From January 1, 2026, new regulations on traffic safety will require cars carrying children to use seats or appropriate safety equipment.
According to Decree 168/2024, in cases of transporting children under 10 years old and under 1.35 meters in height in a car sitting in the same row as the driver's seat or not using safety equipment, the driver may be fined from 800,000 to 1,000,000 VND.
Before the penalty regulations officially take effect, the market for children's car seats has become bustling. According to many children's supply stores in Ho Chi Minh City, the number of customers coming to buy chairs has increased sharply in recent times, mainly families with young children, who want to equip themselves in time before the regulation is applied.
Mr. Le Minh Cuong (Thu Duc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) and his wife went directly to the store to choose a seat model suitable for the family's car. He said that there are many segments of safety seats, ranging from mid-range 2-6 million VND, high-end seats can cost more than 10 million VND. "My family will refer to and choose a type of about 5 million VND, suitable for the family's finances," said Mr. Cuong.
A representative of a store in Ben Thanh Ward said that the demand of parents has recently increased. The majority of customers who come to refer to the model and price, the mid-range segment is also the most popular.
In addition to stores, many parents choose to buy liquidation chairs to optimize costs. On social networking groups, many customers are looking to choose used car seats priced at around 2 million VND, or looking for rent due to short-term needs. Rental prices range from 150,000 - 300,000 VND/day or 550,000 - 900,000 VND/week depending on the type of chair.
According to the instructions of the National Traffic Safety Committee, child protection devices when traveling by car are divided into many groups suitable for each age. Newborns often use specialized cages; groups of children from about 2 to 6 years old use safety chairs; and older children can switch to lift chairs or lifting cushions.
For children under 2 years old, the cradle facing the back of the vehicle is the most suitable choice. This arrangement helps the impact force to be distributed evenly on the child's back if there is a sudden brake or collision, thereby minimizing the danger.
For children aged 2-6, specialized safety seats are a popular choice because they are easy to install, sturdy and bring comfort to children. From 6 years old onwards, when the body develops and the child's seat begins to be narrower, switching to a lifting seat and then a lifting cushion (about 8-10 years old) will be more suitable for the use of the vehicle's safety zone.
Currently, there are also many multi-function integrated models on the market, used in a wide range of age, which can meet the needs of children from about 1 to 10 years old.
