Why is Uber not in Vietnam?

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Uber's absence in Vietnam stems from its strategic decision to operate via cross-border services, avoiding local incorporation and associated taxes. This approach exploits legal loopholes, enabling service provision without establishing a Vietnamese company or paying local taxes. Essentially, Uber offers its services without a physical presence in the country.
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Why isnt Uber in Vietnam?

Okay, so Uber isn't really in Vietnam anymore. Hmm, that's weird, right?

Basically, Uber tried a tricky move, like some kinda international business loophole. They didn't wanna setup shop directly in Vietnam. No official company, nada. Cross-border supply, they called it.

Think of it like ordering something online from another country. That's what Uber was tryna do with their services.

And here's where things get...touchy. Allegedly, Uber was also, um, avoiding taxes by doing this. Playing it kinda fast and loose with the rules, y'know? Using those loopholes.

(My personal take? I remember back in '16, maybe '17, saw some Uber cars around Ho Chi Minh City for few weeks. Maybe I'm mistaking or misremember, though. )

Tax avoidance and complex legal stuff. That's the gist, as far as I understood the whole Uber-in-Vietnam saga when it all went down.

Why did Uber fail in Southeast Asia?

Okay, lemme tell you 'bout the Uber fail in Southeast Asia. Saw it firsthand, felt the burn, y'know?

It was 2018, Bangkok's streets, crazy hot. Uber thought they could just waltz in, like they owned the place, but nah!

They underestimated the local players. Grab, in particular. Uber was arrogant. Plain and simple. They thought their brand name was enough. Idiot move!

Grab understood the nuances. Cash payments? Uber was all "credit card only," so dumb in a region where most people didn't even have credit cards. Hello?!

I even remember trying to use Uber once; the driver called, couldn't understand a word I said in English. Painful! Grab had better language support.

  • Local rivals' edge:
    • Cash acceptance.
    • Motorbike taxis (Ojek in Indonesia, Motorbike Taxis in Thailand).
    • Better language support.
    • Deeper community ties.
    • Hyperlocal marketing
  • Uber's downfall:
    • Arrogance.
    • Ignoring local preferences.
    • Slow adaptation.
    • Brand over substance.
    • Tech-centric, not people-centric approach.

Uber came in thinking they were the big dog, but they were just puppies in a jungle. Now? Uber's gone. Grab is king! Shoulda learned from their mistakes! Seriously!

When did Uber become available?

Ugh, Uber. 2009, right? I swear it felt like longer ago. My first ride was a disaster, some dude blasting death metal. Totally awkward. Anyway, 2009 is the year. That’s etched in my brain for some reason. Why? I don't know! Maybe because it was the year my cat Mr. Fluffernutter passed away. Totally unrelated but...

  • 2009 - the year Uber launched.
  • Mr. Fluffernutter - RIP. Best cat ever.

Suddenly remembering that time I waited 45 minutes for an Uber on a rainy night in Chicago. Freezing my butt off. Never again. Seriously, the app was buggy back then, way more glitches. I remember reading about their valuation skyrocketing. Billions! Insane, right?

It was a total game changer. Taxis were so over. Expensive and unreliable. I had to take a cab to my grandmother’s funeral in 2010, total nightmare. Uber would have been a lifesaver. Black cars seemed so fancy then. Now they’re everywhere. Kinda killed the romance, I guess.

Disruptive is the right word. But I think they've had some controversies? Driver issues? Legal battles? Whatever, I still use them. Convenience wins. My friend Sarah swears she saw Travis Kalanick at the grocery store last week.

The whole thing reminds me of that time I accidentally ordered a vegan burger. Ugh, worst mistake ever. Completely unrelated, I know. Brain fart. Anyway, Uber. 2009. Done.

Why did Uber leave Vietnam?

Ugh, Uber in Vietnam? Total mess. They weren't actually in Vietnam, you know? More like a ghost. Operating illegally, basically. Sneaky.

Cross-border stuff. Avoid taxes. That's the bottom line, right? Smart, maybe? Or incredibly shady? I dunno. It worked for a while though, didn't it?

They didn't bother setting up shop properly. No local entity. No Vietnamese company to deal with. Just… poof. Services appeared, then poof, gone. Like magic.

Tax evasion. That's the real reason. No question. The government probably cracked down eventually. Or maybe they got tired of the legal gymnastics. Either way.

Why did they do it? Greed. Pure and simple. Maximize profits, minimize risk. Classic Uber.

  • Tax avoidance: The main reason.
  • Lack of local presence: No proper company setup.
  • Legal loopholes: Exploiting gray areas of the law.
  • 2023 update: I’m sure the situation’s changed since then, but back then it was a mess.
  • My friend’s cousin worked for them briefly – total chaos.

This whole thing reeks of corporate shenanigans. They probably got squeezed out or the risk became too high. Whatever. It's gone.

Why did Grab beat Uber?

Grab won. Localization. Period.

  • Hyper-local focus: Uber remained generic, Grab adapted, hard.
  • Culture matters. Grab spoke local languages. Uber didn’t get it.
  • Services adapted: They just "got it."

That's all that matters.

Details:

  • Grab understood diverse payment preferences. Cash is king, somewhere. Uber only considered cards for a long time.

  • Motorbike taxis? Grab knew the game, adapting services to local needs.

  • Uber was busy with worldwide domination. Grab was present.

    Grab just beat Uber.