Ride-hailing platforms’ bonuses unable to lure drivers during Tet

By Dy Tung   January 21, 2023 | 07:18 pm PT
Ride-hailing platforms’ bonuses unable to lure drivers during Tet
A ride-hailing driver waits for a customer at a mall in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City on January 19, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Dy Tung
Customers are reporting difficulty booking service from ride-hailing platforms since many drivers are not working during the Tet holidays despite being paid bonuses.

Hoang Phong was unable to get a ride to Hanoi Railway Station for his parents, who were returning home to Hai Phong City.

"I had to take them there myself after waiting for a long time. There were no drivers."

Gia Huy in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh District was a bit luckier but it took him 15 minutes longer than usual to find a motorbike on Saturday, and the fare had doubled to VND80,000 ($3.41) for the seven-kilometer trip he routinely makes.

In Ho Chi Minh City’s District 4, Huy Hoang found there were more delivery people working in the downtown area than elsewhere.

Ride-hailing platforms are offering drivers bonuses to persuade them to work during Vietnam’s biggest festival.

Indonesian company Gojek offers its taxi drivers a VND1 million bonus if they complete 20 trips during this weekend, and VND1.5 million for 40 trips during the rest of the holidays from Monday to Friday.

It also offers other performance-based bonuses of up to VND700,000 per day and VND4 million per month.

Vietnamese platform Be is giving its car drivers a bonus of 5% of fares from January 21 to 26.

From January 27 to February 5, car and motorbike drivers could respectively get up to VND1.5 million and VND500,000.

Ride-hailing drivers wait to pick up orders at a shop in DIstrict 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Dy Tung

Ride-hailing drivers wait to pick up orders at a shop in DIstrict 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Dy Tung

Singapore-based Grab will pay its car drivers 5% and motorbike drivers 8% bonus of fares from January 22 to 26.

South Korea’s Baemin offer its shippers VND140,000 if they complete 30 orders between January 21 and 26, and VND960,000 for 160 orders.

But yet many drivers are not working during the holidays.

Nam Binh, who drives for Grab, said he does not care too much about the bonuses as he does not plan to work during Tet.

Other drivers said the bonuses are not as attractive as last year when they could get 8-16% more for a trip during the Tet holiday.

Vietnam's online ride-hailing and food delivery market is expected to reach $3 billion this year, 17% up from 2022.

 
 
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