Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has issued Circular No. 61/2026/TT-BCT, accompanied by the National Technical Regulation on Electric Vehicle Charging Posts and Charging Stations (QCVN 32:2026/BCT), establishing technical and safety requirements for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The regulation will take effect from July 1st, 2027.

The regulation applies to organisations and individuals involved in the production, assembly, import, distribution and circulation of EV charging posts, as well as project developers, design units, construction contractors, facility managers, charging station operators, electricity suppliers and other relevant parties.

Under the new rules, public charging stations must be technically designed to support shared use among compatible electric vehicles. Charging equipment must provide appropriate technical capabilities relating to connectors, charging modes and technical specifications. Control systems must not restrict charging capabilities for configurations declared as compatible, provided that the relevant technical, authentication and safety conditions remain unchanged.

The requirement applies to charging stations located in public areas, centralised parking facilities and rest stops, excluding stations located in basements, multi-storey car parks and indoor parking areas. Outdoor charging stations and stations installed under independent shelters must also comply with the technical requirements for shared use across compatible vehicle models.

However, the regulation does not cover internal charging stations, wireless charging equipment, chargers supplied with vehicles or certain equipment used for testing and research. The technical compatibility requirement does not explicitly require charging services to be provided to every vehicle brand, nor does it prohibit operators from imposing brand-specific customer restrictions.

Commercial charging service operators must publicly display charging prices or billing methods and electricity consumption information to users before and during each transaction. Such data must be protected against unauthorised modification or deletion.

The technical regulation covers AC, DC and combined AC/DC charging posts. Charging equipment must meet requirements for protection against electric shock, overload and short circuits, electromagnetic compatibility, communication protocols, labelling and user instructions.

Charging stations are subject to requirements covering electrical safety, fire prevention and firefighting, spatial layout, safety distances, power supply systems, electricity metering, load management and monitoring systems. Locations must comply with land-use purposes, area functions and traffic infrastructure requirements. Charging posts must be positioned so that they do not obstruct pedestrian walkways, emergency evacuation routes or internal traffic flows. Charging areas must also have identification signs, electrical safety warnings and operating instructions.

Operational monitoring systems must be capable of collecting and displaying real-time information on operating status, fault warnings and electrical parameters. Operational, incident, metering, payment and user-feedback data must be properly managed, stored, retrieved and protected in accordance with applicable regulations. Total power consumption at a charging station must not exceed the capacity of the grid connection point or the limits of its internal distribution system.

Safety requirements also require EV charging stations to have automatic warning and power cut-off systems that can be triggered in situations such as fire, flooding or overheating. Charging posts produced, assembled or imported for domestic use must carry conformity labels, have their compliance with applicable standards declared, and undergo testing and acceptance before entering operation.

Commercial charging infrastructure in Vietnam is currently divided into three main investment groups: vehicle manufacturers, distribution networks and independent charging service companies. While some charging networks already allow vehicles from other brands to use their facilities, others exclusively serve customers of their own brands.

Commercial charging service operators must comply with separate regulations governing construction, electricity and fire safety. The new regulation also sets out responsibilities for manufacturers, importers, distributors, project developers, design and construction contractors, operators, electricity suppliers and state management authorities, covering inspection, maintenance, safe operation and incident response.

Charging stations and posts that were legally installed and operating before July 1st, 2027, will be permitted to continue operating under transitional provisions. Facility owners and operators must review their compliance with safety requirements within six months of the regulation taking effect. Any non-compliant areas identified during the review must be fully rectified within 24 months from July 1st, 2027.

Where direct safety risks such as electric shock, fire, explosion or structural instability are identified, immediate corrective action is required. If a specific affected section can be safely isolated, operations must be suspended in that section while repairs are carried out. If isolation is not possible, the entire charging station must stop operating until the fault has been resolved.

Any repairs, modifications, expansions or system reconfigurations carried out after the transitional deadline must fully comply with QCVN 32:2026/BCT.

The new requirements come as Vietnam's electric vehicle market expands. The country currently has around 6.7 million cars, of which about 3% are electric, and around 70 million two-wheelers, with electric models accounting for approximately 4.3%. Most electric vehicles are concentrated in major urban areas, increasing demand for parking and charging infrastructure.

As part of its roadmap towards net-zero emissions by 2050, Vietnam aims to have electric vehicles account for 50% of urban vehicles, while all buses and taxis are targeted to become electric during the period leading up to 2030. According to World Bank estimates, Vietnam will require around US$ 2.2 billion by 2030 and VND 847.2 trillion (US$ 32.6 billion) by 2050 to develop the charging station network needed to support the country's electrification targets.