Going Home for Tet: EV or Petrol/Diesel Car? A Comparison

EV or petrol/diesel for the Tết trip home is a question many families are asking this year. Each has strengths depending on distance, passengers and the charging situation where you are going. This is a neutral comparison so you can decide.

When an EV makes sense

• Each day's distance fits within one or two charges.
• There is a charger near your destination, or you can charge at home.
• Lots of city driving and traffic: EVs are smooth and use nothing while stationary.

When petrol or diesel makes sense

• A long drive home with few chargers, or mountain areas.
• Many passengers and bags: there is a wider choice of 7- and 16-seaters.
• A loose plan where you need to refuel quickly anywhere.

Diesel usually costs more than petrol, but consumption differs by vehicle; compare the total for your actual distance.

What to compare

Charging stops versus refuelling time, luggage space, passenger count and terrain. Some families take an EV for city errands over Tết and a petrol car for the long leg.

Or take a driver

If you would rather not think about fuel or charging, chauffeur prices include fuel and tolls, and a driver who knows the road handles the stops.

Comparing by trip type

Situation	EV	Petrol or diesel
Hometown under 150 km away, with chargers	Ideal; often no charging stop needed	Fine
Mountain hometown, passes, few chargers	Needs careful planning and a margin	More flexible
Seven or more people, lots of Tết luggage	Limited choice	Many 7- and 16-seat options
Staying in the city, short Tết outings	Quiet, no fuel burned in traffic jams	Fine
Open itinerary, maybe extra provinces	Depends on chargers en route	Fuel is available almost everywhere

Count time, not just money

Fuel cost is only part of it. Over Tết, waiting time can matter more: refuelling takes minutes, fast charging longer, and expressway chargers may have queues. Then again, petrol stations near city exits are busy on 4 February too. A fair comparison estimates total stopping time for the trip, plus a full charge at home before leaving.

A quick calculation

1. Note the total round-trip distance.
2. For an EV, divide by realistic range per charge (below the published figure) to get the number of en-route charges.
3. Multiply by charging time plus a waiting buffer.
4. For petrol, count refuels at a few minutes each.

Three example families

Family A: HCMC – Bến Tre, 4 people

A short trip with chargers in former Bến Tre town. A VF 7 suits: charge at home, drive there and back without stopping, use it for local visits.

Family B: Hanoi – Hà Giang, 5 people

Long mountain passes, sparse chargers, cold weather. A petrol 7-seater is more flexible, or a driver who knows the passes.

Family C: 10 relatives to Quảng Ngãi

Many people and bags. A chauffeured 16-seater, with fuel and tolls included, lets everyone rest on the long drive.

Mixing both

You need not choose just one. Many families hire a petrol 7-seater for the long trip home and a small EV for city errands before and after Tết. Others fly in, book an airport pick-up (the driver tracks the flight, with no airport waiting fee), then rent a self-drive EV for the city days.

Travellers taking a sleeper train to central Vietnam can book a station pick-up, then hire locally, petrol or electric depending on hometown infrastructure.

Luggage: boot space matters

Vehicle	Luggage guide
4–5 seat (petrol or VF 5)	about 3 suitcases
7 seat	about 4 suitcases
VF 7	Similar to a 5-seat SUV; tell us your suitcase count
16 seat, 9-seat limousine	about 6–8 suitcases

Tết items such as bánh chưng, hampers and potted flowers take a lot of room; allow for them.

Questions to ask with your quote

• What charge level is the EV handed over at, and what is needed on return?
• Who pays for charging on the road?
• Is a portable charger included?
• Is a petrol car returned at the same fuel level?
• What is the Tết deposit? (about 10%)
• Child seats and an 8% VAT invoice available?

Emissions and low-emission zones

EVs produce no tailpipe emissions, suiting pilot restricted areas such as central Hanoi. Petrol cars from 2022–2025 meet emission level 5 and also comply with the current timetable. With our fleet, the choice mostly comes down to distance, passengers and chargers.

Total cost: the items people forget

Comparing EV and petrol on daily rate alone misses a lot. A full sheet includes:

• Energy: charging or fuel for the whole trip, based on real distance.
• Expressway tolls: the same for passenger cars of the same seat class.
• Parking: some city car parks have dedicated charging bays with different fees.
• Time: charging stops versus refuels, plus peak-time queues.
• Seats and luggage: needing a second car for space doubles the cost.

Once everything is added up, many families find the gap smaller than expected and decide on convenience: chargers at home or not, how many people, how much luggage. If both options come out level, a chauffeured car with fuel and tolls included is the simplest choice.

Arrive by train or plane, then choose locally

For distant hometowns, many families fly or take a sleeper train to the nearest city, then hire there. That lets you match the car to local infrastructure: a city with plenty of chargers suits an EV for daily trips; mountain areas with few chargers suit petrol or a driver. For airport pick-ups the driver tracks the flight and waits through delays with no airport waiting fee; for stations, send the train code and carriage so the driver waits at the exit. Luggage guide: about 3 suitcases in a 4–5 seater, 4 in a 7-seater, 6–8 in a 16-seater.

A two-minute self-check

1. Is your hometown under roughly 150 km one way? Then an EV is a strong candidate.
2. Is there a charger within a few kilometres, or safe home charging? If not, lean towards petrol.
3. Seven or more travellers? Petrol 7- and 16-seaters give more choice.
4. Long passes or mountains on the way? Petrol, or a driver who knows the road.
5. Does everyone want to rest with nobody driving? A chauffeured car with fuel and tolls included.
6. Mostly staying in the city with short outings? An EV is quiet and convenient.

Mixed answers? Send your route through the quick-quote form and we will suggest a vehicle to match passengers, luggage and local infrastructure.

Questions to ask yourself

• Is the one-way distance within real-world range, with fast chargers along the way?
• Is there a socket or charger near home for overnight charging?
• Will the plan have many unpredictable extra legs?
• Does anyone get carsick and prefer a quiet, fume-free ride?

Yes to the first two and no to the third usually points to an EV; otherwise petrol is more flexible. Both come in 2022–2025 model years.

Choosing a vehicle

Petrol family car: a 7-seater; self-drive EV: the VinFast VF 7. Going electric? See a Tết 2027 charging plan.

Travelling with young children? Ask in advance and we will fit child seats. Year-end prices run higher; Tết bookings take a deposit of about 10%.

FAQ

Can EVs handle mountain passes?

Yes, and they regenerate energy downhill. Plan charging, as mountain areas have fewer stations.

Which petrol for a rental car?

Follow the maker's label on the filler flap; E10 has been widely sold since mid-2026.

Hometown under 150 km: which car?

An EV is ideal if there is a charger or home charging.

Can I combine an EV and a petrol car?

Yes: petrol for the long leg, EV for the city.

Are petrol cars restricted in Hanoi's low-emission zone?

2022–2025 cars meet level 5, compliant with the current timetable.

Is an EV cheaper for the trip home?

It depends on distance, charging stops and waiting; add up all items before comparing.

Why diesel at Tết?

Many 16-seaters run on diesel and carry more people and luggage.

Is there a chauffeured EV?

Ask when booking; most chauffeured cars are petrol or diesel with fuel included.

When should I decide?

By December, to secure a car for peak days.