HANOI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Transport Ministry has ordered GrabTaxi Vietnam Company to halt a planned expansion, or the firm has been permitted to grow within the only five localities in their pilot program, to ensure fair competition and fulfillment of tax obligations to the state, local media reported on Saturday.

The five localities are Hanoi capital, Ho Chi Minh City, central Khanh Hoa province, central Da Nang city and northern Quang Ninh province, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Earlier, GrabTaxi Vietnam Company submitted a request to broaden their business in other localities, including southern Ninh Thuan province, southern Dong Thap province and central highlands Gia Lai province.

GrabTaxi is a Singapore-based technology company which offers ride-hailing, ride-sharing and logistics services through its application in Singapore and neighboring Southeast Asian nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia.