Ride-hailing firms Grab, Be launch driver support in Vietnam amid fuel price surge

Grab said it would run a reward program for gasoline-powered vehicle drivers from Wednesday to March 17, shortly after authorities announced a new fuel price adjustment on Tuesday.

Under the scheme, four-wheel drivers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can receive bonuses of up to seven percent of weekly revenue, while drivers in other provinces may receive up to five percent.

For two-wheel drivers, the company said support could reach VND135,000 (US$5.14) per week in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and VND104,000 ($3.96) per week in other locations.

The payments will be funded from the company’s internal budget and applied alongside existing incentive programs, Grab said.

Vietnam has raised fuel prices three times since March 5, with RON95 gasoline rising by VND8,969 ($0.34) to VND29,120 ($1.11) per liter over the period, according to government pricing announcements.

Global energy prices have surged amid an escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East, with the Strait of Hormuz -- a key shipping route for about one-fifth of global oil consumption -- at risk of disruption.

Earlier, Be Group said it would provide fuel cost support of up to VND800,000 ($30.5) per month for drivers depending on vehicle type and activity level, with details sent directly through the Be Driver application.

The company said its platform currently has more than 500,000 partner drivers.