In 2025, what are penalties for wearing headphones while riding a motorcycle in Vietnam?

In 2025, what are penalties for wearing headphones while riding a motorcycle in Vietnam?​ (Image from the internet)

On December 26, 2024, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree 168/2024/ND-CP prescribing administrative penalties for violations of road traffic order and safety; point deduction, and restitution point of driver licenses.

In 2025, what are penalties for wearing headphones while riding a motorcycle in Vietnam?​

According to the provisions in Clause 4, Article 7 of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP on handling violations and point deduction of driver licenses for motorcycle operators violating road traffic rules:

Article 7. Penalties and point deduction from the driver license of operators of motorcycles, motorbikes, and similar vehicles violating road traffic rules

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4. A fine from 800,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND shall be imposed on operators committing any of the following violations:

a) Operating a vehicle exceeding the speed limit by 10 km/h to 20 km/h;

b) Stopping or parking improperly in a tunnel;

c) Overtaking in situations where overtaking is prohibited, overtaking on roads with signs prohibiting overtaking for the type of vehicle being operated, except for violations specified at point d of clause 3 of this Article;

d) Making a U-turn in a tunnel;

e) Operating a vehicle while using an umbrella, audio device (except for hearing aids), using one hand to handle and use a phone or other electronic devices.

…

Additionally, in Clause 3, Article 33 of the Road Traffic Order and Safety Law 2024, operators of two-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled motorcycles, and motorbikes are prohibited from engaging in the following actions:

Article 33. Operators, passengers, and goods on motorcycles and motorbikes

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Operators of two-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled motorcycles, and motorbikes are prohibited from engaging in the following actions:

a) Riding in parallel formations;

b) Driving on lanes designated for pedestrians and other vehicles;

c) Using an umbrella or audio devices, except for hearing aids;

d) Riding without hands; riding on one wheel for two-wheeled motorcycles, motorbikes; riding on two wheels for three-wheeled motorcycles, motorbikes;

Thus, in 2025, operators of motorcycles wearing headphones while participating in traffic (excluding hearing aids) will be fined from 800,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND. Even if only wearing one side of the headphones, this action is still considered a violation of traffic regulations because the law does not differentiate based on the number of headphones used.

Note: In cases where wearing headphones while riding a motorcycle causes a traffic accident, a fine from 10,000,000 VND to 14,000,000 VND will be imposed. (Point b, Clause 10, Article 7 of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP)

Apart from being fined, the violator will also have 04 points deducted from their driving license, and in the case of causing an accident, 10 points will be deducted according to points b, d of clause 13, Article 7 Decree 168/2024/ND-CP).

Statute of limitations for traffic violations in Vietnam in 2025

According to Article 4 of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, the statute of limitations for handling administrative violations concerning order and safety in road traffic is 01 year.

- The timeframe to use results gathered through technical equipment and facilities, supplied by individuals or organizations to identify violators, begins from the time the equipment records the results until the last day of the statute of limitations for administrative violations concerning provisions in Clause 1, Article 6 Administrative Violations Handling Law 2012.

If a decision is not made within the aforementioned period by a competent authority, the results obtained by technical means provided by individuals or organizations will no longer be valid. In cases where individuals or organizations deliberately evade or obstruct the penalty, the period for using gathered results provided by technical equipment is recalculated from the moment the evasion or obstruction ceases.

- Completed administrative violations, ongoing administrative violations

+ Determining whether an administrative violation is complete or ongoing to calculate the statute of limitations for handling administrative violations is conducted in accordance with laws on administrative violations handling.

+ For violations detected through technical equipment and facilities supplied by individuals or organizations: the determination of the conclusion of the violation is calculated from the time the equipment records the violation.

Thus, the statute of limitations for handling administrative violations regarding order and safety in road traffic is 01 year.

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