Grab drivers in Vietnam are calling for a two-day shutdown of the ride-hailing platform on September 12 and 13, 2026, citing concerns over current fares, fees, and the resulting low take-home earnings. Social media groups have been active with drivers illustrating the imbalance between passenger payments and their net income. For example, on one GrabCar trip, a passenger paid VND37,000 ($1.41), but the driver only received VND19,500 ($0.74), which is about 52.7% of the total fare. This gap is attributed to platform fees, a "Ride Cover" charge, and various taxes and app-related fees.
Drivers specifically highlight issues with GrabBike Tiet Kiem, the lower-priced motorcycle service. One driver reported receiving only VND46,900 ($1.78) for an 18.53-kilometer trip, equating to roughly VND2,530 ($0.10) per kilometer. Such earnings are considered insufficient to cover essential operating costs like fuel, vehicle maintenance, depreciation, and the time spent traveling to pick up passengers. Grab's fee structure for two-wheel partners includes a "flexible app usage fee" that varies based on factors like time, location, and supply-demand, making it difficult for drivers to predict their earnings, while they bear most of the operating expenses.
GrabBike currently charges a platform fee of VND3,000 ($0.11) per trip, while four-wheel Grab services, excluding GrabTaxi, charge VND5,000-19,000 ($0.19-$0.72) depending on the pickup area and distance. Drivers argue that traditional commission rates of 20% or 30% do not accurately reflect the actual deductions from their earnings due to these varied fee components. The planned shutdown, though not officially organized as a "strike," aims to pressure Grab to re-evaluate its fare, fee, and income policies. Grab has acknowledged awareness of the driver calls but has not yet announced any policy changes.
