HANOI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is set to tighten car emission standards in the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City beginning in 2027, according to a draft decision from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Cars manufactured from 2017 will be required to meet Level 4 standards from January 2027, while those produced from 2022 must comply with Level 5 standards starting January 2028, local newspaper Tuoi Tre (Youth) reported Wednesday.
Level 4 and Level 5 are categories defined under the circular on Vietnam's National Technical Regulations on Emissions of Automobiles Participating in Road Traffic, issued in June 2025, which set maximum permissible exhaust limits to reduce pollution and improve air quality.
The proposal assigns ministries to ensure fuel quality, update inspection protocols, and enforce compliance, while granting local governments the right to adopt stricter timelines if needed, the report added.
In July, Vietnam also announced a ban on fossil-fuel-powered motorbikes and mopeds from entering Hanoi's inner Ring Road 1 starting July 1, 2026, as part of a broader effort to combat air pollution. ■
