Vietnam proposes fines of over $150 for cooked food handlers failing to trim fingernails, wear gloves

The draft decree, prepared by the Ministry of Health, aims to replace Government Decree 115/2018 and its 2021 amendment.

The Health Ministry said food safety violations have become increasingly complex, while current penalties remain too low to deter offenders.

Under the draft, fines for food safety violations would rise by 1.5 to 2 times across multiple categories, including improper labeling, use of banned additives, and selling expired products.

Maximum fines would remain at VND100 million ($3,795) for individuals and VND200 million ($7,590) for organizations. However, if the highest fine is still less than seven times the value of the unsafe food, penalties could rise to a maximum of seven times the product value.

For restaurants and food outlets, fines of VND2-4 million ($76-152) would apply to violations such as using unsanitary utensils, allowing insects into kitchens, or employing staff who fail to wear hats, masks, or gloves, or who keep long fingernails while handling ready-to-eat food. Workers caught wearing watches or jewelry, eating, smoking, or spitting in food preparation areas would face similar fines.

More serious violations would carry heavier penalties.

Fines of VND6-10 million ($228-380) are proposed for failing to follow food inspection procedures, improper food sample storage, unsanitary transport or storage of ready meals, food contamination, wastewater drainage issues, or lack of hygiene facilities such as restrooms and handwashing stations.

Using unsafe water in food preparation could result in fines of VND15-20 million ($570-760).

Employing food handlers with infectious diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis A or E, tuberculosis, or acute diarrhea could lead to penalties of VND20-30 million ($760-1,140).

Street food vendors would also face fines of VND1-2 million ($38-76) for failing to cover food against dust and insects, lacking adequate display equipment, or not using gloves when handling cooked food.

Heavier penalties of VND2-6 million ($76-228) could apply for using unsafe utensils or packaging materials, improperly divided food additives, or unhygienic water in food preparation and cleaning.

The harshest penalties include fines of VND60-80 million ($2,280-3,040) for using animals that died from disease in food production, and VND45-60 million ($1,710-2,280) for using additives of unknown origin.