Vietnam’s competition watchdog has launched a review into how Grab Holdings Ltd. sets fares and applies fees and commissions, following calls from drivers for a weekend stoppage to protest what they say are reductions in income. The National Competition Commission, which operates under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, directed Grab on Friday to submit information and documents explaining how it determines customer fares, commission rates, fees and any deductions that are applied to drivers.
In a statement posted on its website, the commission said it is also requesting comparable materials from other ride-hailing platforms active in Vietnam. The regulator did not specify a timetable for the review in its announcement.
Independent drivers for Grab in Vietnam have urged fellow contractors to refrain from working over the coming weekend. They say that lower fares, various deductions and the platform’s commission are reducing their earnings and undermining their ability to secure a living wage.
The regulator’s inquiry in Vietnam follows a similar intervention in Indonesia. In that market, Grab and GoTo Group agreed to reduce their commission on two-wheeled ride-hailing services to 8% from 20%, a change that took effect on July 1 after an Indonesian government cap intended to bolster drivers’ income. That commission cut was implemented more than two months before Vietnam’s competition review was announced.
The commission’s request for documentation covers both the mechanics of fare-setting and the structure of charges applied to drivers. It also indicates the regulator is examining whether platform practices affect competition or driver livelihoods. The statement made clear the inquiry includes other platforms, though the regulator did not name them.
Drivers’ planned stoppage highlights tensions between ride-hailing companies and independent contractors over pricing, deductions and commission levels. The regulator’s steps to collect information mark a formal escalation from public complaints to an administrative probe.
At this stage, the commission has limited its actions to information requests and has not announced any enforcement measures or remedies. The situation in Vietnam should be viewed alongside the recent regulatory outcome in Indonesia, where a mandated cap prompted a reduction in commission rates for two-wheeled services.
Observers and market participants will likely watch for the commission’s next moves, including whether the regulator will propose caps, require changes to commission structures, or take other actions based on the documents it receives.