Vietnam introduces stricter child car‑seat rules from July 2026

From 1 July 2026 Vietnam’s traffic law will require drivers to keep children under 10 years old and under 1.35 m height out of the front passenger seat, except in single‑row vehicles, and to install approved child‑safety devices in the rear seats. The law also mandates that the equipment meet the QCVN 123:2024/BGTVT standard.

Violations will be penalised as follows: seating a child in the front seat carries a fine of VND 800,000‑1,000,000, while the lack of a suitable safety device will initially result in a written warning. From 15 August 2026 the missing‑equipment offence will also be fined. A transition period from 1 July to 14 August 2026 sees no fines for equipment non‑use, as authorities complete public‑awareness campaigns and ramp up traffic‑police inspections.

The Traffic Police Department says the measures aim to reduce serious injuries in collisions, noting that child‑seat usage “limits movement of the child’s body and reduces the risk of head, neck and spinal injuries.”