Construction engineer reveals hidden struggles after 4 years as ride-hailing driver

"I was a rider for an app-based ride-hailing platform from 2017 to 2021, but I always saw it as a side job to make ends meet due to the pressure of daily expenses. My main job was as a construction engineer. Every morning, before leaving the house, I would pack my bag with two helmets, a ride-hailing uniform jacket, and a full face mask to shield myself from the sun and dust.

I never let anyone at my main job or my family know about this side job, except my wife. After finishing work on the construction site, I would drive at least 1 km away from the site, duck into a quiet alley, change into my ride-hailing outfit, and try to avoid crossing paths with anyone I knew. The last thing I wanted was for someone I knew to book a ride with me.

I have heard people say that working as a ride-hailing driver is an honest job, done through hard work and sweat, so there is nothing to be ashamed of. Personally, I agree. But I never had the confidence to openly admit that I was doing this job.

The joint income of my wife and I was barely enough to cover living costs in Hanoi, so I had to take on this side hustle to make ends meet. After each day of work, even though I missed my child and knew my wife was waiting for me at home, I could not head straight home. I pushed myself to complete a few more rides, and before I knew it, it was already 9 or 10 p.m.

Over the four years I worked in this role, I encountered all kinds of passengers, from good to bad, rich to poor, and even some struggling with addiction. There were times I had to take passengers to dark, isolated areas. I would hold my breath, hoping to get through quickly and back to a lit place. After those trips, I’d breathe a sigh of relief and think, ‘Thank goodness, it’s over.’ This job isn’t easy. You constantly face many hidden dangers."

App-based ride-hailing drivers ( blue motorbikes and jackets) ride on the street of HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

That is the story shared by VnExpress’ reader Tranduchanh about the hidden struggles after four years of driving for a ride-hailing service in Hanoi.

After more than a decade since their inception in Vietnam, ride-hailing and food delivery platforms have built a large workforce, including both part-time and full-time drivers. A recent study estimates that there are around 400,000 motorbike ride-hailing drivers in HCMC alone. Among them, the number of young, university-educated workers is steadily increasing. Despite this, they continue to face numerous challenges such as low wages, lack of social benefits, and ongoing safety risks.

One reader, Dqht, shared a similar experience: "I thought I could drive for a ride-hailing service in my free time to earn extra income. But before I knew it, it became my main job. At the end of the month, I had so many bills to pay, and I didn’t know where to get the money from. There were times when I had to make excuses to my children when they wanted something that I could not afford. I felt embarrassed in front of my neighbors and friends, so I secretly worked for almost a year. Rain or shine, I was out driving to complete the rides. Some days, a tip of VND5,000 (US$0.19) to VND10,000 made me happier. But eventually, I made the decision to break free and pursue a career aligned with my training."

Another reader, Phutungdaiquang, echoed this view: "You should only see ride-hailing as a temporary job while you are waiting to find something in your field. If you stick with it too long, it will lower your ambition. See it as a way to gather information about where jobs are available, but do not let it become a permanent choice. I am not criticizing the job; it is just more suited for blue-collar workers. For those of you who spent years studying and getting a degree, it is a waste to settle for a ride-hailing job."

Reader Tranducanh acknowledged that the decision to leave the ride-hailing job was the right one and added: "The life I have now, while not exceptional compared to others, is far better than the life I had before. After years of hard work and saving, I bought a house in Ninh Binh Province, a car, a small plot of land in Hanoi and of course, no more doing rides.

I, now living and working in a different city, still follow the news from Hanoi, where I once struggled to make a living. I think the decision to leave the city in 2021 and quit the ride-hailing job was the best I ever made. I hope those still working as drivers in major cities will soon find a clear goal for their lives. I believe there will always be better options for everyone."

*Readers' opinions are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress' viewpoints.