The actual earnings for drivers in Vietnam's ride-hailing market have become a new competitive standard. Recently, some drivers for Grab halted operations in protest against the variable app usage fees, while GreenSM and Be maintain a fixed revenue-sharing model. The key issue has shifted from simple commission rates to how much drivers can expect to earn after each ride.
According to VnExpress on September 18, Grab, GreenSM, and Be show distinct differences in their revenue-sharing models. Grab employs a flexible system where commissions vary based on ride time, distance, and supply and demand, while Be and GreenSM maintain a relatively fixed distribution structure.
Driver Earnings Differ by Platform
Be pays drivers approximately 63.6% of the total fare in Hanoi and about 69.4% in Ho Chi Minh City. GreenSM offers a distribution rate of up to 90% for motorcycles and 85% for cars, with drivers' actual earnings reported to be around 73% to 83% of the total payment.
Grab's structure is more complex. The company applies a 'flexible app usage fee' that varies by ride. An analysis by VnExpress of 26 rides from September 10 to 12 found that drivers received about 64.6% for motorcycles and 65.6% for cars. However, some drivers claim their earnings, which previously ranged from 67% to 73%, have recently dropped to between 50% and 75% for certain rides, indicating an overall decrease in their share.
Various additional costs also impact the net earnings. Grab applies separate charges for insurance and carbon-neutral initiatives, which can further reduce drivers' earnings on short rides. Even fixed platforms face complaints regarding the distribution of extra fees.
Drivers are increasingly focused on the actual amount they receive from the fares paid by passengers rather than nominal commission rates. A market analyst from EBC Financial Group stated, "We need to look at the 'effective receipt rate,' which indicates how much drivers actually earn when customers pay."
International Trends in Commission Caps and Transparency Regulations
This flexible commission model is not unique to Vietnam. Grab also implements flexible fees in the Philippines and Thailand, but with caps of 20% and 25%, respectively. In Indonesia, the commission for motorcycle ride-hailing services has been limited to 8% since July, with platforms required to cover insurance costs.
Chinese ride-hailing company DiDi also uses flexible commissions but has lowered the caps and allows drivers to see the commission rates for each ride. In the U.S., Uber employs an algorithm to calculate both passenger fares and driver earnings.
In Vietnam, discussions about regulatory frameworks have begun. The National Competition Commission recently requested ride-hailing platforms to submit data regarding their pricing policies, commissions, discounts, and driver deductions. Be has argued that differing calculation standards across platforms make comparisons difficult, emphasizing the need for a common standard that discloses both driver and platform shares based on total amounts paid by passengers.
Meanwhile, local users have expressed a need for a transparent structure that allows drivers to easily verify their actual earnings rather than focusing solely on commission rates. One user remarked, "Grab's commission structure is too complicated for drivers to understand," adding that it appears relatively high compared to other platforms. Another user noted, "With GreenSM, I can easily see my revenue, actual payments, and bonuses, making it straightforward to plan my earnings from the start." A different user commented, "Drivers bear the fuel costs directly, making it hard to calculate their actual earnings, and the current structure seems to favor Grab excessively."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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