Many types of products with large price differences
Right before the regulation took effect, the children's safety chair market began to record increased purchasing power, expanded supply and appeared many types of products with large price differences.
According to records at a warehouse in Thanh Tri (Hanoi), this facility is doing both wholesale and retail sale of child safety chairs with many different price levels. Sellers admit that most of the goods are imported through unofficial channels and no value-added invoices are issued.
I am an individual seller, so I cannot issue a red invoice, the goods are not from any brand, the price is 899,000 VND/piece, depending on the type of design, can be used for children from 9 months - 10 years old. As for separate chairs for students from grade 3 and above, the price is more than 125 yuan (unit of Chinese currency) - about 500,000 VND excluding shipping fees" - the seller said.
Notably, this seller shared that if customers order large quantities, from about 200 pieces or more, the establishment can link with foreign wholesalers to attach the names of brands as required to the product. "If customers need brand names, they can print them as required, but the quantity must be imported from 200 pieces or more, the price is about 1.2 - 1.3 million VND/piece, excluding shipping fees" - the seller said.
At another warehouse specializing in distributing children's chairs in the Co Nhue area (Hanoi), records show that the demand for purchasing products is increasing sharply in the context of new regulations about to take effect.
Here, many seat models are sold with a variety of brands, prices range from 599,000 VND to more than 2 million VND/piece, depending on the design. However, the facility owner also admitted that the goods are imported and have not been inspected according to specific standards in Vietnam.
Products have achieved ECE R129 certification abroad, but in Vietnam there is no organization that issues it. But you can rest assured about the quality," the store owner in Co Nhue informed, while continuously reassuring customers about the safety of the product.
Mr. Le Vu Long (resident in Lang ward, Hanoi) shared with reporters that because it is about July 1st, the regulations on equipping safety equipment such as child safety chairs take effect, so he has placed a product on the e-commerce platform for more than 3 million VND.
“I only buy products advertised by the seller as genuine products chosen by many people, suitable for the type of car that my family is using. As for whether the product's standards meet the conditions and regulations of current law correctly and fully or not, it is unclear” - Mr. Long said.
Regulations have taken effect, but standards are still not complete
Discussing whether from July 1, 2026, if people have equipped safe seats for children but that product does not have a conformity certificate because there is no designated certification unit, whether people are at risk of being penalized or not, lawyer Hoang Ha (Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association) said that in order to avoid being penalized and ensure their rights in this transitional period, according to the lawyer, people should prepare in the direction of "proving that they have chosen and used safe equipment in a grounded way", not just buying for show.
First of all, you should choose chairs with clear origins, full product labels, recording manufacturer information, importer information, model, age, weight, height suitable for children. You should prioritize products with Vietnamese user manuals, purchase invoices, warranty books, technical documents or international safety certifications such as ECE R44/04, UN R129/i-Size if any.
When buying, it is necessary to save invoices, photos of labels, product codes, installation instructions, seller information, warranty certificates and manufacturer standard declaration documents. When using, it is necessary to install chairs in the right position, on the right belts, in the right seating direction according to the age and physical condition of the child. A good chair, but installed incorrectly, can also be considered unsafe.
The Vietnam Register proposes a plan to certify safe seats for children
Regarding the implementation of conformity assessment, certification and declaration of conformity for safety equipment for children used in cars according to the National Technical Regulation QCVN 123:2024/BGTVT, on the afternoon of June 23, in an exchange with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen To An - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Register - informed that this agency has sent a report to the Ministry of Construction on the implementation situation and proposed handling plans in case there is still no testing organization, certifying sufficient operating conditions by July 1, 2026. Accordingly, the Ministry of Construction is proposed to consider temporarily appointing the Motor Vehicle Testing Center to conduct child safety seat testing according to QCVN 123:2024/BGTVT, and at the same time assign the Vietnam Register to temporarily take on the certification work to meet the needs of the people.
Up to now, we are still waiting for a directive from the Ministry of Construction" - Mr. An said.
Notably, according to Mr. Nguyen To An, if products labeled QCVN 123:2024/BGTVT appear on the market, this is not appropriate, because so far no organization has been registered and designated to carry out certification activities according to this standard. TO THE
