Why more Vietnamese are leaving the gas pump: A quiet shift toward electric mobility

Vietnam’s electric-vehicle market saw a historic milestone in 2025, particularly for electric motorcycles, which have become the backbone of urban transport in major cities. Leading a market surge, a top company sold 406,453 electric motorcycles in 2025, up nearly 500% from the prior year, with daily sales averaging over 1,100 units. The Vietnamese electric-motorcycle market is entering a 'burst' phase, elevating Vietnam to among the world’s fastest-growing markets. Electric cars are also widely used in mobility services, especially ride-hailing. In the auto segment, nearly 197,000 electric cars were delivered in 2025, doubling the year before, with some months exceeding 20,000 units, a record in Vietnam's market. Some small electric models even outsold the best-selling gasoline cars. These numbers illustrate that electric mobility is no longer a niche, but is increasingly becoming the default propulsion in major cities. The shift is driven by cost savings. Minh Anh, 26, in Ho Chi Minh City, previously spent more than 1 million dong per month on gasoline, now cut costs by almost half with an electric ride. For Tuấn, a Hanoi-based courier, switching vehicles helps him save several million dong monthly, enough to cover more expenses. But the story goes beyond cost: for some, electric mobility is part of a broader lifestyle change—living green, with lower emissions and less noise. Urban life is adapting, with new charging infrastructure in many apartment buildings in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, charging stations and parking areas designated for EVs; delivery and ride-hailing services are increasingly electric to improve cost efficiency. Travel patterns are also becoming more flexible, mixing private EVs with public transport. Nevertheless, charging remains a bottleneck in older residential areas, and home charging is not always available; relying on public chargers can be inconvenient. For families like Phuong’s, the presence of nearby charging points is a key factor in deciding to switch entirely. A VinFast battery-swapping station is seen as a necessary condition for the market's rapid expansion, while questions about battery lifespan and disposal remain. Still, EVs are moving from a trend to a default choice in major cities. For people like Minh Anh, Tuấn, and Phuong’s family, moving away from gasoline is no longer a matter of the future, but a present reality.