HANOI, Vietnam, March 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The cost of petrol rose more than 20 percent in Vietnam on Friday after the government announced an overnight hike amid fears of oil and gas shortages caused by the Middle East war. Southeast Asian countries have borne the brunt of surging diesel prices following strikes against energy infrastructure in Iran and the Gulf states. In Myanmar, prices at the petrol pump increased about 30 percent from Thursday into Friday. AFP journalists saw long queues of vehicles at a petrol station near Mandalay as motorists rushed to fill their tanks. Thailand also saw prices of fuel shoot up this week, as the government announced higher diesel rates on Wednesday.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 20, 2026 13:41 UTC