Films rated 18+ have been allowed to be shown in theaters since 2017.

Films that are restricted to viewers under 18 are included in the Criteria for Film Classification for Age-Based Distribution, recently approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

From January 1, 2017, Vietnam adopted a new film classification system based on age groups, consisting of four levels:P (films permitted for general distribution to all audiences), C13 (films prohibited for audiences under 13 years of age), C16 (Films banned from audiences under 16 and under 18.The film is banned from being shown to audiences under the age of 18.Film classification is based on criteria such as subject matter, content, level of violence, nudity, sex, drugs, vulgar language, and the horror elements present in the film.

A scene from the movie "Flapping Wings in the Air".

In the C18 category, the film's subject matter must be suitable for audiences over 18 years old. The film's content reflects adult issues, such as political, social, psychological, and sexual crime-related matters, but is appropriate for the understanding, psychology, and physiology of audiences over 18.Nudity and sexual violence in C18 films must be appropriate to the content of the work and should not be excessively prolonged or repeated. C18 films accept realistic depictions of violence and bloodshed, but they must be relevant to the context of the work. Additionally, vulgar language, culturally sensitive language such as swear words, curses, slang, or offensive filler words may be present.

In particular, works that are 18+All images, sounds, and language depicting the trafficking, possession, or use of drugs and addictive stimulants are prohibited, except when such images, sounds, and language are relevant to the film's content or aim to protest or condemn the aforementioned acts, but without detailed or prolonged depictions.

Following the same criteria, films categorized as C16, C13, and P show progressively reduced levels of violence, sex, horror, drugs, and offensive language, making them more suitable for the age group. Films categorized as P (suitable for all ages) contain no violence, nudity, sexual intercourse, scenes depicting the use or production of drugs, or horror scenes intended to frighten children.

Foreign films imported into Vietnamese cinemas will be adjusted to comply with the new distribution criteria.

The new Film Classification Criteria for Age Group Distribution was developed by the Vietnam Film Department in collaboration with several agencies over nearly three years.

In September 2015, the Vietnam Film Department held a final review workshop on this draft, with the participation of representatives from production and distribution companies as well as the press.The final classification criteria table interprets the terms "occurring frequently," "duration," "sexual activity," "detailed description," and "obscene language, sounds, and images" differently from the draft released in September 2015. In the old draft,For 18+ films, the requirement is that each film should not have more than three nude or sex scenes, and each "hot" scene should last less than five seconds.

In the approved classification criteria table, the term"Frequent occurrence" is interpreted as similar images, language, and sounds appearing repeatedly in a film. "Sexual activity" refers to suggestive or stimulating actions, sounds, words, and gestures depicted in the film to satisfy sexual desires. "Detailed depiction" refers to the degree of use of clear, direct, and detailed images and sounds at close range to depict people, scenes, and actions in the film. "Vulgar language, sounds, and images" refers to dialogue, writing, sounds, and images used in the film that are obscene, offensive, or uncivilized. "Extended duration" refers to the amount of time that images, language, and sounds are displayed in the film for longer than necessary.

Ms. Ngo Phuong Lan, Director of the Vietnam Film Department, also shared: "This film classification system is based on the Singapore Film Classification System. Singapore's film classification model is both thorough and strict, reflecting East Asian characteristics while also being suitable for Vietnamese culture." In addition to basing it on the Singapore Film Classification System, the Film Department also consulted classification systems from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to refine it.

The film classification system currently used in Vietnam only labels films at two levels – films for general distribution and films restricted to viewers under 16. According to Ms. Ngo Phuong Lan, Director of the Vietnam Film Department, this system creates difficulties for the national film censorship council because some films that only need to be restricted to viewers under 13 are still prohibited for audiences under 16 due to the lack of detailed classifications. Conversely, films rated 18+ that are imported into Vietnam also cause difficulties for censors because there are no regulations in place.

According to VNE