Rising fuel prices are no longer just an economic headline. They are quietly reshaping how people move, work and live - one decision at a time.
Rising fuel prices are no longer just an economic headline. They are quietly reshaping how people move, work and live - one decision at a time.
On a suburban road in Hanoi’s Thanh Tri district, Nguyen Van Tuan has made a choice that would have seemed unlikely just weeks ago. After years of relying on his motorbike, he has left it at home and now cycles more than 10 kilometers to work each day.
What used to be a routine commute has become, in his words, a “morning fitness track”.
His weekly fuel cost once stood at around VND80,000 (US$3). Recently, that figure climbed beyond VND100,000 (US$4). The increase may seem modest, but over time - layered with other household expenses - it became enough to justify a complete shift.
Cycling, he says, does not take significantly longer. It eliminates a fixed expense and brings noticeable health benefits.
A similar recalibration is unfolding across the city.
Electrification is considered a key solution to reduce dependence on petroleum supply. Photo: Chi Hung
For Duy, a resident of Linh Dam, the change meant giving up the comfort of his car. Instead of driving to work, he now relies on public buses. What once cost him more than VND2 million per month (US$82) in fuel and parking has been reduced to VND280,000 (US$11) for a monthly bus pass.
The trade-off is clear: less convenience, but lower costs and reduced stress.
“Driving in rush hour is exhausting,” he said. “Taking the bus may take a bit longer, but I can rest - and I save a significant amount each month.”
From households to corporations
The shift is not limited to individuals.
In Ho Chi Minh City, a bank has introduced a hybrid working model for administrative staff, allowing employees to alternate between remote and in-office work. The policy, implemented from March 26, is designed to reduce commuting and, by extension, fuel consumption.
It reflects a broader regional trend, as countries across Southeast Asia explore ways to ease pressure on energy systems amid global volatility.
For businesses, the response is becoming more structural.
Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of fruit export company Vina T&T, said the firm is actively transitioning its logistics operations from fuel-based transport to electric alternatives. At the same time, solar energy systems are being installed at warehouses to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
This, he emphasized, is not a temporary adjustment but a long-term direction.
“We are not just reacting to the current situation,” he said. “This is about building a more sustainable operating model.”
Immediate responses, lasting implications
The urgency behind these changes is rooted in a broader global disruption.
Escalating tensions in the Middle East have pushed energy markets into one of their most severe shocks in decades. Disruptions affecting roughly 20% of global oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz have driven prices beyond US$100 per barrel, with uncertainty expected to persist.
In response, many countries are focusing not only on securing supply, but on reducing demand.
According to Nguyen Vinh Khuong, a lecturer in electronic engineering and computer systems at RMIT Vietnam, several governments have already adopted rapid-response measures. These include four-day workweeks, midweek shutdowns, vehicle restrictions based on license plate numbers, and fuel rationing systems.
Such policies share a common goal: to reduce energy consumption quickly, at low cost, and with immediate effect.
For Vietnam, he suggests similar approaches could be considered - including flexible working arrangements in the public sector, staggered working hours to ease peak congestion, and standardized air conditioning settings in office buildings.
But beyond short-term measures, the deeper challenge lies in long-term transformation.
“The current energy shock highlights the risks of relying heavily on imported fossil fuels,” he said. “Electrification offers a strategic pathway forward.”
Toward a more resilient system
Electrification, experts argue, brings three key advantages.
It reduces geopolitical dependence by allowing energy to be generated from domestic sources such as renewables, hydropower, gas and coal. It stabilizes long-term costs, as electricity - particularly from renewable sources - is less volatile than oil. And it accelerates the transition toward greener development.
However, the benefits are conditional.
If electricity generation continues to rely heavily on coal, environmental gains will remain limited. The transition, therefore, must be paired with cleaner energy sources.
From another perspective, Assoc. Prof. Do Van Dang, head of the petrochemical department at the University of Science under Vietnam National University, sees the behavioral shift itself as a positive signal.
The move away from fuel-based personal transport toward public transit, bicycles or electric vehicles, he said, creates a “double benefit” - protecting household budgets while contributing to reduced congestion and pollution in urban areas.
What matters now is whether these temporary adjustments can evolve into lasting habits.
That, he noted, will depend on how effectively authorities respond - by expanding public transport networks, improving infrastructure, and building out charging systems.
Because what began as a reaction to rising prices may ultimately become something more enduring: a transition not just in energy use, but in how a society moves forward.
Vietnamnet.vn
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