As of January 1, 2025, the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety will take effect, but the requirement to test motorcycle emissions will be enforced at a later date.

Thai Ha Street, Hanoi, during rush hour. Photo: Cong Hung/The Hanoi Times

Deputy Director of the Vietnam Register Nguyen To An provided this information at a press briefing on July 10.

According to An, the newly passed Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety requires motorbikes to undergo emissions testing. The Environmental Protection Law provides for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in cooperation  with the Ministry of Transport, to submit  a  plan for motorbike emission control to the Prime Minister for approval."At present, the ministries have not proposed a specific timetable," An stated. He mentioned that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Transport would study the emission standards for motorbikes, which will serve as the basis for testing centers to apply. The Ministry of Transport will set the procedures and national technical standards for motorbike emissions testing facilities.

An also noted that the authorities would set rules based on practical conditions. For example, new motorbikes might be exempted from emissions testing in the first few years, with a focus on older vehicles. Testing fees are expected to be low and may even be waived initially to encourage drivers to check their exhaust emissions.

According to An, large repair shops, service centers, and dealerships meeting the required standards and conditions would also be allowed to conduct emissions testing for motorbikes.

There are currently over 70 million registered motorcycles and scooters in Vietnam, with more than 45 million in daily use. According to the Ministry of Transport, motorbikes are a major source of pollution, yet emissions control has not been enforced since the 2008 Road Traffic Law did not include such provisions.

Since 2010, the Government has tasked the Ministry of Transport with developing a specific roadmap for controlling motorbike emissions. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been mandated to complete a network of emissions testing facilities, to test 80-90% of motorbikes by 2015.

However,  emissions control for motorcycles has not yet been implemented, while the number of motorbikes in major cities has surged. In 2023, over 2.4 million new motorcycles and scooters were registered nationwide, bringing the total to 74 million.