“It takes up to an hour to complete a single order these days,” Van Minh, a GrabBike ride-hailing driver and shipper, waiting on Thursday to pick up a coffee order in District 5, HCMC, says.
Collecting orders from shopping malls like Lotte and Van Hanh takes no less than 45 minutes, he says.
“Parking is a hassle, and the malls are packed with visitors. Just getting to the restaurants takes time, and then you have to wait in long lines.”
Most drivers have already left for their hometown to join their families for Tet to avoid traffic congestion in Vietnam’s biggest city, he adds.
Ride-hailing drivers seen in a traffic congestion in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on Jan. 22, 2025. Photo by Read/Vien Thong |
So the roads are slightly less busy now, but the reduced number of drivers has caused a sharp increase in demand for shippers who are still working before the nine-day New Year break begins Saturday.
Nguyen Hieu, a driver for ride-hailing and delivery Be platform, says delivery times have become longer because of traffic and driver shortages.
“A delivery that usually takes me 20 minutes now takes 30. Even for ride-hailing, it’s 10-15 minutes to reach the customer, compared to the usual 3-5 minutes.”
In Hanoi, delivery drivers report an ongoing deluge of orders that began two weeks ago, mostly for Tet gifts, food and urgent shipments.
As the holiday nears the demand for food deliveries is rising dramatically.
Ngo Hong Son, a GrabBike driver in the capital, says he typically gets a ride order after a 10-minute wait.
“Last week it took me an hour to deliver an order just two kilometers away. Even though fares increase during peak periods, it does not help much because platform fees also go up.”
Vietnam’s recent hikes in fines for traffic violations, including running red lights and driving on sidewalks, have kept drivers on the straight and narrow, which also means more severe congestion during rush hour, which spells trouble for delivery people.
ShopeeFood says demand for food and grocery has soared in recent days.
Restaurants and brands offering holiday promotions are further fueling this trend, it says.
ShopeeFood acknowledges that drivers now take longer to pick up and complete orders, especially during rush hour.
Nevertheless, it has seen a significant rise in completed orders in the past week.
Be Group says there has been “an unprecedented surge in demand” and traffic congestion in the city’s main areas during peak shopping hours.
The rapid growth of the platform itself has added pressure: Be Group’s customer base has grown by 50% from a year ago to 15 million, resulting in some technical issues with the app that has affected its services.
To better support drivers during this busy period Be Group has been optimizing navigation features to suggest faster routes and avoid congestion if possible.
ShopeeFood is working closely with drivers and partners to ensure smooth operations.
It has also launched a reward program offering up to VND200 million (US$7,970) to productive drivers during the holidays.
Authorities have been making efforts to reduce traffic congestion during the holiday period.
HCMC chairman Phan Van Mai has instructed the city Department of Transport to address issues with traffic signs and guidance systems.
Some delivery drivers see the days before the holiday as an opportunity to make more money.
Huynh Van Chanh of the southern province of Soc Trang plans to work until Sunday before reuniting with his family.
He says: “I expect to earn around VND1.5 million in the three days. Normally I only make about VND300,000 a day, and every bit helps.”
Hong Son in Hanoi plans to work until Monday. “Whether the roads are congested or not, I have to keep working to support my family,” he says.
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