Vietnam to apply Euro 1 emission standards to pre-1999 cars from next March

Vehicles manufactured before 1999 in Vietnam must meet Level 1 emissions standards (equivalent to Euro 1) from March 1, 2026, according to a new government decision.

Decision No. 43/2025/QĐ-TTg, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, features a roadmap for implementing national technical regulations on emissions for automobiles operating on Vietnam’s roads.

According to the roadmap, vehicles manufactured from 1999 through 2016 must comply with Level 2 emissions standards (Euro 2) from the effective date of the decision on March 1, 2026.

Those produced from 2017 through 2021 will satisfy Level 3 emissions standards (Euro 3) from the same date.

For cars manufactured from 2017 through 2021 and operating in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Level 4 emissions standards (Euro 4) will apply starting January 1, 2027.

Vehicles manufactured from 2022 onward must comply with Level 4 emissions standards (Euro 4) from the effective date of the decision, and Level 5 standards (Euro 5) from January 1, 2032.

For those produced from 2022 onward and operating in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Level 5 standards will apply starting January 1, 2028.

Starting January 1, 2029, all vehicles operating in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must meet Level 2 or higher emissions standards.

The decision applies to organizations and individuals involved in the management, inspection, and use of automobiles, equipped with either spark-ignition or compression-ignition engines, engaging in road traffic in Vietnam.

It does not apply to vehicles registered abroad that are permitted by competent authorities to transit, temporarily import, and re-export for participation in conferences, fairs, exhibitions, sports events, or tourism; and those under the management of the Ministry of National Defence or the Ministry of Public Security used for defense and security purposes.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is tasked with guiding the implementation of this roadmap and, based on actual conditions, and continuing to research and propose higher emission standards for submission to the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for reviewing and revising national fuel standards to align with the new emission requirements.

Provincial and municipal People’s Committees must coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology in managing and supervising fuel quality on the market. Based on socio-economic conditions and environmental protection needs, local authorities may set stricter emission requirements for designated environmental protection zones or low-emission zones.

Vietnam commited to cutting emissions to net zero by 2050 at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the UK in 2021.