Google Maps mistakes road name in HCMC

Users of the popular navigation app saw the incorrect name on a section of Dien Bien Phu Street passing through Districts 1, 3 and Binh Thanh.

Some of the addresses on the road were also incorrectly displayed. The error was discovered on both Android and iOS operating systems.

Ride-hailing driver Van Binh said that he put in the address of a location on Dien Bien Phu Road in District 3 but the map displayed it as Vo Nguyen Giap, even though it still navigated him to the right place.

A representative of Google confirmed the error, adding that Google Maps uses multiple data sources to update information in real time in combination with manual and automatic methods to check precision.

When a situation like this happens, the company tries to resolve it as soon as possible, the representative added.

Nguyen Hoang Tuan, chief technology officer of a transportation company in HCMC, said that Google Maps uses data from authorities, community members, satellites, and user responses.

“The name change could have happened because of user data. Or maybe the developers made a mistake after issuing an app update.”

He added that users can report errors to Google Maps and usually it takes five to seven days to resolve the problem.

Last month, Google Maps direct car drivers to use Nguyen Huu Canh Overpass even though it only allows motorbikes.