Precarity Behind the Wheel: Algorithmic Control and the Everyday Struggles of App-Based Drivers in Ho Chi Minh City

Researcher: Nguyen Nu Nguyet Anh

The rise of platform-based transportation services such as Grab, Gojek, and Be has reshaped the urban labor landscape in Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City. While these platforms promote flexibility and autonomy, app-based drivers often experience a different reality which marked by precarious income, algorithmic surveillance, and limited labor protections. This research explores how algorithmic control structures the daily work of ride-hailing drivers and how they navigate uncertainty and risk in a rapidly digitalizing economy. Drawing from preliminary qualitative interviews and field observations with male app-based drivers, this study examines the “invisible” mechanisms through which platforms influence driver behavior, such as dynamic pricing, performance-based bonuses, ratings systems, and automatic suspensions. These systems not only dictate the pace and nature of work but also blur the line between independent work and digital subordination. The presentation also explores drivers’ everyday coping strategies, including forming informal support networks, working during peak hours, and engaging with multiple platforms simultaneously. The analysis highlights the emergence of a new form of digital precarity, where workers are not formally employed, yet are bound by rules and risks imposed by algorithmic governance. By centering the voices and lived experiences of app-based drivers, this study contributes to global conversations on platform labor and algorithmic management, while providing locally grounded insights into Vietnam’s evolving digital labor market. The findings raise important questions about worker classification, digital rights, and the urgent need for protective policy frameworks that reflect the hybrid nature of platform-based employment.