Vietnamese Gig Workers Struggle as Fuel Prices Surge Amid Gulf Tensions

Vietnam’s gig economy is buckling under surging fuel prices linked to disruptions in global oil supply triggered by tensions in the Gulf. With Iran effectively blocking oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, Vietnam—heavily reliant on Kuwaiti crude—has seen diesel prices more than double and gasoline costs rise by nearly 30%. For drivers in cities like Ho Chi Minh, where motorcycles dominate urban transportation, this spike slashes already precarious incomes. Some are switching off apps entirel