Vietnam's Ministry of Commerce has called on businesses to encourage employees to work from home or adopt Work from Home policies to reduce private vehicle use and save fuel. This comes after the Middle East war caused fuel prices to soar. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has urgently contacted Gulf Arab countries to request immediate oil imports and ordered an exemption of import taxes until the end of April.
Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade issued a statement urging local businesses to promote working from home as part of fuel-saving measures amid severe supply disruptions and soaring energy prices directly resulting from the US-Israel and Iran conflict.
The Vietnamese government stated that the country is among the hardest hit by fuel shortages due to heavy reliance on energy imports from the Middle East. The statement on 10 Mar urged enterprises to support working from home where appropriate to reduce travel and transport needs. It also recommended that businesses improve logistics systems, reduce empty vehicle runs, and accelerate development of renewable energy sources.
For the public, the government requested cooperation to limit private car use, switch to carpooling—sharing rides with people having similar or nearby routes—or use public transportation. It also advised fuel-saving practices such as turning off engines when idling for long periods, avoiding sudden braking or acceleration, and shifting to biofuels like E5 and E10.
Data from Petrolimex, Vietnam's largest fuel distributor, showed that since the end of last month, gasoline prices in Vietnam have risen 32%, diesel by 56%, and kerosene surged 80%. This has caused long queues of cars and motorcycles waiting for fuel in Hanoi.
At the same time, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held direct talks with leaders of Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to secure reliable fuel and crude oil deliveries to Vietnam. In particular, he negotiated with Kuwait's Prime Minister to ensure continuous crude oil supply. The government also decided to exempt import taxes on all fuel types effective until the end of April.
The ministry also asked citizens and businesses to "refrain from hoarding or speculating" on fuel and to avoid panic. It urged the public to report any illegal activities at gas stations, such as unjustified service halts or selling above regulated prices.
Currently, Vietnam's estimated fuel demand for 2025 is 28.6 million cubic meters. Although the country has two domestic refineries—Nghi Son and Binh Son—it still mainly depends on imports. Meanwhile, global crude oil prices have risen over 60% since the start of the year, surpassing $100 per barrel, with analysts projecting prices could reach $140 if the situation remains unresolved. Recently, the Vietnamese government mobilized 4 million barrels of oil reserves from partners to alleviate the initial impact.