Vietnam’s inflation accelerated in March 2026, with the Consumer Price Index rising 1.23 percent month on month and 4.65 percent year on year, marking the highest March increase in five years, according to the latest release from the National Statistics Office.
For the first quarter as a whole, CPI increased 3.51 percent year on year, while core inflation rose 3.63 percent, indicating persistent underlying price pressures.
The monthly increase was driven primarily by transport costs, which surged 12.85 percent due to higher global fuel prices, with gasoline rising 29.72 percent and diesel up 57.03 percent.
Rising fuel costs fed through to transport services, with airfares increasing 23.19 percent and rail transport up 13.92 percent, contributing significantly to overall inflation.
Housing, utilities, and construction materials also rose, increasing 0.77 percent, supported by higher energy costs and rising prices for building inputs and services.
Healthcare and pharmaceutical prices increased modestly, reflecting higher input and import costs as well as adjustments to medical service pricing in some localities.
Food and beverage prices declined 0.59 percent month on month, partially offsetting broader inflationary pressures, as food prices fell following the Lunar New Year period.
Other categories, including education, household goods, and communications, recorded smaller increases, indicating broad-based but uneven price growth across the economy.
Overall, inflation trends in the first quarter reflected a combination of external cost pressures, particularly from energy markets, and domestic price adjustments across key service sectors.