Unspoken rules on sharing commissions with drivers: Restaurants "rip off" customers to make up for losses?

(Dan Tri) - Sharing with Dan Tri reporters, the owner of a famous restaurant in Quang Ninh confirmed that sharing commissions with drivers who bring customers to the restaurant can be up to 20% of the total bill but only exists in seasonal restaurants.

Restaurant - Driver: Symbiotic Relationship

The article “Driver was only treated to a simple meal after taking 38 guests to eat, what did the restaurant owner say?” published in Dan Tri newspaper on May 30 attracted the attention of readers with many mixed opinions.

Some people commented that in this case, the driver was treated with disrespect. Let’s not rush to discuss the business benefits of the driver leading a group of 38 guests to the restaurant, but the food served by the restaurant was not properly prepared.

It was just some boiled squash, a plate of braised fish with the plastic wrap still intact, and a pot of hastily scooped rice.

The meal served to the driver was considered by many to be sloppy and untidy (Photo: NH).

Speaking to Dan Tri reporter, Mr. NTT, a driver with 15 years of experience leading tourist groups, said that everyone has long known that the unwritten rule between restaurants and drivers is considered a symbiotic relationship. It can be understood simply as a win-win situation. In this case, the driver was upset because he felt that he was not treated fairly for his efforts despite bringing profits to the restaurant.

"I bring customers here, which means bringing income, the restaurant owner should also show his gratitude by giving some tips. If not, at least he should give the driver a better meal, this incident certainly wouldn't have happened," said Mr. T.

In addition, this driver admitted that although commission sharing is not mandatory, it is considered an "unwritten rule" between the business and the driver. Many restaurants encourage drivers to bring more customers, willing to pay a "bribe" so that both parties benefit.

As a tour guide with 10 years of experience in guiding tourists to Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, and other central provinces, Mr. Hoang Van Thuan (in Nam Dinh ) often receives a discount of 3%-5% from restaurants and rest stops. Usually, he will pay a portion to the driver and keep the rest for himself.

“We often call it ‘coffee money’. Restaurants that specialize in serving groups often spend this amount regularly because they have a stable number of customers, while small restaurants have less or none at all,” said Mr. Thuan.

According to this tour guide, some restaurants raise their prices to compensate for this cost, but there are also restaurants that accept a portion of their profits as a thank you to the tour guide and driver.

Drivers stop to rest and eat at a popular restaurant along Highway 5 passing through Hai Duong City (Photo: Minh Nhan).

“Our company often serves groups of customers, many units and companies are long-term customers. Therefore, when taking customers out to eat or buy gifts, we often choose reputable stores with guaranteed product quality to bring good experiences to customers. Only then, in the following years, will we gain their trust to continue buying tours,” said Mr. Thuan.

Mr. Thuan believes that extra income is what everyone wants. However, every tour guide and driver in their profession must still put service quality first, and should not, just because they see a large commission, "sell out" customers, take customers to places with poor reputation, and goods that are not guaranteed.

Unwritten rules of commission sharing

When reporters mentioned the issue of sharing commissions with drivers to guide customers, Ms. Thu Trang, owner of a famous restaurant in Ha Long city (Quang Ninh) confirmed that this phenomenon exists in hot tourist destinations. However, in order to have commissions for drivers, restaurants are forced to charge customers high prices to cover losses.

According to the owner of this restaurant, some restaurants are willing to pay drivers a 15-20% discount on the total bill. However, this phenomenon only exists in restaurants that operate seasonally for a few months a year.

The common feature of these restaurants is that they always list prices higher than the average. On the contrary, with long-standing and reputable restaurants, they usually only show gratitude with a meal or medicine or water.

"Normally, the cost of food sales accounts for 30-35% of sales. Adding electricity, water, staff, and premises costs up to 50%, a restaurant's profit of 15% of sales is high.

For example, a meal costs 100,000 VND/person, if 15%-20% is deducted for the driver, how can the restaurant make a profit? They are forced to charge a higher price or cut down on the customer's portion. Of course, the first to suffer are the tourists who have to pay a high price but receive an inadequate service," the restaurant owner analyzed.

Not only in Quang Ninh, some other tourist hotspots such as Cua Lo, Phu Quoc have had an unwritten rule for many years about sharing commissions with drivers. Thanks to that, drivers have more income and are more enthusiastic about guiding customers.

Many drivers and seafood restaurants in Nha Trang have confirmed that they pay "commissions" to people who bring customers there (Illustration: Trung Thi).

Mr. Tam (identity changed), a tourist electric car driver in Cua Lo (Vinh city, Nghe An) confirmed that there are seafood stores that give commissions to drivers who bring customers there. Many drivers therefore often only take customers to familiar places, sometimes without caring about the quality of the goods.

To get this share, the store raises the price to give the driver a commission. In order not to affect the profit, the restaurant lets the customer take the commission.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Cuong, a tour guide in Phu Quoc, with many years of experience, has witnessed many cases of drivers herding customers to restaurants and pearl shops on the island. Because some units are generous enough to pay 10-20% for drivers to take customers to visit and shop.

Some places even pay drivers from 50,000 VND to 100,000 VND regardless of whether the customer buys or not. If the restaurant refuses to pay, the driver is willing to refer the customer to a new establishment, where they receive a better discount.

"Usually, the group of customers that drivers pay attention to are families traveling on their own, first-time visitors, or those who have not learned much about local restaurants," said Mr. Cuong.

A tourist's VND800,000 seafood hotpot when sharing about expensive dining experience in Phu Quoc (Photo: Nguyen Huong).

With nearly ten years of experience in tourism at this destination, Mr. MP witnessed times when Phu Quoc experienced a serious decline in tourists.

"Tourism is always associated with spending and shopping. However, many tourists have told me that they are haunted by the pressure of drivers and do not want to come back," said Mr. MP.

*Character names in the article have been changed.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/luat-ngam-chia-hoa-hong-cho-tai-xe-nha-hang-chat-chem-khach-de-bu-lo-20250531091058968.htm