Nguyen Van Huyen from the northern province of Hai Duong could not return to Hanoi on Monday morning as planned because he was unable to get a taxi.

Illustrative photo. Many people cannot get a taxi during Tet holiday as demand soars.

"We had to go by public bus in the afternoon after failing to order a taxi the whole morning as they were all busy," Huyen said. "It was really tiring,our two small kids cried all the way on the crowded and stuffy bus."

Like Huyen, Nguyen Thi Hoa from Hanoi said that she had to go to the street to wave a taxi after being unable to call one on the morning of the third day of Tet.

"I stood some 30 minutes and saw taxis passing by all full with passengers," Hoa said. "I decided to get a xe om motorbike taxi instead."

The demand for taxi services have greatly increased during Tet holiday as people travel a lot during this time.

According to a driver, Phan Nguyen Duc, it will be easier for passengers traveling far distances to book in advance.

"We're receiving lots of orders from people who want to return to their hometowns, visit friends, relatives or pagodas at this time," Duc said. "We usually work from early in the morning till late at night everyday to serve the rising demand. But we still have to refuse many orders."

Duc said that he is working for Uber but often turn off the app in order to get his own passengers.

dtinews