Vietnam Proposes Mandatory EV Charging Station Standards from 2027

Overview

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has proposed a new mandatory national technical regulation for EV charging stations, set to take effect on July 1, 2027. The draft circular requires existing stations to review and upgrade safety systems within specified timelines, impacting the growing EV charging ecosystem in Vietnam. This regulatory move is significant for listed companies with exposure to EV infrastructure, such as VNG Corporation (VNZ) on UPCOM.

Key Facts

• The new regulation applies to public charging stations, parking facilities, rest stops, and similar areas.
• Charging piles produced or imported before July 1, 2027, can continue to be circulated and installed for 12 months.
• Existing stations must complete a safety review within 6 months and rectify non-compliance within 24 months.
• The market survey identified 43,128 charging devices, including 29,635 AC and 13,493 DC charging piles.
• Domestic testing for AC charging piles costs approximately VND 41–44.5 million per sample, excluding certification fees.
• Vietnam currently lacks a testing laboratory that fully meets the proposed regulation’s requirements.

What Happened

MOIT is soliciting comments on a draft circular that would establish a national technical regulation for EV charging piles and stations. The regulation sets mandatory requirements for equipment quality, power supply systems, layout, electrical safety, fire prevention, metering, billing, and operational management. It applies to charging stations in public areas, centralized parking, rest stops, and similar locations, while stations in residential buildings, apartments, shopping centers, and indoor parking follow separate construction and fire safety rules.

Under the proposal, charging piles manufactured, imported, or placed on the market before July 1, 2027, can continue to be used for 12 months. After this transition period, new piles must meet the regulation, with domestic products requiring certification and conformity marking, and imported piles subject to state quality inspection. MOIT also warns of potential stockpiling before the deadline and proposes strict control over the origin and timing of each batch.

Market Context

VNG Corporation (VNZ), listed on UPCOM, closed at VND 640,000 on August 10, 2026. The company has been expanding into technology and mobility services, though its direct exposure to EV charging infrastructure is not explicitly detailed. The new regulation could affect VNZ’s potential ventures in the EV ecosystem, as well as other players in Vietnam’s rapidly growing EV market. The country’s EV charging network is still developing, and the lack of full testing capabilities may create bottlenecks for compliance.

Strategic Significance

This regulation signals a maturing EV market in Vietnam, with the government moving to standardize safety and quality. For long-term investors, the regulation could raise entry barriers for smaller operators and increase compliance costs for existing charging station owners. Companies with robust quality management and testing partnerships may gain a competitive edge. The timeline (2027) provides a window for market participants to prepare, but the requirement to upgrade existing stations within 24 months could lead to significant capital expenditure for operators.

What to Watch

• Finalization of the draft circular and any changes to the effective date or transition periods.
• Development of domestic testing laboratories capable of full compliance testing for AC and DC charging piles.
• Announcements from VNG or other listed companies regarding investments in EV charging infrastructure.
• Market data on the number of charging stations and their compliance status post-2027.
• Potential government incentives or support for charging station upgrades.