As Vietnam struggles with fuel disruptions, a renewed call to relook price structures

[HO CHI MINH CITY] Vietnam’s petroleum market has suffered repeated disruptions in recent months, resulting in the temporary closures of hundreds of petrol stations in major city centres and raising questions about the country’s fuel pricing regulations.

Local reports have shown hours-long queues at fuel pumps nationwide, with some drivers being turned away entirely. Many operators have taken to limiting sales per customer and decreasing hours of trade in order to ration their supplies, blaming the crisis on fuel reserve shortages and difficulties in sourcing petrol from local distributors.

While drivers have resorted to shuttling between gas stations in an attempt to fill their tanks, illegal roadside vendors have been observed cutting holes in chain fences along the Trung Luong Expressway south of Ho Chi Minh City to sell petrol to desperate motorcyclists. The petrol is siphoned from the end-of-shift dregs of fuel delivery truck drivers.