Vietnam

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Road Transport Business Licence Required

Yes

Yes, for the business operating the vehicles. Road goods transport is a conditional business line under Vietnamese law. Operators must register the transport business and obtain a Road Transport Business Licence, with the application dossier prescribed under Article 19 of Decree No. 158/2024/ND-CP. Where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover uses carriers that hold it.

Journey Monitoring Devices Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. 100% of vehicles must install journey (itinerary) monitoring devices, with data stored and transmitted according to Ministry of Transport regulations, and made available to Public Security and Inspection agencies on request.

Drivers Must Be Vietnamese Citizens

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. All drivers operating under a Vietnamese road transport business must be Vietnamese citizens, a distinctive requirement applied to the individual driver.

Vehicle Ownership or Lawful Use Right Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Vehicles must be owned by the transport business or held under a lawful right of use (a contract with a financial leasing organization or asset-leasing entity), with a sufficient number of vehicles matching the approved business plan.

Vehicle Service Life Limits

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Vehicles must comply with service-life (age) limits set out in the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety.

Mandatory Civil Liability Insurance

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles.

Driver Hour Limits

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Drivers may not operate more than 4 consecutive hours per trip or more than 10 hours per day.

Consumer Protection

Yes, and recently strengthened. The 2023 Law on Protection of Consumer Rights (Law No. 19/2023/QH15) is Vietnam’s current consumer protection statute, administered by the Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority (VCCA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes, and under active expansion. Consumers have the statutory right to file complaints, denunciations, or lawsuits (Article 9 of the Law). VCCA’s National Competition Commission is rolling out implementation of the 2023 law nationally, including training and capacity-building for complaint handling, under a Prime Minister’s decision covering the 2024 to 2026 period. The Vietnam Consumer Protection Association, a social organization with a history extending back over 30 years, also supports consumer protection activities.

Industry Association

None dedicated. The Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) is an established national body, but represents logistics services generally rather than household moving specifically.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Vietnam treats road goods transport as a conditional business line, requiring a Road Transport Business Licence under a legal framework that has been substantially and recently overhauled (the 2024 Law on Roads and Decree No. 158/2024/ND-CP). For the business operating the vehicles, requirements include business registration, journey-monitoring devices on 100% of vehicles, Vietnamese citizenship for all drivers, vehicle ownership or lawful use rights matching an approved business plan, vehicle service-life compliance, mandatory civil liability insurance, and driver hour limits (4 hours per trip, 10 hours per day). Where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own licence and vehicle documents cover the transport it performs. On the consumer side, Vietnam’s 2023 Law on Protection of Consumer Rights is under active implementation, with the Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority running nationwide training and capacity-building as part of a formal 2024 to 2026 rollout plan. There is no dedicated Vietnamese moving-industry trade association.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Company licensing (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

1. Register the transport business and obtain a Road Transport Business Licence under Decree No. 158/2024/ND-CP.

Subcontracted transport

2. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

3. Install journey monitoring devices on 100% of vehicles.
4. Ensure all drivers are Vietnamese citizens.
5. Hold vehicle ownership or lawful use rights, matching the approved business plan.
6. Keep vehicles within service-life limits under the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety.
7. Maintain mandatory civil liability insurance.
8. Ensure drivers comply with hour limits (4 hours per trip, 10 hours per day).

Customer practices

9. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with the 2023 Law on Protection of Consumer Rights.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Business registration certificate covering the road transport business lineWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Road Transport Business Licence held under Decree No. 158/2024/ND-CPWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Vehicle ownership or lawful right of use (including financial or asset leasing contracts), matching the approved business planWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Civil liability insurance in force for each vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Journey monitoring devices installed on all vehicles, with data stored and transmitted as requiredWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• All drivers are Vietnamese citizensWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Vehicles within service-life limits under the Law on Road Traffic Order and SafetyWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Driver hour limits observed (4 consecutive hours per trip, 10 hours per day)Where applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Consumer-facing practices comply with the 2023 Law on Protection of Consumer Rights (Law No. 19/2023/QH15)Verified by AffirmationRequired