From March 1, 2026, apply new roadmap on automobile emissions

From March 1, 2026, the roadmap for applying national technical regulations on vehicle emissions from road traffic will officially take effect.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has just signed Decision No. 43/2025/QD-TTg dated November 28, 2025, stipulating the roadmap for applying national technical regulations on emissions from automobiles participating in road traffic.

From March 1, 2026, the roadmap for applying national technical regulations on vehicle emissions in road traffic will officially take effect. Photo: Pham Thieu.

This Decision stipulates the roadmap for applying national technical regulations on vehicle emissions (with spark ignition and compression ignition engines) participating in road traffic in Vietnam.

This Decision applies to organizations and individuals involved in the management, inspection and use of automobiles (with spark ignition and compression ignition engines) participating in road traffic in Vietnam.

This Decision does not apply to foreign-registered automobiles that are permitted by competent authorities to transit, temporarily import, and re-export to Vietnam for a limited period to attend conferences, fairs, exhibitions, physical education, sports, and tourism; automobiles under the management of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security used for defense and security purposes.

The Decision clearly states that the emission levels (including Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5) are the emission levels for automobiles specified in the National Technical Regulation on automobile emissions participating in road traffic issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment .

According to the Decision, the roadmap for applying national technical regulations on vehicle emissions participating in road traffic is specifically as follows: Vehicles manufactured before 1999 apply Level 1 (equivalent to Euro 1 standard) from the effective date of this Decision (March 1, 2026).

Cars manufactured from 1999 to the end of 2016 apply Level 2 (equivalent to Euro 2 standard) from the effective date of this Decision.

Automobiles manufactured from 2017 to the end of 2021 shall apply Level 3 (equivalent to Euro 3 standards) from the effective date of this Decision.

For cars manufactured from 2017 to the end of 2021 participating in traffic in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Level 4 (equivalent to Euro 4 standard) will be applied from January 1, 2027.

Automobiles manufactured from 2022 shall apply Level 4 (equivalent to Euro 4 standards) from the effective date of this Decision; apply Level 5 (equivalent to Euro 5 standards) from January 1, 2032.

For cars manufactured from 2022 participating in traffic in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Level 5 will be applied from January 1, 2028.

From January 1, 2029, cars participating in traffic in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must meet emission regulations from Level 2 or higher.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is responsible for guiding the implementation of this roadmap; based on the actual situation, continue to research and develop regulations to raise the national technical standards and regulations on emissions of automobiles participating in road traffic, and submit to the Prime Minister for announcement of the next roadmap.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for researching and reviewing national technical regulations on fuel to amend and supplement them in accordance with the roadmap for applying prescribed emission levels; reviewing regulations on recognition and designation of organizations for inspection and calibration of emission measuring devices in accordance with the law on measurement to amend and supplement them in accordance with the roadmap for applying emission levels prescribed in this Decision.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities shall coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to manage, inspect and monitor the quality of fuels in circulation on the market; based on socio-economic conditions and environmental protection requirements in the locality, if necessary, they may prescribe a roadmap for applying emission levels in strictly protected areas and emission-restricted areas of the locality in a more stringent direction than prescribed in this Decision, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection and the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety.

This Decision comes into force from March 1, 2026.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/tu-1-3-2026-ap-dung-lo-trinh-moi-ve-khi-thai-o-to-d787256.html