Grab Commits $112 Million to Fee Cuts in Vietnam After Driver Backlash

Grab Vietnam will spend VND2,950.9 billion ($112 million) on fee cuts, driver refunds, incentives and promotions after Vietnam's National Competition Commission reviewed its fare calculations. The package takes effect November 10, the ministry-run commission said in a statement on Thursday.

The commission said Grab would "proactively" provide the package, but made clear the company suggested the changes only after mass driver complaints. In September, drivers called for a two-day boycott, arguing fares on some trips had fallen while their deductions had grown, leaving them with lower incomes.

What changes for passengers?

Grab will lower the passenger platform fee on some short trips. GrabBike trips of up to 6 kilometers and GrabCar trips of up to 4 kilometers will carry a reduced fee.

The company also plans a 10 percent discount on total fares for trips of 10 kilometers or more. That promotion runs from February 26 to December 31, 2027.

How much more will drivers keep?

The driver-side cuts go deeper. Grab will cap the app-usage fee range at 0 to 25 percent of total passenger payments for GrabBike, down from 0 to 28.76 percent. For GrabCar, the range drops from 0 to 28.28 percent to 0 to 25 percent.

The commission says Grab's total take — platform fees plus app fees — will be capped at 32 percent of total passenger payments. Previously, Grab could take up to 40.60 percent on GrabBike and 39.81 percent on GrabCar.

After fees and taxes, drivers will keep between 60.59 and 85.59 percent of passenger payments on GrabBike, and between 59.68 and 84.31 percent on GrabCar. The minimum share rises roughly 8 percentage points from a previous low of 52 percent.

Will drivers get compensation?

Yes. Grab reviewed roughly 0.13 percent of trips since 2024 in which the deduction exceeded 35 percent of shared revenue. It will pay VND3.9 billion in compensation to affected drivers. Grab attributed the excess deductions to supply-demand swings or algorithm errors.

The Q4 2026 spending breaks down into three buckets:

• VND860 billion on driver incentives, meals, uniforms and support for drivers in hardship
• VND52 billion on fuel and electric-vehicle charging support
• VND1,808 billion on passenger promotions

What about transparency?

Grab will redesign its Grab Driver app to display revenue, fees, taxes and deductions for each trip. Drivers will also get more channels to contact the company and a dedicated dispute form.

The $112 million outlay lands while Grab's parent is posting strong numbers: the Southeast Asian technology giant reported revenue of $1.1 billion in Q3, up 27 percent year-on-year, with record adjusted EBITDA of $237 million. The Vietnam package shows the cost of keeping its driver base onside as regulators across the region scrutinize platform economics.