<<Back

  The taxis are brilliantly yellow and the telephone number 8111111 has become so familiar that
  many customers can recite it by heart.

  “Drive safely, keep the cars clean and enhance business effectiveness” – This program  was
  recently initiated by Vinataxi, a well-known taxi service provider in Ho Chi Minh City. This
  Program, stretching from the beginning of July this year to the end of January next year, will
  involve all Vinataxi’s members, including the board of directors, staff of different sections, and
  drivers. They will participate in a competition to improve the quality of work.

  The contest requires all taxi drivers to compete with each other by keeping their cars clean,
  serving customers well and driving safely. There will be awarded points for doing so. In addition,
  they will also score when they comply with company regulations such as being honest in fare
  charging, returning lost belongings to customers, wearing their uniforms and observing transport
  laws.

  The staff of directory inquiry department will, on the other hand, compete by ensuring a smooth
  flow of information, offering good and courteous service to customers and drivers, and working
  closely with other departments to ensure quality and service capacity. Those who get high score
  will be rewarded.

  This competition is just one of the many new initiatives that Vinataxi has embarked on since
  Singapore’s ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited became a majority shareholder in early 2003. As
  the world’s second largest land transportation company, ComfortDelGro has gone about raising
  the level of service standards by Vinataxi staff and drivers by injecting a sense of professionalism
  and reliability into service.

  “We hope to bring to Vietnamese customers a new choice of taxi service, a service that has high  
  quality and is worth for money,” said Chia Chuen Huei, Vinataxi’s General Director.

  With a fleet of only 400 cars in the beginning of 2003, Vinataxi has quickly increased its taxi fleet
  to 750 cars. The yellow taxis coupled with the easy-to remember telephone number 8111111
  have become a familiar and reliable image in the mind of taxi customers in Vietnam. Vinataxi
  was voted as the “Best Taxi Service Provider in Ho Chi Minh City” for two consecutive years (2003-
  2004) and won the golden Wheel Award “The Best Driving Skill” by the HCMC  Safety Transport 
  Committee.

  Last February, ComfortDelGro Corporation announce its second taxi venture in Ho Chi Minh City.
  The US$ 3 million venture with the former state-owned enterprise, Saigon General Service
  Corporation (SAVICO) has been named ComfortDelGro Savico Taxi Company. With the two
  projects, ComfortDelGro Corporation has committed about  US$ 7 million worth of investment in
  Vietnam. The second venture will operate 276 cars, including 224 four-seat and 52 seven-seat
  cars.

  Taking about Vinataxi’s achievements, Mr. Chia expressed his pride of more than 100 office staff
  and 1,400 taxi drivers, who directly create high quality service for the customers. During the past
  two years, Vinataxi’s drivers have attended regular classes on seemingly simple subjects, such as
  the necessity of wearing uniforms, the importance of good service, the negative effect of not
  being honest in calculating fares, and first aid skills.

  “We very much believe that training and improving the serving skills and professionalism of our
  staff and drivers are vital to our success,” explained Mr. Chia on why Vinataxi has taken much
  attention to training.

  Continuous investment to improve service quality is a key for Vinataxi to differ itself from other
  players and to establish a stronger foothold in the market place. “Next year, we will invest in
  upgrading and renewing our fleet of cars. We will continue to expand our business and provide
  better service as long as the market still require us to do so,” Mr. Chia reported.
                                                                 
                                                                                                            By Cao Son
                                                                                                                        From Vietnam Economic News