Hoang Giang, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City, said he plans to rent a car to take his family to Lam Dong Province to visit relatives during the holiday. After searching on intermediary platforms and rental communities, he said it was easier to find available vehicles this year, unlike previous Tet seasons when many models were quickly fully booked.
“Even though Tet is approaching, there are still many cars available for rent, from hatchbacks and sedans to MPVs and SUVs, including both popular and premium models,” he said.
Ta Quang Tu, owner of A Plus Car Rental, said demand for self-drive rentals during Tet has been weaker for smaller operators.
Ta Quang Tu believes the self-drive car rental market is becoming increasingly competitive.
He cited three main reasons. The first is that car brands and dealerships offered deep discounts and promotions throughout 2025, alongside more flexible bank lending, making car ownership easier. As a result, demand for rentals has fallen.
Vietnam’s car market recorded more than 600,000 sales in 2025, with best-selling models including VinFast VF 3 and VF 5, Mitsubishi Xpander and Mazda CX-5.
The unit is handing over a car to a rental customer (Photo: Quang Tu).
The second factor is that rising car ownership has increased the number of private vehicles entering the rental market. Tu said many owners who do not plan to use their cars during Tet choose to rent them out for extra income.
The third is stronger competition from new large-scale players, including Green Future, which he said has expanded the supply of rental vehicles through competitive policies and a wide partner network.
Self-drive car rental prices for 10 days of Tet on an intermediary platform (Screenshot).
Tu said established rental firms are still expected to run out of cars, but later than in previous years. In the past, vehicles were typically fully booked around the 15th to 18th day of the final lunar month, but this year the peak could extend to around the 23rd day. Newer companies may still have cars available until the 25th day, he added, and some may even face unsold stock.
For vehicles that do not attract renters, companies are shifting to shorter packages or daily rentals to reduce losses.
Self-drive rental prices during Tet remain 1.5 to 2 times higher than normal, with most companies prioritising 7 to 10-day packages. Additional days are charged at daily rates.
To keep costs down, customers are increasingly choosing smaller vehicles. Package prices for A and B segment cars range from VND 10 million to VND 15 million (about USD 390-585). C segment packages range from VND 15 million to VND 22 million (about USD 585-860), while D segment cars and above range from VND 22 million to VND 40 million (about USD 860-1,560).
Small cars and electric vehicles in demand
Demand for electric car rentals is increasing due to free charging policies (Photo: VinFast).
Electric vehicles are also gaining popularity. Thuy Vy, a self-drive rental business owner in Ho Chi Minh City, said demand for electric cars remains strong and is still rising.
She said electric cars are being added to fleets because of customer interest and lower operating costs. “Electric cars offer free charging, so beyond the rental fee, customers do not need to worry about travel costs during the rental period,” she said, adding that rental firms often do not impose kilometre limits or extra charges for additional distance because maintenance costs are lower than for petrol or diesel vehicles.
Tu said most Tet renters use cars for shopping, returning to their hometowns, visiting relatives or taking spring trips with family and friends. Typical travel distances are around 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres over the 10-day holiday period.