Nguyen Huong from Bac Tu Liem District said that over the recent days, she found it difficult to fill her vehicle because so many petrol stations were closed. Some have limited the amount of petrol sold to customers. For instance, each motorbike can only buy up to VND50,000 (USD2.01), while a car can purchase no more than VND200,000. 

She had to buy petrol at makeshift stalls at up to VND25,000-35,000 per litre. 

Such spontaneous petrol stalls can be seen on lots of Hanoi’s streets, including Ton Duc Thang, Cat Linh and Trinh Hoai Duc. Even two water stalls on Lang Street take advantage of this occasion to sell fuel.

It is common to see makeshift petrol stalls on Hanoi pavements as petrol stations have temporarily shut or restricted sales, citing tight supplies and loss-making operations.

Petrol is contained in plastic bottles of 1-1.5 litres each. 

A petrol vendor on Nguyen Khanh Toan Street.

According to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, fluctuations in the foreign exchange rate and difficulties faced by some fuel importers in accessing bank loans are among the major causes of tightened petrol supply. Low profit margins and losses have discouraged fuel retailers from continuing retail sales.

Anh Nguyen