Vietnam updates road traffic penalties and regulations

Vietnam is implementing significant updates to road traffic regulations and penalties. Decree 238/2026/NĐ-CP, which amends Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP, takes effect on August 15, 2026. This new decree introduces stricter rules regarding the use of license plates, specifically targeting individuals who use materials or devices to obscure or alter the visibility of plates for surveillance cameras. Penalties for such actions range from 20 to 26 million VND for car drivers and 4 to 6 million VND for motorcyclists.

The updated regulations also clarify administrative penalties for transport businesses, including those operating vehicles without proper commercial registration and those tampering with journey monitoring equipment. Furthermore, the decree adjusts the authority of various officials and agencies to handle violations, aiming to improve administrative efficiency and digital transformation in traffic management.

In parallel with these regulatory changes, law enforcement agencies have been actively addressing traffic safety issues. Recent reports include the investigation of a violent altercation between drivers in Vinh Long, the monitoring of speeding vehicles in the Hai Van Tunnel, and the crackdown on reckless driving on the Hanoi-Bac Giang expressway. Additionally, authorities in Phu Tho have utilized camera surveillance to identify thousands of violations, including a notable case of a single vehicle accumulating 96 'cold fines' for speeding.