On 26/6, the Government issued Decree 241/2026, which amends and supplements specific articles detailing and guiding the implementation of parts of the Road Traffic Law and Article 77 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety. This decree permits double-cab pickup trucks and vans with a total mass of up to 3,5 tons to circulate as passenger cars, with the regulation effective from 1/7.

Total mass refers to the combined weight of the vehicle itself, all necessary operating fluids, any cargo, and all occupants. Fundamentally, it encompasses everything present on the vehicle.

Earlier, in early June, the Vietnam Register proposed that the Ministry of Construction report to the Government to consider amending existing regulations. The proposal aimed to allow double-cab pickup trucks and vans with a total mass of up to 3,5 tons to be treated as passenger cars for traffic purposes, while ensuring their current vehicle classification for other administrative matters remained unchanged.

This new regulation means that nearly all common pickup truck models currently sold in Vietnam will be categorized as passenger cars when operating on roads. Consequently, these vehicles will no longer face restrictions on truck-restricted roads and will be permitted to use the left lane on expressways.

A Nissan Navara drives on a Hanoi street, 5/2026. Photo: Minh Quan

It is important to note that this regulation applies exclusively to how trucks are treated in traffic and does not alter other aspects of vehicle classification, such as various taxes, fees, or their service life. Pickup trucks will continue to benefit from a 60% registration fee compared to passenger cars and will retain their 25-year operational limit.

This distinction helps differentiate these vehicles from pickup passenger cars, which are models designed with a pickup-like appearance but are classified as passenger cars. Typically, these specific models feature a passenger-to-cargo weight ratio exceeding 80%. For pickup passenger cars, all associated regulations are identical to those governing other passenger car types, including sedans, SUVs, and MPVs.

Before 2024, pickup trucks (specifically, pickup trucks) with a cargo capacity under 950 kg were considered passenger cars for traffic purposes, a classification outlined in Regulation 41/2019. However, with the introduction of Regulation 41/2024, this provision was removed. As a result, most pickup trucks were subsequently categorized as trucks when operating on public roads.

This reclassification caused significant inconvenience for many pickup owners and car manufacturers, as it imposed restrictions on vehicle usage. Pickup trucks often have dimensions comparable to mid-to-large SUVs and MPVs, yet these latter vehicle types continued to be classified as passenger cars, exempt from restrictions on prohibited roads or during specific hours.

Previously, in 1/2026, the Hanoi People's Committee issued Decision 01, which stipulated that common trucks with a total mass under two tons could operate only outside peak hours. Furthermore, common trucks with a total mass of two tons or more were restricted to operating solely from 9 PM to 6 AM the following morning.

In late April, the Hanoi People's Committee revised its policy, allowing pickup trucks to operate 24 hours a day within the city, a significant change from the previous restriction to off-peak hours. This decision was implemented to provide greater convenience for pickup owners regarding traffic circulation.

Despite the change in Hanoi, pickup owners in many other provinces and cities remained concerned about potential fines for driving on routes exclusively designated for passenger cars. With the introduction of this new regulation, such concerns have now been eliminated across the country.

Vu Tuan