Vietnam’s fuel market experienced significant volatility between March 1 and March 12, triggering a sharp rise in online searches as consumers closely monitored fuel prices and explored alternative transportation options.

According to the latest report from Cốc Cốc Research, the surge in public interest was reflected in nearly 7 million searches related to the keywords “gasoline” and “diesel” during this period.

The data also shows that Vietnamese internet users reacted quickly to each official fuel price adjustment announced by regulators.

During the period from March 1 to March 4, search activity remained relatively stable as the market had not yet seen major fluctuations. However, a turning point came on March 5, when a new fuel price adjustment took effect. Immediately afterward, searches for the keyword “gasoline” jumped 164 percent, while searches for “diesel” rose 40 percent compared with the previous day.

The surge continued as the market faced another adjustment on March 7. Searches for gasoline and diesel climbed further, increasing by 95 percent and 47 percent respectively.

The peak of this information surge arrived on March 9, when searches set a new record, rising by 81 percent for gasoline and 71 percent for diesel.

According to the data, search pressure only began to ease after news emerged that the Price Stabilization Fund would be used to help control market fluctuations. Even then, search levels remained significantly higher than the annual average.

One notable finding in the Cốc Cốc Research report is the parallel rise in searches for the keyword “electric vehicles,” closely tracking fluctuations in fuel prices.

The platform recorded more than 512,000 searches related to electric vehicles during the same period.

Search trend analysis shows that during the first week of March, when fuel prices remained stable, public interest in electric vehicles was moderate. However, from March 7 onward, as fuel prices began to fluctuate sharply, searches related to electric mobility accelerated noticeably.

Between March 9 and March 11 - when concerns about the cost of operating gasoline-powered vehicles were at their highest - electric vehicle searches also reached their peak. During this period, search volume was roughly three times higher than at the beginning of the month.

According to a representative of Cốc Cốc, the sudden spike in electric vehicle searches within a short period suggests that a portion of Vietnamese consumers is beginning to seriously consider changing their transportation habits.

Instead of simply monitoring gasoline prices, many users are expanding their searches to include alternative mobility solutions.

Du Lam