Transport firms increase prices amid fuel price hikes

Hoang, a transport operators with 30 vehicles in HCMC’s Tan Phu District, said his company has increased prices by 10 percent, adding besides fuel, tires, lubricants and some other items have also become more expensive, increasing vehicle maintenance costs.

Gasoline retails at around VND25,000 ($1.10) per liter, not far from the all-time high of VND25,070 seen in July 2013.

Lam Dai Vinh, director of Lam Vinh Transport Company, said his firm has also increased prices by 10 percent, adding: "The five fuel price hikes have also pushed up the prices of other goods used in transportation."

Bui Van Quan, chairman of the HCMC Cargo Transport Association, said members are operating at some 50 percent capacity, and: "The government should remove or reduce fees for transport enterprises, especially road maintenance and toll fees".

The environmental protection fees added to fuel prices should be lowered, he added.