Fuel-price declines prompt selective reductions in transport fares and fuel surcharges in Vietnam

On April 14, a Viettel Post representative said the company has officially reduced its fuel surcharge to 12% of the transport charge, effective from April 14. The new level is three percentage points lower than during the previous peak period.

Fuel surcharge cut and rationale

Viettel Post said the adjustment is intended to ease logistics costs for businesses and reflects the company’s commitment to supporting customers as many sectors focus on cost optimization, improving production efficiency, and strengthening competitiveness.

The representative added that Viettel Post will continue to closely monitor market input factors, especially fuel prices, and make appropriate, timely, and responsible adjustments to maintain operational efficiency while delivering more tangible value to customers.

Broader market response in transport

As fuel prices declined, many bus operators began reducing ticket prices. Another logistics company in Vietnam said it is planning to reduce fuel surcharges, but the change is not expected to be significant.

The company explained that when fuel prices rose sharply previously, it increased prices only once. As a result, when fuel prices fell, the company had not fully offset earlier higher costs, so surcharges dropped only slightly even with lower fuel prices.

Ticket price adjustments by operators

In passenger transport, Quy Thao Bus (covering routes including West Central Highlands to Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Gia Lai, etc.) announced a reduction of 30,000 dong per ticket for certain vehicle types from April 13.

Similarly, Viet Tan Phat, operating routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Lam Dong and Quang Ngai, also cut ticket prices from April 13.

Meanwhile, many other operators on routes such as Gia Lai – Ho Chi Minh City, Gia Lai – Quang Ngai, and Khanh Hoa – Ho Chi Minh City have not yet adjusted fares.

Why some fares have not fallen

Some transport operators said that when fuel prices rose sharply, they increased fares once—at the point when diesel price exceeded 30,000 dong per liter. Since then, even as fuel prices continued to rise, operators kept fares unchanged and absorbed losses to retain customers.

Therefore, although fuel prices have fallen, operators said there is not enough basis for many of them to reduce fares immediately.

Source: Le Tinh, Người Lao Động