MC Trần Ngọc faces controversy over social media conduct

Vietnamese television presenter Trần Ngọc has faced public criticism following a social media controversy regarding his communication with a ride-hailing driver. The incident began when the MC posted a screenshot of a message sent to a driver after he realized he had left his expensive phone in the vehicle. In the message, he wrote, “Please give me the phone on the back seat. Hello. Don't be greedy. That phone is expensive. So the story will get complicated.”

Although the original post was deleted, screenshots circulated on Threads, drawing hundreds of thousands of views. Critics argued that his language was accusatory and inappropriate, specifically regarding the use of the word “greedy” before the driver had even responded.

Trần Ngọc later responded to the comments, explaining that he had waited two hours for a response after notifying the ride-hailing platform. He stated that because the phone was valuable and emitting tracking sounds, he felt pressured to use forceful language to ensure the driver noticed his messages. He noted that he eventually recovered the phone around 10:30 PM and provided the driver with a gratuity.