Vietnam EMC Regulation for Mobile Terminals: QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN Compliance Guide

On December 31, 2025, Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) officially signed and promulgated Circular No. 52/2025/TT-BKHCN, introducing the new Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals under national technical standard QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN. Effective from February 15, 2026, this regulation replaces two previous standards — QCVN 86:2019/BTTTT and QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT — and establishes updated electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for all mobile terminal devices operating on GSM, W-CDMA, LTE, NB-IoT, and 5G NR networks in Vietnam. Full mandatory compliance is required by January 1, 2027.

Overview: What Is the Vietnam EMC Regulation for Mobile Terminals?

The Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals is a national technical standard — formally designated QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN — that sets electromagnetic compatibility requirements for terminal equipment and ancillary devices operating in public terrestrial mobile communication systems. It was developed and issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), which was formed through the merger of Vietnam's former Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the original Ministry of Science and Technology.

The standard is technically equivalent to EN 301 489-52 v1.3.1 (2024-11) — the European harmonized EMC standard for mobile and personal communications equipment — bringing Vietnam's Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals in line with international best practice.

The regulation applies to all devices operating on the following technologies:

•        GSM (2G/2.5G) — technical requirements sunset from September 16, 2026

•        UTRA FDD / W-CDMA (3G)

•        E-UTRA / LTE (4G), including NB-IoT in-band, guard-band, and standalone modes

•        NR (5G New Radio)

Products are identified by the following HS codes in scope of Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals: 8517.13.00, 8517.14.00, and 8517.62.59 — covering smartphones, mobile handsets, and specific telecommunications terminal equipment categories.

Governing Authority and Official Source

The Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals is issued and administered by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST/MST) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Official government sources for this regulation:

•        MOST official website: https://mst.gov.vn (Vietnamese)

•        MOST English portal: https://www.most.gov.vn/en/Pages/home.aspx

•        Official Circular and QCVN download: https://mst.gov.vn/van-ban-phap-luat/25288.htm

•        Supporting Circular No. 29/2025/TT-BKHCN (Updated ICT product list): mst.gov.vn

Full Regulatory Timeline: Vietnam EMC Regulation for Mobile Terminals

The table below traces every key milestone in the development and enforcement of the Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals from the initial public consultation through to the January 2027 mandatory compliance date:

Date	Milestone
October 6, 2025	MOST opens public consultation on Draft Circular and draft QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN for Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals
November 13, 2025	Circular No. 29/2025/TT-BKHCN issued — updated list of ICT products requiring type approval and SDoC (replaces Circular 02/2024/TT-BTTTT)
December 6, 2025	Public consultation on draft QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN closes
December 31, 2025	MOST officially signs and promulgates Circular No. 52/2025/TT-BKHCN together with QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN
February 15, 2026	QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN enters into force — Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals officially effective
Feb 16 – Dec 31, 2026	Transition period: manufacturers may use QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN, QCVN 86:2019/BTTTT, or QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT for SDoC
September 16, 2026	GSM (2G/2.5G) technical requirements cease to apply under both QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN and QCVN 86:2019/BTTTT
January 1, 2027	QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN becomes fully mandatory — all mobile terminals must comply; previous standards (QCVN 86:2019 and QCVN 18:2022) no longer accepted for SDoC

Key Technical Requirements of QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN

The Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals under QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN introduces specific EMC technical requirements that manufacturers must meet for all devices sold in Vietnam. The standard specifies requirements across two core domains:

1. Emission Requirements

The standard sets limits for unwanted electromagnetic emissions from mobile terminal devices to prevent interference with other radio services and equipment. These cover:

•        Conducted emissions from power ports and telecommunications ports

•        Radiated emissions from the equipment enclosure

•        Specific emission configurations for each radio technology (GSM, W-CDMA, LTE, NR), including defined test channels and traffic modes per 3GPP/ETSI specifications (e.g., TS 36.101/36.521 for LTE; TS 38.101/38.521/38.508 for 5G NR)

•        Note: Technical specifications for antenna port emissions and enclosure port emissions outside the scope of QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN are governed by separate product regulations — manufacturers must confirm the full standard set applicable to their device.

2. Immunity Requirements

The Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals also defines immunity thresholds — the ability of a device to operate correctly in the presence of external electromagnetic disturbances. Test conditions and immunity setups reference:

•        QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT — which provides general EMC test conditions and immunity test setups

•        Cellular-specific call and traffic configurations per 3GPP specifications for each relevant technology generation

•        Private Mobile Radio (PMR) equipment conditions where applicable

3. GSM Phase-Out Provision

A specific and time-sensitive provision of the Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals is the sunset of GSM (2G/2.5G) technical requirements. From September 16, 2026, GSM requirements in both QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN and the predecessor QCVN 86:2019/BTTTT will cease to apply. This aligns with Vietnam's nationwide shutdown of 2G networks, which commenced October 15, 2024, with specific exceptions for islands and offshore platforms.

Transition Period and SDoC Pathways Under Vietnam EMC Regulation for Mobile Terminals

The Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals includes a structured transition period designed to give manufacturers, importers, and distributors sufficient time to update compliance documentation. During the transition window from February 16, 2026 to December 31, 2026, the following SDoC pathways are permitted:

Devices Using 2G, 3G, and 4G (LTE) Technology

•        Option A: Continue using QCVN 86:2019/BTTTT for the SDoC process

•        Option B: Switch to the new QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN for the SDoC process

Devices Using 5G NR and LTE NB-IoT Technology

•        Option A: Continue using QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT for the SDoC process

•        Option B: Switch to the new QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN for the SDoC process

From January 1, 2027, only QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN will be accepted for the Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals SDoC process. Test reports issued under QCVN 86:2019/BTTTT or QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT will no longer be valid for new declarations of conformity.

Important laboratory notice: As of the time of publication, no testing laboratories have yet been officially designated or recognized by MOST to perform testing under QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN. Manufacturers are advised to monitor MOST designations closely and contact testing service providers to ensure laboratory availability before scheduling test campaigns.

What This Means for Manufacturers: Vietnam EMC Regulation for Mobile Terminals

The Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals represents a significant compliance obligation for any manufacturer, importer, or distributor of mobile devices targeting the Vietnamese market. The following areas require immediate attention:

Full Standards Replacement

QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN does not supplement the previous standards — it replaces them entirely. Both QCVN 86:2019/BTTTT (for 2G/3G/4G devices) and QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT (for 5G NR and NB-IoT devices) will become invalid for new SDoC declarations after January 1, 2027. Any device entering the market from that date without an updated Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals declaration will not be legally compliant.

Alignment with European EN Standard

Because QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN is technically equivalent to EN 301 489-52 v1.3.1 (2024-11), manufacturers who have already conducted EMC testing to the European standard may be able to leverage existing test data to support Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals compliance. However, this should be confirmed with a qualified test laboratory, as local declarations of conformity may still require country-specific documentation and submission formats.

Market Access Risk

With the January 1, 2027 deadline firm, manufacturers who do not update their declarations under Vietnam EMC regulation for mobile terminals risk being unable to import or sell mobile devices in Vietnam. Given that laboratory designations for QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN testing are still pending, early preparation is critical to avoiding test scheduling bottlenecks as the deadline approaches.