Vietnam to tighten child safety, license plate rules under new traffic decree from August 15

The changes are outlined in Decree No. 238/2026, which amends and supplements provisions of Decree No. 168/2024 on administrative sanctions in the road transport sector.

New rules for carrying children under 10 in cars

Under the new decree, drivers who fail to use an appropriate child restraint system when carrying children under 10 years old and shorter than 1.35 meters will receive a warning instead of the previous fine of VND800,000-VND1 million (US$30.49-US$38.12).

The provision does not apply to passenger transport business vehicles.

Drivers who allow children under 10 years old and shorter than 1.35 meters to sit in the front row alongside the driver, except in vehicles with only one row of seats, will still face fines of VND800,000 to VND1 million ($30.49-$38.12).

The decree also introduces requirements for vehicles to be equipped with journey monitoring devices, driver-facing cameras, passenger compartment cameras, seat belts, child seats for kindergarten and primary school students, and others.

Stricter penalties for license plate tampering

The decree also strengthens penalties for acts that intentionally alter, obscure or interfere with the identification of vehicle license plates.

For automobiles, including trailers, semi-trailers, four-wheeled passenger or cargo vehicles fitted with engines and similar vehicles, fines ranging from VND20 million to VND26 million ($762.62-US$990.41) will apply for a range of violations.

These include failing to display the required number of license plates, mounting plates in incorrect positions or formats, using plates with obscured letters or numbers, painting or affixing materials to plate characters, or bending or covering plates.

Drivers will also be penalized for altering the letters, numbers, colors, shape or size of license plates, as well as for using materials, devices or equipment that interfere with the identification of license plate information.

The provisions also apply to trailers and semi-trailers.

For motorcycles, mopeds and similar vehicles, fines ranging from VND4 million to VND6 million ($152.52-US$228.79) will apply for various violations.

The violations include mounting license plates in incorrect positions or formats, using plates with obscured letters or numbers, and painting or affixing materials to plate characters.

Penalties will also apply to bending or covering license plates, altering their letters, numbers, colors, shape or size, and using devices or materials that interfere with the identification of license plate information.

The new regulations will take effect nationwide on August 15.