Vietnam accelerates roadmap for green energy transition
Stricter control of vehicle emissions is seen as a key step in tackling urban air pollution in Vietnam, towards the Net Zero target by 2050.
According to a report from the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, thousands of modern specialized vehicles and technical devices have been deployed to support traffic law enforcement.
These include weight inspection systems, speed measurement devices with cameras, alcohol and drug testing equipment, radiation detectors, chemical marking tools, as well as devices for measuring exhaust emissions, smoke, and noise. The deployment of such advanced technology has helped authorities detect violations more effectively and limit the circulation of vehicles that fail to meet environmental standards, according to VNA.
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| Electric vehicles are used to serve tourists in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA) |
According to Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy for Agriculture and Environment under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Tho, Vietnam already has a relatively comprehensive legal framework for controlling and handling vehicles that cause environmental pollution or exceed emission limits.
Key policy documents include the Politburo’s Resolution No.12-NQ/TW dated March 16, 2022, which aims to build a pure, strong, regular, elite and modern public security force who can meet high requirements and tasks in the new situation, and the Prime Minister’s Decision No.876/QĐ-TTg dated July 22, 2022 approving an action programme on green energy transition and the reduction of carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
However, the rapid development of transport infrastructure has been accompanied by a sharp rise in the number of vehicles. Vietnam currently has about 7.2 million registered cars and 81 million motorcycles, many of which have been in operation for years and do not meet higher emission standards.
This situation poses growing challenges for enforcement forces, especially as Vietnam has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). At the same time, major cities are gradually implementing policies to limit vehicles powered by fossil fuels in central urban areas.
Although the Prime Minister’s Decision No.16/2019/QĐ-TTg on emission inspections for vehicles provides an important legal basis for handling violations, experts say several shortcomings remain.
These include incomplete technical parameters, inconsistent measurement standards, limited specialized equipment, and insufficient coordination among enforcement forces. In addition, penalties and regulations are not always fully aligned with existing technical infrastructure.
To address these challenges, authorities are calling for improvements in legal regulations, greater investment in modern equipment, and stronger coordination among relevant agencies.
According to Director of the Traffic Police Department Major General Do Thanh Binh, law enforcement agencies need clearer guidelines and breakthrough mechanisms to remove institutional bottlenecks, while also strengthening resources, technical facilities, and professional capacity.
He also emphasized the importance of accelerating digital transformation and applying advanced technologies in monitoring and enforcement.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Register Nguyen To An, said his agency is developing optimal solutions for vehicle emission inspections based on data provided by manufacturers and modern measuring equipment to ensure accurate and transparent results.
Authorities are also building an integrated command and monitoring system through a national data center for traffic management and violation handling. This system is designed to connect with databases from relevant ministries and agencies, enabling the use of big data analytics and AI to identify vehicles that exceed emission limits.
In addition, enforcement agencies plan to deploy smart sensor cameras capable of analysing emissions at major traffic intersections and expand the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems to support real-time monitoring.
Policy proposals are also being considered to encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles. These include tax reductions, lower registration fees, and other incentives for green vehicles, while increasing taxes and fees on fossil fuel-powered vehicles to limit emissions and discourage new registrations of high-emission personal vehicles.
Authorities are also promoting communication campaigns and policy support for businesses involved in developing green transport infrastructure and clean-energy vehicles, aiming to accelerate Vietnam’s transition toward a more sustainable transport system.
Nurturing love for Vietnamese language among Vietnamese youth in Japan
Cay Tre Vietnamese Language School solemnly held the opening ceremony for its K5 course at the Higashi Osaka City Cultural Center in Japan on March 21. The move officially kicked off the 2026-2027 academic year with Vietnamese-language classes for the community.
The ceremony was attended by Nguyen Dang Hoang, Consul in charge of community affairs at the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka, along with a large number of parents and students in the area as well as representatives of Vietnamese-language classes in Yao City and the “Em yeu tieng Viet” (I love Vietnamese language) class in the Osaka area. Their presence reflected the community’s deep concern for preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language in the lives of overseas Vietnamese.
