Update on gasoline and oil prices on April 18: Forecast of decrease in the next operating period
World oil prices on April 18 fell sharply, with WTI oil down to 83.85 USD/barrel and Brent oil to 90.38 USD/barrel, due to cooling tensions in the Middle East as Iran pledged not to close the Strait of Hormuz. This development caused oil prices to fall by about 9-11%, directly affecting the trend of gasoline and oil prices.
Domestically, retail gasoline and oil prices are currently fluctuating in opposite directions: E5RON92 and RON95 gasoline slightly increased, while diesel and mazut oil decreased significantly. According to forecasts, in the next operating period, gasoline and oil prices may decrease sharply from 1,200 - 4,200 VND/liter, thanks to the impact of world prices and operating factors.
Notably, the reduction of a series of taxes to 0% until the end of June (environmental protection tax, special consumption tax and VAT) will contribute to reducing gasoline prices, thereby supporting inflation control, reducing production costs and promoting economic growth. See more...
Ripe watermelons fill fields, Quang Tri farmers worried about output
Popular airfares for holidays
During the holidays from late April to early May 2026, airfares on many routes increased compared to normal days and slightly increased compared to the same period last year, even equivalent to Tet. Some routes such as Hanoi - Phu Quoc or Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City recorded prices from about 3-5 million VND/ticket depending on the airline.
However, travel demand this year is evenly distributed throughout the long holiday, helping to reduce pressure on peak days. Therefore, despite high ticket prices, many flights still have empty seats, especially on main routes such as Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, with a occupancy rate of only about 20-40%.
Some special tourist routes such as Con Dao, Tuy Hoa, Dong Hoi have higher booking rates, but in general the market is not overloaded. This helps passengers still have more choices in terms of time and ticket prices, and be more flexible in holiday travel plans. See more...
Lao Cai stops operation of 13 sand and gravel mines that do not meet conditions
Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee requests to tighten management of mineral exploitation, gathering, transportation and trading activities; and at the same time resolutely stop violating mines. 13 sand and gravel mines have not completed legal procedures and do not meet the mandatory conditions to temporarily suspend operations until full rectification is completed.
The province also requests units to quickly complete dossiers to put eligible mines into operation, and only allow exploitation when ensuring land and environmental requirements and installing output control systems. Supporting areas and gathering yards that do not meet legal conditions must also stop operating.
In addition, functional agencies are assigned to strengthen inspection and supervision during the suspension period, and strictly handle violations. The goal is to ensure that mineral exploitation activities comply with regulations, are more transparent and sustainable. See more...
