Users are increasingly sympathetic
Earlier in the week, in a new urban area in Cau Giay (Hanoi), Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tung, 36 years old, an IT employee, quickly Plugged the electric car into a charger before going to work. He said that it only takes more than 30 minutes for the vehicle to have enough energy to travel for many days.
I chose electric vehicles not only because of their economy but also because of their modern, smooth feel. When gasoline prices increase, electric vehicles show more reason, said Mr. Tung.
Ms. Tran Hong Nhung, owner of a small coffee shop on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, said that the VF 5 electric car helps her save nearly 2 million VND in fuel per month.
Not only young people, many middle-aged families have also begun to switch to environmentally friendly vehicles. This car line is clearly becoming a popular choice on the street.
Associate Professor, Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc - Director of the Automotive Engineering Training Program, Hanoi University of Science and Technology - said: "Eletric vehicles have many superior features compared to traditional gasoline vehicles, especially in terms of environment and performance. Emissions from electric vehicles are concentrated at the source, easy to handle and do not directly affect people. Electric vehicles also have better acceleration capability, smooth operation, and few vibrations".
According to Mr. Phuc, the cost of operating and maintaining electric vehicles is much lower than vehicles using internal combustion engines.
"Instead of having to change oil, wind filter, motorbikes... electric vehicles almost do not need to go to these items. The number of times I have to take my vehicle for maintenance is also less, he emphasized.
More importantly, Mr. Phuc said that the automobile industry is entering a historic turning point, where vehicles are no longer just mechanical machines but have become a technological product.
Since then, electric vehicles have been considered an ideal platform to realize this trend. According to him, in the future, factors such as cylinder capacity or horsepower may no longer be important. Instead, consumers will be interested in processors, memory, and control software - just like they are now evaluating computers.
Associate Professor, Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc commented: electric vehicles are not only a means of transportation but will be the foundation for future technologies. Choosing a vehicle depends on personal habits and conditions, but if considered in the long term, electric vehicles are certainly a smart and sustainable choice.
Sales increase sharply
The change in consumer awareness is quickly reflected in sales figures. After the first 8 months of 2025, Vietnam consumed 89,970 pure electric vehicles (BEVs), behind only Thailand with 92,665 vehicles, far surpassing Indonesia (51,191 vehicles), Malaysia (23,296 vehicles) and the Philippines (3,278 vehicles).
It is noteworthy that Vietnam is currently ranked fourth in terms of the size of the regional auto market, after Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. However, if electric vehicles are alone, Vietnam has risen to second place in Southeast Asia. With a distance of only 2,700 vehicles, experts say that the possibility of Vietnam surpassing Thailand to lead the region by the end of 2025 is very high.
Electric vehicle sales in Vietnam currently account for about 26% of total new car sales, higher than 23% in Thailand and 10% in Indonesia. In the list of 10 best-selling models on the market, the first three positions belong to VinFast electric cars - VF 3, VF 5 and VF 6.
According to the manufacturer's data, VinFast has sold more than the whole year of 2024 in just 8 months, reaching nearly 90,000 vehicles, while last year it was about 87,000 vehicles. This growth rate is largely due to a series of stimulus policies such as free charging in the early stages of use, battery warranty incentives, and the expansion of the international distribution network.
Not only consumers, many transportation businesses are also switching to electric vehicles to optimize costs and enjoy preferential policies. This trend has caused a sudden increase in demand for small electric vehicles and vehicles for business services. In big cities, the image of electric taxis and technology vehicles using batteries has become familiar.
People's affection, support from policies and strong progress of domestic enterprises have turned electric vehicles from a trend to a symbol of green transformation of the Vietnamese automobile industry.
