The government has just issued Resolution No. 55/NQ-CP dated March 19, 2026, amending and supplementing a number of regulations on the mechanism for managing gasoline and diesel prices in the context of strong fluctuations in the world energy market due to the Middle East crisis, according to the Government's Electronic Information Portal .

According to the new regulations, when the base price of gasoline and diesel increases by 15% or more compared to the previous announcement period, the regulatory agency will manage prices immediately after the increase occurs. The announcement and management will be chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

This 15% threshold has been widened compared to the previous 7% under Resolution 36 (effective from March 6th). The adjustment aims to closely follow market developments, after domestic gasoline and diesel prices were sometimes adjusted consecutively over several days.

Conversely, the new mechanism also stipulates that if world prices fall by 10% or more, domestic prices must be adjusted immediately afterward.

In cases where price fluctuations do not reach the above thresholds (increases below 15% or decreases below 10%), price management will still be carried out according to Decree 80/2023, with a cycle of 7 days/week, every Thursday. Retail prices may increase, decrease, or remain unchanged, effective from 3 PM on the same day.

Based on the factors determining the base price and the opinion of the Ministry of Finance before 12 PM on the price adjustment day, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will announce the base price and retail price of petroleum products.

The global oil market has been severely impacted since the end of February, as military conflicts in the Middle East have escalated. Gasoline prices in Vietnam have also risen dramatically, reaching record highs.

Despite repeated use of the Price Stabilization Fund by the authorities, as of the price adjustment at 11 PM on March 19th, the price of E5 RON92 gasoline had increased to 27,177 VND/liter, while RON95-III gasoline was 30,690 VND/liter.

Compared to the price adjustment on February 26th (before the military conflict in the Middle East occurred), the two types of fuel recorded increases of 4,670 VND/liter and 5,120 VND/liter respectively. Similarly, the price of diesel also surged to a record high of 33,420 VND/liter.

News summary.