Five emission levels; Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to apply earlier

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is currently collecting feedback from other ministries, agencies, and localities on a draft roadmap for implementing national vehicle emission standards in Vietnam.

According to the draft, vehicle emissions will be categorized into five levels, aligned with Euro standards, with Level 5 being the most stringent.

Under the proposed plan, vehicles manufactured from 2022 onward will be required to meet Level 4 standards by January 1, 2026. However, those registered in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must meet Level 5 by January 1, 2027, while other provinces will follow in 2028.

For vehicles produced from 2017, Level 4 will apply in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City starting January 1, 2026, while in other provinces, only Level 3 will be required.

This means the two cities with the highest vehicle density and most severe air pollution will enforce stricter emissions standards earlier than the rest of the country.

Vehicles manufactured before 1999 will be required to meet Level 1 standards, while those made in 1999 must comply with Level 2, effective from the date the new regulation takes effect.

The draft regulation also outlines clear responsibilities for relevant ministries and sectors in enforcing the emission roadmap.

Pre-2017 vehicles can still circulate in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Le Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, stated that the new draft emission standards aim to more tightly control vehicle emissions, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where air pollution is reaching alarming levels.

He confirmed that emissions will be divided into five levels aligned with Euro standards, with different applications based on the vehicle’s production year and the area of circulation.

Vehicles manufactured before 1999 will be subject to Level 1; those from 1999 to before 2017 will follow Level 2 - standards already defined under Prime Minister’s Decision 16/2019. Vehicles produced from 2017 onward will be expected to meet Level 3.

Importantly, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City plan to implement Levels 4 and 5 earlier than other regions.

When asked whether vehicles produced before 2017 would be banned from the two major cities, Mr. Nam clarified that these vehicles will still be allowed to circulate - provided they meet the appropriate emission standards, which is Level 1 or Level 2 depending on their engine technology limitations.

The Deputy Director also noted that the ministry will continue to study and propose specific measures to the Prime Minister and the Government to better control emissions from older vehicles, contributing to improved air quality in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other major cities.

Fuel standards must be ensured for effective emission control

Mr. Nam further emphasized that successfully implementing the new emission standards will require coordinated efforts across ministries, with the Ministry of Industry and Trade playing a key role in ensuring the supply of compliant fuels.

Currently, although new vehicles adhere to high standards like Euro 5, the fuel sold in the Vietnamese market remains mostly at Euro 2–3 levels, falling short of the technical requirements of modern engines.

Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade must expedite the transition and standardization of fuel supplies, ensuring that imported and domestically distributed fuels meet the new emission standards. This is a critical condition for the successful implementation of the emission control roadmap.

The draft regulation also assigns responsibilities to various ministries: the Ministry of Construction will be in charge of inspecting and certifying vehicles for emission compliance and overseeing inspection stations; the Ministry of Industry and Trade will develop and submit a suitable fuel supply plan to the Government by September 2025; the Ministry of Science and Technology will amend relevant regulations concerning fuels and emission measuring devices; and the Ministry of Public Security will inspect, monitor, and penalize violations.

The drafting committee expects to submit the final regulation to the Government for approval by mid-2025.

Vu Diep