Hanoi plans to put taxi-style roof signs on Uber, Grab cars

By VnExpress February 12, 2017 | 02:00 pm PT

Uber and Grab have become more popular in Vietnam. Photo by the Vietnam News Agency

Officials in the city are tightening rules on transport services.

Popular ride-hailing services Uber and Grab may soon be asked to put signs on their cars as officials in Hanoi are tightening rules on transport companies.

Officials said some private cars offering transport services are operating without signs or badges.

Grab, a Malaysia-based company, is the only foreign-run transport service allowed to operate in five cities across Vietnam using registered private vehicles between 2016 and 2018.

Uber, however, has been singled out for providing ride-hailing services without permission.

The company has recently had its application to operate on a trial basis rejected for a second time in Vietnam, according to local transport authorities.

It applied for a license after local regulators outlawed Uber’s smartphone app-based services in November 2015, due mainly to its failure to establish an independent legal entity in Vietnam.

> Vietnam's transport authorities urge Uber drivers to pay tax