Gasoline prices in Laos are maintaining a significantly higher level than in Vietnam in the context of interrupted fuel supply in many localities, causing a series of retail stations to temporarily suspend operations or sell restrictedly.
According to the latest updated data in March 2026 from GlobalPetrolPrices, the price of RON95 gasoline in Laos is about 38,130 kip/liter (equivalent to about 46,500 VND/liter), nearly double the level of about 24,432 VND/liter in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the price of diesel oil in Laos is about 32,860 kip/liter (equivalent to about 40,140 VND/liter), also higher than the domestic average.
Fuel supply pressure in Laos has clearly appeared since mid-March when many gas stations in Vientiane capital had to close or apply selling limits due to limited goods arrival. According to data from the Lao Government, at one point more than 40% of the total 2,538 gas stations nationwide had to temporarily suspend operations.
According to Channel News Asia (CNA), Laos is heavily dependent on fuel imports from Thailand. During the period when the regional energy market fluctuated strongly, Thailand temporarily restricted gasoline and oil exports to prioritize domestic demand, causing short-term supply disruptions to Laos. After that, the Thai side said that fuel shipments continued to be transported back to support market stability.
In the capital Vientiane, some gas stations have hung signs announcing fuel outage on March 16, while operating points must apply a limited selling price for each vehicle.
Faced with this development, the Lao Government has implemented many measures to stabilize the fuel market, including limiting the storage of gasoline and oil in inappropriate items, encouraging agencies to reduce unnecessary travel demand and promote the use of electric vehicles.
Not only Laos, many Southeast Asian countries dependent on energy imports are also being affected by regional supply fluctuations. In the context of interrupted fuel transportation through important international routes, some countries have had to increase reserves or adjust policies to ensure short-term supply capacity.
Analysts believe that in the context that the regional energy market is still heavily dependent on imports, fuel prices in some small economies in the region may continue to be under pressure until the supply chain is significantly improved in the near future.
