As of January 1, 2025, a series of 10 significant laws will come into effect, exerting far-reaching impacts on various sectors including politics, the economy, society, and business operations. Below, Q&A summarizes the key highlights of these 10 laws:

1. Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024

• Amendment of Driving License Classification and Driver Age Limits:
  Amend the classification system for driving licenses and adjust the maximum age requirement for drivers.
• Mandatory Emissions Testing for Motorcycles:
  Introduce a requirement for periodic emissions testing for motorcycles.
• Demerit Point System Implementation:
  Establish a demerit point mechanism on driving licenses (with a maximum of 12 points), with points restored after 12 months of no violations.
• Increased Penalties:
  Enhance fines and penalties for acts that obstruct traffic or compromise road safety.
• Enhanced Use of Information Technology:
  Mandate the advanced application of IT in managing vehicles and driver information.

2. Law on Road 2024

• Inclusion of Rural Roads:
  Integrate “rural roads” into the national road network, thereby expanding management and investment in rural infrastructure.
• Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles:
  Require rest stops and bus terminals to be equipped with electric vehicle charging facilities.
• Digital Management of Roads:
  Promote the use of digital technologies in the management, operation, and maintenance of road infrastructure.
• Strengthening Transportation Connectivity:
  Enhance interregional, local, and industrial zone transportation links.
• Electronic Payment Adoption:
  Encourage the implementation of electronic payment systems in transportation services (including tolls, terminal fees, and related services).

3. Law Amendments to Law on Property Auction 2024

• Recognition and Regulation of Online Auctions:
  Officially recognize online auctions and provide detailed regulatory provisions for their conduct.
• National Asset Auction Portal:
  Establish a National Asset Auction Portal with data synchronization on a digital platform.
• Operational Requirements for Online Auction Platforms:
  Introduce provisions governing the operational conditions of online auction information portals.
• Fee Structure and Coordination:
  Set forth the fee schedule for the use of the National Asset Auction Portal and establish coordination mechanisms among relevant stakeholders.
• Enhanced Transparency:
  Facilitate transparent access to auction information for both domestic and international entities.

4. Law on the Capital 2024

• Special Legal Status for Hanoi:
  Define the unique legal status of the capital, designating the Ba Đình area as the political center.
• Exclusive Policy Framework:
  Establish tailored policies for economic, cultural, educational, and foreign affairs development exclusively for the capital.
• Investment in Infrastructure and Tourism:
  Encourage and attract investments in infrastructure, public services, and tourism development.
• Heritage and Cultural Preservation:
  Introduce mechanisms for preserving and enhancing heritage values and historical-cultural landscapes.
• Decentralization in Urban Management:
  Enhance the devolution of authority to the capital’s government for more effective urban management.

5. Law on Organization of People’s Courts 2024

• Extended Judicial Tenure:
  Amend the term of office for justices of the Supreme People’s Court, extending their service until retirement or reassignment.
• New Appointment Standards:
  Introduce updated conditions and standards for the appointment and reappointment of judges.
• Judicial Supervision and Evaluation:
  Establish a supervisory and evaluative mechanism for judges based on professional expertise and ethical standards.
• Refinement of Local Court Procedures:
  Improve the processes for selecting and appointing judges in local courts.
• Confidentiality Measures:
  Incorporate provisions to ensure the confidentiality of records and data related to judicial proceedings.

6. Law Management and Use of Weapons, Explosive Materials and Support Instruments 2024

• Expanded Weapon Classification:
  Expand the list of regulated weapons to include crude arms such as high-lethality knives.
• Regulation of Explosive Materials:
  Enforce strict controls over the production, commercial distribution, and transportation of explosive materials.
• Clear Registration and Storage Obligations:
  Clearly delineate the responsibilities of individuals and organizations in registering and storing weapons.
• Enhanced Enforcement Measures:
  Strengthen inspection, supervision, and preventive measures against the illegal trade and transportation of weapons and explosives.
• Utilization of Modern Technology:
  Apply modern technological solutions for tracing the origin and monitoring the usage of support tools.

7. Law Amendments to Law on Guard Police 2024

• Expanded Scope of Guard Police:
  Broaden the range of individuals and roles subject to guard police measures, including the addition of new designations and international delegations.
• Issuance of Special Protection Certificates:
  Introduce provisions for issuing Special Protection Certificates to individuals deemed at high risk.
• Modernization of Guard Police Operations:
  Enhance the use of modern operational measures and tools in guard police activities.
• Improved Coordination Mechanisms:
  Adjust the coordination framework among security forces, intelligence agencies, and local police authorities.
• Flexible Application of Guard Police Measures:
  Establish flexible timeframes and scopes for implementing guard police measures tailored to each target group.

8. Law on Management and Protection of National Defense Works and Military Zones 2023

• Detailed Classification:
  Provide a detailed categorization of national defense installations and military zones subject to regulation.
• Support Policies for Affected Areas:
  Introduce supportive policies in education, healthcare, and social welfare for residents within affected zones.
• Relocation and Compensation Framework:
  Clearly outline procedures for relocation and compensation in connection with the construction of national defense installations.
• Tightened Access Controls:
  Implement stricter conditions on access, photography, and recording within military zones to ensure security.
• Dual-Use Legal Framework:
  Establish a legal framework permitting the dual use of facilities for both national defense and economic development purposes.

9. Law Amendments to Nine Laws 2024 (Law No. 56/2024/QH15)

• Comprehensive Sectoral Amendments:
  Amend and supplement provisions in the fields of securities, accounting, independent auditing, state budgeting, public asset management, tax administration, personal income tax, national reserves, and administrative violations.
• Enhanced Securities Oversight:
  Revise provisions related to the inspection and monitoring of securities activities to improve transparency.
• Updated Personal Income Tax Regulations:
  Update the rules on declaration, payment, and tax exemptions or reductions for personal income tax for certain groups.
• Streamlined Administrative Penalties:
  Refine the procedures for imposing administrative penalties, ensuring consistency with specialized legal standards.
• General Effective Date:
  This law becomes effective on January 1, 2025, except for provisions specifying alternative effective dates.

10. Law on Public Investment 2024

• Structural Revisions:
  Consisting of 7 chapters and 103 articles, this law adds one new chapter and amends 65 articles compared to the current legislation.
• Sectoral Regulation:
  Regulates the sectors and fields for the deployment of public investment funds, including education, healthcare, national defense, and technology.
• Enhanced Transparency and Accountability:
  Introduces higher requirements for transparency and accountability in the approval of investment projects.
• Performance Evaluation Criteria:
  Establishes criteria for assessing project effectiveness before and after implementation to prevent losses and wastage.
• Mobilization of Social Capital and PPP:
  Expands the capacity to mobilize social capital and develop public–private partnerships (PPP) for certain projects.