Uber Comes & Uber Goes: VietNam cracks down

Uber, whose vice-president suggested they might do investigations on people criticising them, has run into another road block. The Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.



Shortly after taxi App launched in Ho Chi Minh City, five Uber drivers were fined by CGST - traffic cops after inspectors from the Municipal Transport Department launched an investigation into Uber on Friday.

The drivers were fined for operating an unlicensed taxi business.

Uber launched in HCMC, its second Asian city, following Hong Kong last June.

TA Long Hy, CEO of Vinasun, the notorious Vietnamese taxi operator, and chair of the HCMC Taxi Association, commented that Uber's activities in the city to date has been illegal. Hy claims the company's private drivers can only afford to offer their unreasonably low fares because they don't pay any taxes.

At a recent government meeting, the HCMC Tax Department called the business illegal because Uber's drivers neither register their vehicles or file proper tax forms. Nor have proper insurance.

Of course, hundreds of illegal taxis cruise the streets of HCMC, totally unhindered by inspectors and police alike.

You can usually tell an pirate taxi as they use magnetic signs whereas genuine taxis have proper signage. Vina (yellow) is best - and safest, and even have female drivers who don't try to prove how fast they can drive.