Classification of road vehicles in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

Classification of road vehicles in Vietnam from January 1, 2025 (Image from the internet)

On June 27, 2024, the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024 was passed by the XVth National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 7th session on June 27, 2024.

Classification of road vehicles in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

(1) Motor Vehicles include:

- Automobiles including: vehicles with four or more wheels powered by an engine, designed and manufactured to operate on the road, not running on rails, used to carry people, goods, tow trailers, semi-trailers or constructed to perform special functions and utilities, which can be connected to a power line; three-wheeled vehicles with a self-weight exceeding 400 kg; automobiles do not include four-wheeled motorized passenger cars and four-wheeled motorized cargo vehicles;

- Trailer is a non-engine vehicle, designed and manufactured to operate on the road, towed by an automobile; the majority of the trailer's total load does not rest on the towing vehicle;

- Semi-trailer is a non-engine vehicle, designed and manufactured to operate on the road, towed by a tractor and having a significant portion of its total load resting on the tractor;

- Four-wheeled motorized passenger car is a vehicle with four or more wheels, powered by an engine, designed and manufactured to operate on the road, constructed to carry people, with a designed speed not exceeding 30 km/h, and allowed to carry a maximum of 15 people (excluding the driver);

- Four-wheeled motorized cargo vehicle is a vehicle with four or more wheels, powered by an engine, designed and manufactured to operate on the road, constructed to carry goods, with the engine and cargo compartment mounted on the same chassis, with a maximum of two rows of seats and carrying a maximum of 05 people (excluding the driver), with a designed speed not exceeding 60 km/h, and self-weight not exceeding 550 kg; in the case of electric vehicles, the engine power must not exceed 15 kW;

- Motorcycles include: vehicles with two or three wheels powered by an engine, designed and manufactured to operate on the road, excluding mopeds; for three-wheeled vehicles, the self-weight must not exceed 400 kg;

- Moped is a vehicle with two or three wheels powered by an engine, designed and manufactured to operate on the road, with a designed speed not exceeding 50 km/h; if powered by an internal combustion engine, the displacement or equivalent displacement must not exceed 50 cm^3^; if powered by an electric engine, the engine power must not exceed 04 kW; mopeds do not include motorized bicycles;

- Vehicles similar to the types of vehicles mentioned in this section.

(2) Non-Motorized Vehicles include:

- Bicycles are vehicles with at least two wheels operated by human power through pedals or cranks;

- Motorized bicycles, including electric bicycles, are bicycles with engine assistance, where the engine power cuts off when the rider stops pedaling or when the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h;

- Tricycles;

- Wheelchairs for the disabled;

- Animal-drawn carts;

- Vehicles similar to the types of vehicles mentioned in this section.

(3) Specialized Machinery Vehicles include:

- Construction machinery;

- Agricultural and forestry machinery;

- Tractors;

- Trailers, semi-trailers towed by tractors;

- Specialized machinery vehicles used for particularly designed functions;

- Specialized vehicles used for national defense and security purposes participating in road traffic.

(4) Smart Traffic Vehicles are motor vehicles that allow partial or full automation of vehicle control activities, route determination, and situation handling when participating in road traffic.

(5) Vehicles similar to the types of motor vehicles, non-motorized vehicles managed and used according to the regulations for those types of motor vehicles, non-motorized vehicles.

(Article 34 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024)

See detailed content at Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024 effective from January 1, 2025.

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