Like other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is facing diverse environmental issues due to its rapid economic growth and industrialization. The “Resolution No. 35/NQ-CP on a number of urgent issues in environmental protection”, which was promulgated in 2013, has identified seven issues as the country’s challenges as listed below. As seen in items 1 and 4 of the list, water pollution has been recognized as a major problem in Vietnam. Air pollution has also become a concern in large cities due to the sharp increase of automobiles and motorcycles. Awareness about soil pollution has also raised in recent years. As mentioned later, the country’s “Law on Environmental Protection of 2014” also refers to soil pollution control.
Waste management is also of a major interest in the country. The “Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2149/QD-TTg on approving the national strategy for integrated management of solid waste up to 2025, with a Vision to 2050” has set numerical targets not only for management of municipal wastes but also for that of industrial wastes. Additionally, regulations on collection of e-wastes were promulgated in August 2013. Companies all over the world are concerned about its enforcement because it introduced the scheme of extended produce responsivities (EPR) in Vietnam.
In the field of energy conservation, a system of laws and regulations was developed in 2010, stipulating detailed rules on energy-saving labels for products and energy efficiency management in facilities, such as factories and shopping complex. In particular, consumer awareness on products with energy-saving labels is increasing, and a survey conducted at consumer electronics retailers in large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has revealed that the sales of products with energy-saving labels have increased by about 10-15% .
Regarding management of chemicals, after the promulgation of the “Law on Chemicals” in 2007, implementing regulations for the Law were set successively, developing a scheme for proper chemical management.
In Vietnam, in addition to the National Assembly, state bodies, central ministries and other governmental agencies have the right to enact legal documents. There are many types of legal documents in Vietnam but the legal system in the field of environment can be summarized as below.
In Vietnam, the right to enact constitution and a law (Luat) are given only to the National Assembly while the aforementioned ministries/agencies have the right to establish legal normative documents including ordinances (Lenh), resolutions (Nghi Quyet), decrees (Nghi Dinhe), decisions (Quyet Dinh), directions (Chi Thi), and circulars (Thong Tu). The hierarchical relationships among these legal documents are determined pursuant to the relationships between the ministries/agencies that issued the documents or as stated in premises of such legal documents.
Environmental standards in Vietnam can be roughly classified into two types: Vietnamese National Standard (TCVN) and National Technical Regulation (QCVN). TCVN and QCVN are issued pursuant to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations (68/2006/QH11), which was established in June 2006. The features of each are summarized as follows.
Previously the country had set environmental standards and emission standards as TCVNs (voluntary standards). But in recent years they have been set as QCVNs (mandatory regulations). This means emission standards have become legally binding.
The Law on Environmental Protection defines the basic principles and direction for overall environmental management in Vietnam as a basic environmental law of the country.
Vietnam enacted its first environmental law relatively recently, in 1993. Prior to that, in 1991, the National Plan for Environment and Sustainable Development 1991-2010, the country’s first policy that aimed to achieve both economic development and environmental protection, was set[2]. Then, in 1993, the proposed Law on Environmental Protection was approved by the National Assembly as a law to comprehensively deal with environmental issues. The Law then came into effect on January 10, 1994. Subsequently, in 1995, environmental standards and emission standards for air, water, soil, etc. were established. Multiple implementing rules for EIA were also issued from 1994 to 1995. Besides, before and after the promulgation of the Law on Environmental Protection of 1993, the state government promulgated various environmental laws successively (e.g., Law on Forest Protection and Development of 1991, Law of Land Use of 1993, Law on Water Resources of 1998, etc.).
Then the Law on Environmental Protection was fully revised in 2005 (52/2005/QH12). The former version of the Law (1993) had 55 articles while the revised one (2005) had 136 articles, which are almost doubled. The major revisions include the clarification of each provision and the establishment of a separate chapter on waste management[3].
Then, on June 23, 2014, the current version, the Law on Environmental Protection of 2014 (55/2014/QH13) was promulgated. The Law consists of 170 articles in 20 chapters and came into effect on January 1, 2015.
[1] Currently the Law on Environmental Protection of 2014 is under review for full revision (as of December 2019). A draft of the law that was published on December 13, 2019 consists of 176 articles in 17 chapters and 4 annexes, stipulating newly introduced management systems (e.g. waste audit scheme for factories). The draft has a large impact on business activities and is worth paying attentions to.
