The government recently issued Decision number 13/2026, outlining the roadmap for applying national technical standards on emissions for motorcycles and mopeds participating in road traffic.

Emission inspections for motorcycles and mopeds will commence from 1/7/2027 for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. For other centrally-run cities, including Hai Phong, Hue, Da Nang, and Can Tho, inspections will begin from 1/7/2028. From 1/7/2030, inspections will extend to 28 provinces. Depending on local conditions, these provinces may implement the regulations earlier.

The decision specifies different emission levels based on vehicle type and production year. Motorcycles with cylinder capacities of 50 cm3 or more, manufactured or imported before 2008, must comply with level 1 of the national technical standard for road vehicle emissions. Those manufactured or imported from 2008 to the end of 2016 must meet level 2, while vehicles produced or imported from 2017 to 30/6/2026 are subject to level 3. Motorcycles manufactured or imported from 1/7/2026 onwards must adhere to level 4 standards.

For mopeds with cylinder capacities under 50 cm3, those manufactured or imported before 2016 must meet level 1 standards. Vehicles produced or imported from 2017 to 30/6/2027 are required to meet level 2, and mopeds manufactured or imported from 1/7/2027 must comply with level 4 standards.

Motorcycles in major cities will have their emissions controlled from 2027. Photo: Pham Chieu

From 1/1/2028, motorcycles and mopeds operating in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must meet emission regulations at level 2 or higher. Additionally, motorcycles and mopeds entering low-emission zones in Hanoi, as regulated by the Capital Law, must comply with emission standards set forth in the City People's Council's Resolution.

Vietnam currently has over 74,3 million motorcycles. To inspect emissions for this fleet, the Vietnam Register states that more than 5,000 inspection facilities, over 5,000 sets of emission measurement equipment, and over 5,000 inspectors are required. Most inspection facilities will be established or adapted from existing motorcycle maintenance units operated by businesses within the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers.

According to Circular 92/2025 from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the national technical standard for emissions from motorcycles and mopeds in road traffic includes four permissible value levels for hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) parameters in their exhaust gases.

The maximum permissible limit values for CO and HC parameters in the exhaust gases of motorcycles and mopeds equipped with spark-ignition engines participating in road traffic are specified in the following table:

Doan Loan