According to Decree 166 of the Government, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are expected to start applying motorbike and moped emission inspection from July 1, 2027. To implement this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has submitted to the Prime Minister a draft roadmap for applying emission standards to motorbikes and mopeds at 4 levels:
Level 1: Applicable to second-hand manufactured or imported vehicles, lowest emission standards.
Level 2: Applicable to mid-range vehicles, requirements higher than level 1.
Level 3: Applicable to new-generation vehicles with lower emission limits, cleaner emissions.
Level 4: Applicable to the latest generation vehicles, emission standards approaching modern standards, the most strict level and proposed to be applied in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Notably, from January 1, 2030, all cars, motorbikes and mopeds when traveling in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must meet the emission standards of level 2 or higher; non-compliant vehicles will be banned from circulating in the inner city.
The goal of the policy is to gradually eliminate old, dilapidated vehicles that do not meet emission standards, thereby protecting public health and improving air quality. A representative of the Vietnam Register said that in order to prepare for motorbike emission inspection, in addition to investing in upgrading inspection infrastructure, the Department will coordinate with manufacturers and importers of motorbikes and mopeds to review and develop an agent system and repair and maintenance centers that are qualified to conduct emission inspection. This is to ensure that the implementation does not cause congestion and meets legal regulations.
The choice of implementation time comes from the requirement to build a large-scale inspection station and center system. Vietnam currently has nearly 80 million motorbikes and mopeds - a number that requires localities to spend time preparing infrastructure and resources. Emission control is expected to contribute significantly to improving air quality as one of the biggest challenges of urban areas today.
