Police open fire at HCM City motorbike taxi fight
Police in HCM City fired two gun shots Thursday to control a fight between app-based motorbike drivers and their competitors.
According to some local witnesses, at around 11pm on June 15 at Mien Tay Bus Station in Binh Tan District, a Grab motorbike driver and several xe om motorbike drivers had a big quarrel.
Right after that, more than other 10 Grab drivers who were standing nearby jumped into, threatening the xe om taxi drivers.
Then the two sides grabbed sticks to fight, causing disorder in the area. The police resorted to firing shots to clear the fight. The fight resulted in light injuries for several people.
Some people were told to go to the police station to be questioned.
Earlier, on May 29, a group of Grab motorbike drivers were threatened by a man who used weapons while they were standing to wait for customers in Kinh Duong Vuong Street of Binh Tan District. The man requested them to move from the area and then attacked one of them, causing the victim injuries.
Local police are investigating the case.
The Malaysia-based Grab which entered Vietnam since 2014, operate both car and motorbike services in the country.
Many xe om drivers have complained that their work is facing more difficulties from Uber and Grab which are more favoured by customers for their cheaper prices and convenience.
To date, up to 20,000 Vietnamese men and women have registered to work as motorbike taxi drivers for Uber.
Some predict that the new businesses could eventually put xe om out of business.
According to some local witnesses, at around 11pm on June 15 at Mien Tay Bus Station in Binh Tan District, a Grab motorbike driver and several xe om motorbike drivers had a big quarrel.
More people have registered to work Grab motorbike drivers in Vietnam
Right after that, more than other 10 Grab drivers who were standing nearby jumped into, threatening the xe om taxi drivers.
Then the two sides grabbed sticks to fight, causing disorder in the area. The police resorted to firing shots to clear the fight. The fight resulted in light injuries for several people.
Some people were told to go to the police station to be questioned.
Earlier, on May 29, a group of Grab motorbike drivers were threatened by a man who used weapons while they were standing to wait for customers in Kinh Duong Vuong Street of Binh Tan District. The man requested them to move from the area and then attacked one of them, causing the victim injuries.
Local police are investigating the case.
The Malaysia-based Grab which entered Vietnam since 2014, operate both car and motorbike services in the country.
Many xe om drivers have complained that their work is facing more difficulties from Uber and Grab which are more favoured by customers for their cheaper prices and convenience.
To date, up to 20,000 Vietnamese men and women have registered to work as motorbike taxi drivers for Uber.
Some predict that the new businesses could eventually put xe om out of business.
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