“Poll results have been temporarily hidden after the system detected abnormal data activity,” VnExpress online newspaper said.
Driving the News: On the evening of May 27, VnExpress abruptly hid the results of a public opinion poll on consumers’ readiness to switch to E10 gasoline.
- Published on May 15, 2026, the poll was part of an article titled “Consumers gradually open up to E10 biofuel gasoline.” In recent days, users and social media pages widely shared the results.
- As of 9:30 p.m. on May 27, VnExpress had recorded more than 49,000 votes. Among them, 93% (more than 46,200 votes) of respondents said that they did not want to switch to E10 gasoline; 5% (2,240 votes) said that they needed more time to verify its quality; and only 1% (349 votes) said that they were ready to use it. The number of votes had increased nearly 11-fold from the previous day.
What Remains Unclear: VnExpress said that the poll results had been temporarily hidden because “the system detected abnormal data activity.” However, the outlet did not specify what was abnormal about the data or how long the results would remain hidden.
Why It Matters: So far, there has been no methodologically sound survey on public attitudes toward E10 gasoline.
Context: In recent weeks, after information emerged about the roadmap for switching to E10 gasoline, a glaring disconnect has appeared between state media coverage and social media discussions over public attitudes toward the fuel.
- Several state media outlets and official information channels, including Lao Động, VietNamNet, Vietnam.vn, Ho Chi Minh City Television, VTV Online, Hanoi News, and others have published reports saying that most people have “positively received” and “agreed” to use E10 biofuel gasoline. The Ministry of Industry and Trade directed the publicity campaign.
- On social media, meanwhile, many users have raised concerns about the safety of E10 gasoline and its compatibility with different types of machinery and vehicles. These concerns have not appeared in state media coverage.
The Bigger Picture: Under Circular 50/2025 issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, beginning June 1, unleaded gasoline must be blended into E10 biofuel gasoline—a fuel consisting of 90% conventional fossil gasoline and 10% bioethanol—for use in gasoline engines nationwide.
- The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that E10 gasoline is the first step in Việt Nam’s roadmap to develop biofuels.
- After June 1, market surveillance forces will “handle” gas stations that sell fuel products inconsistent with regulatory requirements.
- E10 gasoline was previously sold on a trial basis in Hà Nội and Ho Chi Minh City in early August 2025, but the results were assessed as unfavorable.
Lê Sáng wrote this article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on May 28, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine has the copyrights to the English translation.
