know
In Hanoi, Bangkok and Jakarta, a motorcycle taxi is how a lot of people get through traffic. You sit behind the driver, slip past the jams, and get off at the door with no parking to find. Apps like Grab and Gojek now let you call one from anywhere, but street drivers still wait on the corner.
Hanoi: hop on a xe ôm and hold on
In Vietnam a motorcycle taxi is a xe ôm, which means "motorbike hug". The name comes from the passenger holding on to the driver.
It makes sense in a country that had about 45 million motorbikes in 2017. You don't fight the scooter traffic in Hanoi. You join it.
- You'll find street drivers waiting on corners. Many of them still serve neighbours they know.
- Or call one in an app. GrabBike started in late 2014 with 100 drivers and had more than 50,000 by mid-2017.
- Wear a helmet. In Vietnam it's the law for drivers and passengers, and has been since 2007.
Bangkok: look for the orange vests
In Thailand it's a win motorcy. The "win" is the stand where drivers wait for you. Stand drivers wear orange vests, and their bikes carry yellow public plates.
There are a lot of them. At the end of 2017, Bangkok had about 5,800 stands.
- Walk up to a stand, say where you're going, and climb on.
- A yellow plate means the bike can carry passengers. White-plate riders are meant for food and documents.
- Don't expect every stand driver to be on an app. In 2024, most still weren't, and they named tricky sign-ups and platform fees as the reasons.
- App drivers have rules too. Since 31 March 2026 they need a public driving licence and a background check.
Jakarta: the ojek that grew into Gojek
In Indonesia it's an ojek. Classic ojek drivers wait at a base called a pangkalan, usually in a busy public spot.
Gojek began in 2010 with "20 motorcycle taxis, one call centre". Its app came in 2015, and by 2019 it counted more than 2 million registered drivers.
- People mainly pick an ojek to save time in traffic.
- Try it with the train. Gojek says a motorbike ride to the station plus a train beats driving the whole way in the morning rush. That's the company's own claim.
- Expect one passenger per bike, and a driver in a reflective jacket. Both are national rules.
How apps changed the ride
Apps took the driver off the corner. You no longer walk to a stand. The driver comes to you.
A Hanoi street driver summed it up: office workers now "just sit in their offices and get picked up at the door." He lost a lot of trade to the apps. Still, the street drivers didn't disappear. In Hanoi and Bangkok you'll find both: drivers on the corner and drivers you call from your phone.
Riding one as a visitor
A motorcycle taxi is a quick, fun way to cross a busy city. It's also a motorbike, so ride smart.
- Always wear a helmet, with the strap done up. Worn right, a helmet cuts your risk of dying in a crash more than six times over.
- Agree on the ride first. With a street driver, settle where you're going and what you'll pay before you get on.
- Travel light. One passenger and a small bag works. A big suitcase doesn't.
- Hold on. That's where the name xe ôm comes from.
Not every city welcomes them. Lagos, in Nigeria, banned commercial motorcycles in parts of the city in 2022.
Why the idea fits Tirana
Tirana has the problem motorcycle taxis help with in these cities: too many cars on too few roads.
The city has "severe traffic congestion as all vehicles rely on the main radial and ring roads". And the number of cars per person rose again in 2024. A motorbike slips through, and you don't have to park it.
Europe has moto-taxis too. Paris has operators such as Citybird, and in France drivers need a professional card and can only carry passengers who ordered ahead.
What works in Asia and Europe is simple:
- Helmets for the driver and the passenger, every ride.
- Drivers with the right licence and a clean record.
- Short trips that link up with buses, not replace them.
- Clear pickup spots, because drivers waiting at the roadside add to the jams.
Want to try it in Albania?
Quick Ride connects you with independent motorcycle drivers in Albania. Open the app, request a ride from a nearby driver, and pay them in cash at the end. Rides depend on which drivers are around at the time.