[2] http://www.rrcap.ait.asia/pub/soe/vietnam/overview/environmental_management_and_legislation.htm
[3] http://www.env.go.jp/earth/coop/oemjc/H18_csr_asia/H18_all.pdf
Framework of EHS laws and regulations in Vietnam.
| Category | Theme |
|---|---|
| Overall |
Overview, Environmental Standards Vietnam, Organizations with Governing Environmental Regulations |
| Chemical | Chemicals |
| Waste | Waste Management |
| Energy | Energy Conservation |
| Water | Water Management |
| Air | Air Pollution Control |
| Soil | Soil Pollution Control |
| Other Pollution | Noise, Vibration, Odor |
| OSH | Occupational Safety and Health |
| Others |
Vietnam
On June 14, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed Law on Chemicals No. 69/2025/QH15 (“the Law”) with 92.47 percent approval. Comprising seven chapters and 48 articles, the Law fully …
Vietnam
On June 14, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed Law on Chemicals No. 69/2025/QH15 (“the Law”) with 92.47 percent approval. Comprising seven chapters and 48 articles, the Law fully …
Vietnam
On June 14, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed Law on Chemicals No. 69/2025/QH15 (“the Law”) with 92.47 percent approval. Comprising seven chapters and 48 articles, the Law fully …
Vietnam
On May 15, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam issued Circular No. 01/2025/TT-BNNMT concerning the promulgation of three national technical standards on ambient environmental quality: QCVN 26:2025/BNNMT …
Vietnam
On 23rd April 2025, The Prime Minister of Vietnam hereby promulgates the “Decision on Regulation on responses to waste-related emergencies.” This Decision comes into force as of June 10, 2025, …
Vietnam
On April 10, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance and General Department of Customs issued Notification No. 1546/CHQ-GSQL on the export-import management of products containing industrial precursors (hereafter referred to as …
Vietnam
NOTE: On the morning of June 14, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed the new Law on Chemicals. EnviX, in cooperation with its Hanoi subsidiary Enviapac, will provide analysis of …
Vietnam
On February 28, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Circular 07/2025/TT-BTNMT, amending and supplementing Circular 02/2022/TT-BTNMT, which provides implementation details for various articles of the Law on …
Vietnam
On February 28, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Circular 07/2025/TT-BTNMT, which amends and supplements Circular 02/2022/TT-BTNMT—the regulation detailing the implementation of various articles of the Law …
Vietnam
On December 31, 2024, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 52/2024/TT-BYT, establishing the “Regulations on Domestic Water Quality Testing and Monitoring and National Technical Standards for Domestic Water Quality …
Vietnam
On February 12, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) issued Circular No. 02/2025/TT-BTNMT, establishing the technical standard QCVN 01:2025/BTNMT on National technical regulation on environmental safety distance …
Vietnam
On January 24, 2025, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha issued Prime Minister Decision No. 232/QD-TTg on a Plan for the Establishment and Development of a Carbon Market in …
Vietnam
On April 23, 2025, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) published an announcement on its official website titled Call for Public Comments on the List of Basic Chemicals …
Vietnam
On December 30, 2024, Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Circular 45/2024/TT-BTNMT, establishing QCVN 19:2024/BTNMT on the National Technical Standard for Industrial Emission. This new standard replaces the …
Vietnam
On March 14, 2025, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in collaboration with the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment, held a consultation meeting on the …
Vietnam
On February 28, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Circular 06/2025/TT-BTNMT, which includes the new national technical regulation on industrial wastewater, QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT. This regulation replaces the …
Vietnam
On December 25, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam issued “Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BCT on Energy Consumption Standards for the Plastics Manufacturing Sector”. The circular outlines methods for …
Vietnam
On April 1, 2025, the Vietnam Chemicals Agency (Vinachemia) under Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) published a notice regarding the additional submission of paper documents for applications related to …
Vietnam
On March 5, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam released the second draft of the amended Law on Chemicals (hereafter referred to as “the draft”) and invited broad corporate feedback …
Vietnam
On March 5, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam released the second draft of the amended Law on Chemicals (hereafter referred to as “the draft”) and invited broad corporate feedback …
Vietnam
On December 18, 2024, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Decree No. 161/2024/ND-CP on the List of Dangerous Goods for Road Transport and Procedures for Issuing Transportation Permits and Safety Training …
Vietnam
On January 5, 2025, the Government of Vietnam promulgated “Decree No. 05/2025/ND-CP Amending and Supplementing Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP Detailing a Number of Articles of Law on Environmental Protection”, which came …
Vietnam
On November 7, 2024, Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) promulgated Circular No. 23/2024/TT-BCT on Management of Industrial Explosives and Explosives Precursors Under the Control of the Ministry of …
Vietnam
On December 17, 2024, the Vietnam Chemicals Agency (Vinachemia) functioning under the Ministry of Industry and Trade released the summary of inspection activities conducted in 2024. Although the total numbers …
