Automotive & Parts — Vietnam

Vietnam implements a mandatory access certification system for complete motor vehicles and safety-related motor vehicle components. Products exported to Vietnam or placed on the Vietnamese market must obtain type approval or conformity certification issued by Vietnamese competent authorities before they can be cleared through customs and sold. Vietnam recognizes results from some internationally authoritative certifications, which can reduce the cost of repeated testing.

The main primary legislation is Vietnam's Law on Road Transportation, and the specific implementation is based on the Regulations on Access Management of Motor Vehicle Quality and Safety issued by the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam. The Ministry of Transport of Vietnam is responsible for the management of complete vehicle type approval, while the Vietnam Standards, Metrology and Quality Administration (STAMEQ) is responsible for standardization and certification management of components included in the mandatory catalog. Relevant requirements shall be subject to the latest content released by Vietnamese competent authorities.

Core technical requirements cover three main areas for complete motor vehicles and components: safety performance, emission control, and noise limits. Safety-related items include performance requirements for key components such as braking performance, lighting performance, body structural strength, seat belts, and safety glass, implemented in accordance with Vietnamese national TCVN standards adapted from the United Nations ECE UN R series regulations. More than 10 categories of safety-critical components including tires, lamps, safety glass, and seat belts fall under Vietnam's mandatory certification scope. For products holding valid ECE R series type approval certificates, their test results can be accepted by Vietnamese competent authorities and exempt from repeated testing.