Ride-hailing bikes hit Hanoi streets, easing commute

With a simple registration process, almost anyone with a motorbike can become a 'driver'

HANOI, VIETNAM - "The job is not too tough and brings me a rather good income," Dao Van Dung, a 23-year-old citizen in Vietnam's capital of Hanoi, told Xinhua about his job as a motorbike taxi driver using the ride-hailing app GrabBike. A new working day for Dung starts at 7:00 am and usually ends at midnight. Dung graduated from university one year ago but failed to find a job. Thanks to a friend, Dung registered and became a GrabBike taxi driver in the city.

"Excluding costs of petroleum, cellphone fees and commission, I pocket between 200,000-300,000 Vietnamese dong ($9-$14) a day," Dung told Xinhua.

Dung is among hundreds of GrabBike taxi drivers operating in Hanoi these days. In order to join the GrabBike drivers' community, a potential candidate needs a motorbike, a smartphone with 3G internet connection, and some essential documents.

After finishing registration procedures, the bikers will be provided with helmets, uniforms, raincoats, masks and can start working with GrabBike "within 30 minutes" after registering, said the largest local motorbike taxi hailing and booking service.

According to Dung, working full-time for GrabBike brings him a monthly salary between 8 million-10 million Vietnamese dong, which is a desirable income compared with the average income of workers in Vietnam.

In addition, Dung has the chance to be offered weekly or monthly bonuses if he works efficiently, said the taxi driver.

Under such a simple registration process, almost anyone with a motorbike and a smartphone can become a GrabBike driver. In fact, GrabBike drivers come from all walks of life including students, unskilled workers, and office workers among others.

GrabBike is just one service provided by a technology company that offers a wide range of ride-hailing and logistics services through its app in the Southeast Asia area, specifically Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

However, the roads are not all covered with roses, and there are a few thorns. The high-tech motorbike taxi drivers are wary about clashing with "old-age" traditional motorbike drivers.

The new service has angered taxi and public transportation operators. Traditional motorbike taxi drivers told Xinhua that they are worried about their future as GrabBike has a tremendous advantage.

The development of the new ride-hailing apps makes the operation of the traditional taxi services seem old, antiquated and not as convenient. Traditional services, have to stay in a "familiar" working area to have customers. But now, with a smartphone, the "working area" now ceases to exist.

According to Grab Vietnam, clashes between its drivers and traditional taxi drivers usually happened at airports, train, coach or bus stations. Statistics by Grab showed that from late 2015 until now, as many as 65 conflicts between GrabBike and traditional drivers have been reported.

Xinhua