Vehicles in circulation will soon have to meet new emissions standards.
Following the government's directive, the Department of Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) is developing a roadmap to raise emission standards for automobiles and apply these standards to motorcycles. The new set of regulations is expected to be issued in April.
Raising emission standards for automobiles.
Air pollution is a pressing issue, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City – where many days at the beginning of 2025 were among the most polluted in the world. Besides emissions from construction and manufacturing, motorized traffic is a major source of pollution.
Central Party Committee member and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has requested that the roadmap for controlling vehicle emissions be accelerated, especially in highly polluted urban areas.
Announcement 153/TB-VPCP dated April 4th also clarifies the issuance and implementation of local emission standards that are stricter than national standards, with implementation expected in May 2025.
Speaking with reporters, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Duc from the Department of Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) said that the ministry has coordinated with the Ministry of Construction to complete the roadmap for applying emission standards to newly manufactured, assembled, and imported automobiles. As for vehicles currently in circulation, which are still subject to inspection according to the national standard TCVN 6438:2018, the Department of Environment is developing a new set of regulations aimed at raising emission standards for vehicles currently in circulation.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Duc, following the Government's directive, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is coordinating with the Ministry of Construction and the Vietnam Register to develop emission standards for vehicles currently in circulation. Currently, the national standard TCVN 6438:2018 has four levels, but only level 2 has been applied. The units are collaborating to upgrade to level 4 and aim to apply level 5 in the future.
Regarding motorcycles and scooters, the Department of Environment is also urgently developing regulations for motorcycles currently in circulation in accordance with the Law on Environmental Protection and the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety. The new set of regulations is expected to be issued in April and will initially be piloted in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
"This is a huge challenge because we have to develop a roadmap for emission limits that depend on the type of vehicle, year of manufacture, and the specific circumstances of each locality. For example, if Hanoi plans to implement a low-emission zone model, that zone will have its own specific regulations, and only vehicles meeting certain emission standards will be allowed into that area. All policies must be interconnected," Mr. Duc added.
The cooperation of the people is needed.
According to Associate Professor Hoang Anh Le, Head of the Environmental Management Department, Faculty of Environment, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, policies of relevant authorities need the cooperation of the people to achieve the highest effectiveness and contribute to minimizing air pollution from circulating vehicles.
Associate Professor Hoang Anh Le believes that the policies issued demonstrate the Party and State's determination to reduce air pollution, and the people are the biggest beneficiaries. When the emission standards are issued, everyone should compare them to their own vehicles to ensure compliance. Vehicles that are too old and no longer meet quality standards should be discarded. There is already a policy to support the exchange of old motorcycles for new ones, allowing people to choose a suitable vehicle depending on their circumstances.
Previously, concluding a meeting on the development and implementation roadmap of emission standards for road motor vehicles in circulation, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized the need for a thorough assessment of the multifaceted impacts of the standards, especially on vehicles currently in circulation, imported vehicles, and domestically produced vehicles. The process of developing standards and the implementation roadmap must be based on clear political, legal, and practical foundations, accompanied by a comprehensive impact assessment. Simultaneously, synchronized economic, social, and scientific solutions are needed, along with resolute implementation to reduce air pollution from transportation.
