In Hanoi, during the days leading up to the Lunar New Year 2026, many users reported significant difficulty booking ride-hailing or delivery services through apps, despite surging prices. On the morning of February 12 (the 25th day of the 12th lunar month), Phuong Hoa waited for almost 30 minutes to book a ride-hailing motorbike from Tay Mo urban area to her company in Cau Giay ward.
According to Hoa, the fare for the over 7-kilometer trip was 80,000 VND, double the usual price. "The price was comparable to a taxi, but I accepted it, as simply securing a ride these days is a stroke of luck," she shared.
Similarly, on the evening of February 11, Quoc Hoang, needing to travel from Cau Giay to Ha Dong, repeatedly received notifications that no nearby drivers were available, even after simultaneously trying three different ride-hailing apps. He then resorted to flagging down a taxi on the street.
Traffic congestion in the pre-Tet period makes it difficult for drivers to navigate. Minh Hieu, a ride-hailing motorbike driver from Lang Son, stated that in recent days, some trips required him to travel 15 to 30 minutes just to pick up a passenger due to traffic jams.
Hieu also noted that fewer drivers might be available these days, as many return to their hometowns early or turn off their apps to undertake private deliveries for businesses, which offers better income.
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Ride-hailing apps frequently report high customer demand in the days leading up to Tet. Photo: Anh Tu
Beyond ride-hailing, delivery services for goods and food are also overwhelmed in the pre-Tet period. Many vendors reported difficulty booking deliveries, even with fares increasing by three times.
Hoang Tung, Chairman of F&B Investment, which owns six Pizza Home and Com ga 68 restaurants, said they had to assign staff to handle deliveries. Tung stated that in the days leading up to Tet, many customers ordered food through apps, but the restaurants could not find drivers and had to cancel orders.
Many other restaurant and business owners proactively arranged and connected with preferred delivery partners from early in the month to ensure uninterrupted operations. "From the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month until the end of this week, my store handles over 50 gift orders for customers daily. The fee for a regular delivery partner is no less than 50,000 VND per inner-city delivery," said Ngoc Anh, owner of a beer, wine, and confectionery agency in Lang ward.
A representative for the ride-hailing app Be reported an explosion in demand across its entire system this Tet season, with beBike services increasing by one and a half times and beCar by two times, particularly at transport hubs like bus stations and airports. To motivate drivers to work during Tet, the company has a policy of offering total bonuses of up to 2.5 million VND per driver.
Xanh SM also offers direct bonuses based on the number of trips drivers accept and complete during this peak period. Specifically, until February 19, from 6 AM to 3:59 PM, drivers receive an additional 8,000 VND per trip, and 15,000 VND during the 4 PM to 9:59 PM timeframe.
Thuy Truong - Anh Tu