Vietnam
On November 15, 2024, the Vietnamese government promulgated the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 19/2024/QD-TTg on the Roadmap for Application of Emission Standards to Imported, Manufactured or Assembled Vehicles (hereinafter “the …
Vietnam
On October 10, 2024, the Vietnamese government promulgated the Decree No. 129/2024/ND-CP Partially Amending and Supplementing the Decree No. 91/2016/ND-CP on the Control of Household and Medical Insecticides and Fungicides …
Vietnam
On September 11, 2024, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam (MOLISA) published Notice No. 4223/TB-BLDTBXH on the Occupational Accident Report for the First Half of the …
Vietnam
On November 21, 2024, Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) promulgated Decree No. 153/2024/ND-CP Stipulating Environmental Protection Fees for Exhaust Emissions (hereafter “the Decree”). The Decree establishes provisions …
Vietnam
On October 22, 2024, in Vietnam, a Decree 135/2024/ND-CP on Policies and Mechanisms for Promoting the Development of Rooftop Solar Power System for Self-Consumption (hereinafter referred to as the Decree) …
Vietnam
On October 16, 2024, the Vietnam Chemicals Agency (Vinachemia), functioning under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), published Decision 01/KL-HC on chemical regulatory inspection result of Tan Thanh Produce …
Vietnam
On September 19, 2024, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) published Draft Circular on Amendment and Supplementation to a Number of Articles of Circular 01/2022/TT-BTNMT on Enforcement Climate …
Vietnam
On September 12, 2024, a Draft Law on Amendment and Supplementation to a Number of Articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy (hereinafter “the Draft”) was …
Vietnam
On October 10, 2024, Vietnamese government promulgated Circular 19/2024/TT-BCT stipulating Amendment 1:2024 to the National Technical Regulation QCVN 05A:2020/BCT on the Manufacturing, Trade, Use, Storage, and Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals. …
Vietnam
On July 26, 2024, the Vietnam Chemicals Agency (Vinachemia) operating under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued Notice No. 882/HC-CNHC on Strengthening of the Control of Restricted Chemicals …
Vietnam
On July 17, 2024, the Vietnamese government promulgated Decree 90/2024/ND-CP Amending and Supplementing Decree 57/2022/ND-CP Stipulating Lists of Narcotic Substances and Precursors, which entered into force on the same day. …
Vietnam
On August 29, 2024, Vietnamese Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with Vietnam Chemicals Agency (Vinachemia) functioning under the Ministry of Industry and …
Vietnam
On August 14, 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Vietnam promulgated Notice No. 460/TB-BTNMT Stipulating the Second Edition of the List of Recycling Facilities for Products …
Vietnam
On August 13, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) of Vietnam published and solicited public comments on two draft regulations: 1) Draft Circular on Regulations for Specific Energy …
Vietnam
On June 27, 2024, the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety was passed by the Vietnam National Assembly. This law consists of 8 chapters and 89 articles, providing for …
Vietnam
On August 13, 2024, the Government of Vietnam promulgated “Prime Minister’s Decision 13/2024/QD-TTg on Updating the List of GHG Emitting Facilities that must Conduct Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories.” This decision …
Vietnam
On June 29, 2024, the National Assembly of Vietnam promulgated Law No. 42/2024/QH15 on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosive Materials and Support Instrument (hereinafter referred to as “the new …
Vietnam
On May 16, 2024, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Decree No. 53/2024/ND-CP on the Detailed Regulations for Implementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Water Resources (hereinafter ”the …
Vietnam
On May 2, 2024, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh promulgated Directive No. 13/CT-TTg on Strengthening Carbon Credit Management to Implement the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The PM Directive clarifies …
Vietnam
On May 10, 2024, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Decree No. 50/2024/ND-CP Partially Amending Decree No. 136/2020/ND-CP on Detailed Guidance on the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and Decree …
Vietnam
On July 3, 2024, the Vietnamese government promulgated Decree No. 80/2024/ND-CP Governing Direct Power Trading between Renewable Energy Power Producers and High-Volume Power Users (hereinafter referred to as “the Decree”). …
Vietnam
On March 31, 2024, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Decree 34/2024/ND-CP on the List of Dangerous Goods and Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Road and Inland Waterways (hereinafter referred to …
Vietnam
On April 1, 2024, the Vietnamese government promulgated “Decision No. 262/QD-TTg on the Implementation Plan for the Vietnam National Power Development Plan 2021-2030 with a Vision for 2050” (hereinafter referred …
Vietnam
On April 15, 2024, the Vietnamese government publicized Draft Decree Governing Direct Power Trading between Renewable Energy Power Producers and High-Volume Power Users (hereinafter referred to as “the Draft”). The …
Vietnam
On March 22, 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Vietnam published Draft Decree Amending and Supplementing the Decree No. 06/2022/ND-CP on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions …
Vietnam
On March 27, 2024, Vietnamese government promulgated Decree No. 33/2024/ND-CP on the Management of Chemicals Governed by the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of …
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