Vietnam sets strict new emissions standards for cars in phased roadmap
Vietnam will enforce higher emissions standards on passenger cars beginning in March 2026, requiring vehicles to meet Euro-level limits under a nationwide roadmap aimed at reducing pollution and improving air quality.
THE HANOI TIMES — Passenger cars manufactured from 2017 to 2021 must meet the Euro 3 emissions standard starting in March 2026 under the government’s national roadmap for vehicle emissions.
The move is outlined in the government’s plan signed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on November 28, which sets out four levels of emissions standards for cars. The Euro 3 requirement corresponds to Level 3 under the latest plan.
Cars line up to travel to the central area of Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times.
The plan states that vehicles produced before 1999 must meet Level 1, or Euro 1, while those manufactured from 1999 to 2016 must meet Level 2, or Euro 2.
Vehicles manufactured from 2022 must meet Level 4, or Euro 4, beginning March 1, 2026. This deadline is two months later than the initial proposal.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will apply stricter requirements. Cars produced from 2017 to 2021 will be required to meet Euro 4 starting in 2027. One year later, vehicles manufactured from 2022 must meet Euro 5.
From 2029, all cars operating in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must comply with emissions standards of Level 2 or higher, with carbon monoxide (CO) capped at 3.5% and hydrocarbons (HC) at 800 ppm.
Under the national emissions standard, Level 3 for gasoline cars sets a maximum CO concentration of 3% and HC of 600 ppm. At Level 4, the limits drop to 0.5% for CO and 300 ppm for HC.
The decision does not apply to foreign-registered vehicles granted temporary entry or transit rights or to vehicles under the management of the ministries of National Defense and Public Security.
The government also instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to continue developing higher national emissions standards for cars and submit the next roadmap to the Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Science and Technology will review and update national fuel standards to align with the new emissions requirements.
Provinces and cities will work with ministries to manage and supervise fuel quality on the market.
Local authorities may introduce stricter emissions timelines in designated low-emission zones when needed.
Along with the car emissions roadmap, a similar plan for motorcycles is under consideration.
Under the draft proposal, motorcycles in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will undergo emissions testing starting in July 2027.
Other centrally governed cities of Haiphong, Danang, Cantho and Hue will implement the plan in July 2028.
The deputy prime minister requested ministries to assess the policy’s impact on residents and businesses, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to ensure the roadmap is feasible once implemented.
