Vietnam mandates child safety seats on cars starting July 2026

From 1 July 2026 Vietnam will enforce a new traffic safety rule that requires any vehicle carrying a child under 10 years of age and under 1.35 m in height to be equipped with an approved child‑safety device, such as a child‑seat, booster or compatible seat‑belt. The driver must also ensure the child sits in a rear seat, except when the vehicle has only a single row of seats.

Non‑compliance will be penalised with fines ranging from 800 000 VND to 1 000 000 VND under Decree 168/2024/ND‑CP. The regulation, added through Law No. 118/2025/QH15, exempts certain passenger‑transport vehicles (taxis, ride‑hailing, buses, tour buses) and vehicles with a single cabin layout. The rule also clarifies that it applies only when both conditions—age under 10 years **and** height under 1.35 m—are met; children who exceed either threshold are not required to use a dedicated child seat.

Authorities advise parents to select seats appropriate to the child’s age, weight and height, and to correctly install and secure them before each journey. The measure aims to reduce injuries and fatalities among young passengers in road accidents.