Ride-hailing app Grab Vietnam reduced its driver fees and will compensate partner-drivers after being reviewed by the National Competition Commission (NCC).
Company review
The NCC announced on November 5 that it had completed its review of ride-hailing app Grab’s fare and fee policies. The review was prompted by a series of complaints from Grab’s drivers from August to mid-September this year.
Drivers reported that while rides and fares were declining, operating costs and Grab’s deductions rose, reducing their income. In addition to filing formal complaints to the NCC, the drivers also held a two-day boycott in Ho Chi Minh City in September.
Grab’s actions
From 10 November 2026, Grab lowered the platform fee paid by passengers on GrabBike trips of up to 6 km and GrabCar trips of up to 4 km. Drivers’ app usage fees were reduced from 0-28.76 per cent to 0-25 per cent of the total fare amount paid by passengers. Furthermore, its combined platform and app usage fees, excluding taxes and other amounts collected for third parties, were cut to 32 per cent for both bikes and cars.
Motorbikes were initially charged 40.6 per cent of the total passenger fare, while cars were charged 39.81 per cent.
With these changes applied, GrabBike operators will now receive a minimum take-home share of 60.59 per cent up to 85.59 per cent, while GrabCar drivers will receive a minimum of 59.68 per cent to 84.31 per cent. Both driver types saw significant increases from the previous minimum share rate of 52 per cent across the board.
Reimbursements and supporting drivers
Grab will also be required to compensate its drivers for any trips that exceeded 35 per cent of revenue shared. The NCC found that 0.13 per cent of trips taken in 2024 exceeded this threshold.
Grab explained that its algorithm may have caused fees to erroneously exceed its limits. Thus, the ride-hailing app began compensating its drivers a total of VND 3.9 billion (AUD $221,176) on November 5. These payments will be automatically credited to the drivers’ e-wallets and will apply to drivers that have separated with Grab but took part in these trips in 2014.
Apart from reimbursing its drivers, Grab will also allocate VND 860 billion (AUD $48 million) to its driver rewards program for the fourth quarter of 2026. Its driver rewards program includes peak-hour fare bonuses, meal allowances, uniforms, and financial assistance. Another VND 52 billion (AUD $2.95 million) will be used to cover fuel and charging costs for petrol and electric vehicles respectively.
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