Vietnam tightens traffic rules, adds child‑seat safety requirement from Aug 15

From 1 July 2026 Vietnam’s new traffic legislation takes effect, tightening rules for road‑transport operators and introducing a low‑emission zone in Hanoi’s historic centre. The measures include mandatory installation of child‑safety devices on private cars carrying children under 10 years or shorter than 1.35 m, with the requirement to use approved seats beginning 1 July. Enforcement of this provision will change on 15 August 2026, when drivers who fail to provide suitable child‑seat equipment will receive a warning (cảnh cáo) instead of a fine, while placing a child in the front passenger seat remains punishable by a fine of VND 800 000‑1 000 000.

The same decree (238/2026) also expands obligations for commercial vehicles: 8‑seat passenger cars and larger trucks must install interior‑camera systems, and violations will be penalised from 1 January 2028 onward. Additionally, Hanoi city council approved higher fines for four common traffic violations, including illegal street‑vendor activity and misuse of road space, effective 1 July 2026.

Together, these regulations aim to improve road safety, protect children, reduce emissions in the Hoàn Kiếm and Old Quarter areas, and enhance traffic order across Vietnam.