Hanoi attempts to manage app-car services like taxis

Hanoi will manage the operation of app-based taxi service, including Uber and Grab, in a way similar to traditional taxis to guarantee a fair business environment.

The move followed Hanoi, HCM City and Danang taxi associations petitioning the Ministry of Transport to call for a more equal business environment for taxi services.

Hanoi People’s Committee have completed a plan on restricting the number of private vehicles for the 2017-2020 period and a vision until 2030 which is expected to be discussed and passed by the municipal people’s council at the meeting of early next month.

According to the plan, the city will apply more strict management regulations on cars of below nine seats which operate under app-based taxi service in terms of vehicle number, quality and operational scope.

App-based taxis will be managed in a way similar to traditional firms to ensure equal competition.

The city’s transport department will check the specific number of Uber and Grab and if the figure exceeds the regulated level, the firms will have to stop operations.

Uber and Grab taxis are also required to have logo, badge or their own paint colour. Signposts banning Uber, Grab maybe be put up on Hanoi streets.

The associations called authorities to set the same rules for Uber and Grab.

According to Do Quoc Binh, Chairman of Hanoi Taxi Association, over the past month, almost of 90 taxi firms in the city urged the association to seek the municipal trade union federation’s approval for their drivers to march through local streets in opposition to Uber and Grab.