The opening ceremony is a concrete effort by the Vietnamese community in Japan to implement Politburo Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on developing Vietnamese culture. Accordingly, in the new academic year, the school will continue to open Vietnamese-language classes for the community, especially for Vietnamese children currently living in Japan, cited NDO.
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| Cay Tre Vietnamese Language School in Osaka, Japan, holds the opening ceremony for the 2026-2027 academic year. |
Speaking at the ceremony, headmistress Le Thuong shared the journey of building and developing Cay Tre Community Vietnamese Language School, emphasising that Vietnamese is not only a means of communication, but also the soul of the nation’s culture. She affirmed that, in the context of deep international integration, maintaining and developing Vietnamese for younger generations abroad means preserving identity, nurturing love for the homeland, and fostering a sense of responsibility towards the country.
At the ceremony, students had the opportunity to perform cultural performances imbued with national identity.
The opening ceremony for the new academic year was also a practical activity marking the 95th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931-2026), helping to educate younger generations about tradition and ideals while inspiring their sense of responsibility towards the homeland and the nation.
Meningococcal disease alert issued as cases reported across Vietnam
Health authorities have issued a warning over a rise in meningococcal disease cases reported in several localities, including Kien Giang, Lam Dong, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Hanoi, with at least one fatality recorded.
According to the Kien Giang provincial Department of Health on March 21, a suspected new case has been identified among a group of 36 students who were classmates of a child who died from serogroup B meningococcal disease. The new patient is currently receiving treatment at Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, with stable health conditions and a positive recovery prognosis.
Earlier, on March 16, the Phu Quoc Medical Center admitted an 11-year-old girl in septic shock with a widespread rash. Her vaccination history was unclear, and she had no known contact with confirmed cases. Despite receiving treatment in line with national health protocols, the disease progressed rapidly, and she died shortly after being discharged at her family’s request.
Health authorities traced 45 close contacts related to the initial case, including family members and residents sharing the same accommodation area. All identified contacts were given preventive antibiotics or vaccinated, and no additional suspected cases have been reported so far.
Other localities have also recorded infections. In the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, a 47-year-old woman was hospitalised in critical condition with high fever, fatigue and severe body aches. Initially self-medicating at home, her condition deteriorated within a day and was later diagnosed as severe septic shock with multiple organ failure.
Similar severe cases were reported in Vinh Long and Lam Dong provinces, including a 14-year-old student whose case led to 69 close contacts being placed under medical monitoring. Nationwide, more than 95 cases were recorded in 2025, including at least three deaths.
Meningococcal disease symptoms include high fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, fatigue, confusion, and in some cases a characteristic purplish rash or septic shock. The disease is confirmed through laboratory testing detecting the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis in cerebrospinal fluid, blood or skin lesions, VOV reported.
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| Doctor say meningococcal disease can be life-threatening and progress rapidly., and without timely treatment, the fatality rate can reach up to 50% within 24 to 48 hours. |
Medical experts warn that meningococcal disease can be life-threatening and progress rapidly. Without timely treatment, the fatality rate can reach up to 50% within 24 to 48 hours. Even with intensive care, mortality ranges from 8 to 15%, while about 20% of survivors may suffer long-term complications such as hearing loss, brain damage or limb necrosis.
The disease spreads through respiratory droplets, and some individuals may carry the bacteria without symptoms, unknowingly transmitting it within the community. This makes early detection and prevention especially important.
Authorities recommend basic preventive measures, including maintaining personal hygiene, frequent handwashing, using antiseptic mouthwash, wearing masks when experiencing respiratory symptoms, and avoiding close contact with suspected cases.
Vaccination is an effective preventive measure, particularly for children and those living in high-risk areas or with known exposure. However, health experts advise against rushing to vaccination sites unless necessary, as crowded settings may increase the risk of spreading other respiratory infections.
Instead, the public is encouraged to stay vigilant, recognise early warning signs, especially unusual skin rashes, and seek prompt medical attention, which is critical in reducing severe complications and fatalities.
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