Vietnam QCVN 32:2026/BCT EV Charger Rules: July 2027
Vietnam QCVN 32:2026/BCT EV Charger Regulation: MOIT Sets Safety, EMC and CR Mark Rules from July 2027
Vietnam QCVN 32:2026/BCT EV charger requirements are now law. On 29 September 2026 the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) signed Circular No. 61/2026/TT-BCT, which issues the National technical regulation on electric vehicle charging equipment and charging stations. It takes effect on 1 July 2027 and applies to every charger manufactured, assembled, imported, sold or installed in Vietnam within its scope.
Background: from draft to final regulation
Vietnam first notified a draft EV charger regulation to the WTO in March 2025, focused on safety under TCVN 13078-1:2020 (IEC 61851-1:2017). A revised draft in August 2026 widened it to cover public charging stations as well as equipment, and moved it under MOIT. Vietnam notified adoption of the final text in WTO addendum G/TBT/N/VNM/340/Add.2 on 20 October 2026.
Key Changes in the Vietnam QCVN 32:2026/BCT EV Charger Rules
Scope
The regulation covers conductive charging equipment for battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and similar road vehicles with on-board energy storage, rated up to 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC on both the supply and output side. AC, DC and combined AC/DC chargers are all in. It doesn't apply to wireless chargers, Mode 2 in-cable control and protection devices (IC-CPD), on-board chargers, chargers for storage not fitted to a vehicle, or equipment for rail, off-road and industrial vehicles.
Safety, EMC and communication
Section 2 sets the technical requirements for the charger itself:
protection against electric shock, conductive interface, adaptors, cable assemblies, construction and tests, and overload and short-circuit protection, per clauses 8 to 13 of TCVN 13078-1:2020 (IEC 61851-1:2017)
EMC emission per clause 6 and immunity per clause 5 of TCVN 13078-21-2:2020 (IEC 61851-21-2:2018)
communication per clause 7 of TCVN 13078-1:2020
additional requirements for DC chargers in TCVN 13078-23:2020 (IEC 61851-23:2014)
chargers with radio transmit or receive functions must also meet Vietnam's radio rules for those functions
Marking and language
Each charger must carry the manufacturer, type or model, input voltage and current, output voltage, current and power, IP rating, operating temperature and year of manufacture. The user interface must be in Vietnamese, other languages may be added, and installation and user instructions must be supplied in Vietnamese.
Certification and the CR mark
Locally made and imported chargers must have a declaration of conformity and carry the CR mark before they go on sale. Imports are also subject to state quality inspection. The declaration has to rest on certification by a designated certification body accredited to ISO/IEC 17065, using method 5 or method 7 under Circular 14/2026/TT-BKHCN. Tests must be done by designated or recognised laboratories, and foreign test and certification results can be accepted under Circular 16/2026/TT-BKHCN. Radio test results can only be used for the radio requirements, so EMC and charger-specific points still need their own assessment.
Charging stations
Section 3 adds rules for public stations on siting, power supply, earthing, fire safety, metering, monitoring and operation. Stations may not install chargers without a conformity certificate and declaration. Stations already running must review compliance within 6 months of 1 July 2027 and complete fixes within 24 months, while chargers lawfully installed before that date can stay in service.
What This Means for Manufacturers
Every AC and DC charger model sold in Vietnam from 1 July 2027 needs certification, a declaration of conformity and the CR mark.
IEC 61851-1, 61851-21-2 and 61851-23 test reports are the starting point, but they must come from designated or recognised labs.
Chargers with Wi-Fi, cellular or Bluetooth modules need radio compliance on top of the EMC assessment.
Labels, screens and manuals have to be in Vietnamese.
Station operators will ask for conformity documents before buying, so missing paperwork will cost sales well before enforcement.
Certification Impact Summary
Area | Before | After | Impact level |
Legal basis | Draft regulation notified to WTO (2025–2026) | QCVN 32:2026/BCT, in force 1 July 2027 | High |
Electrical safety | Not set by a QCVN for chargers | TCVN 13078-1:2020 clauses 8–13; DC adds TCVN 13078-23 | High |
EMC | Not set by a QCVN for chargers | Emission and immunity per TCVN 13078-21-2:2020 | High |
Conformity route | Not specified | Certification (method 5 or 7), declaration of conformity, CR mark | High |
Imports | General import rules | State quality inspection plus CR mark before sale | Medium |
Marking and language | Goods labelling law | Ten marking items, Vietnamese interface and instructions | Medium |
Installed chargers and stations | Not regulated by this QCVN | Installed chargers keep running; stations review in 6 months, fix in 24 | Medium |
Timeline and Required Actions
Key Dates
Date | Milestone |
11 March 2025 | First draft notified to the WTO (G/TBT/N/VNM/340) |
13 August 2026 | Revised draft covering stations notified (Add.1) |
29 September 2026 | Circular No. 61/2026/TT-BCT signed |
20 October 2026 | Adoption notified to the WTO (Add.2) |
1 July 2027 | QCVN 32:2026/BCT takes effect |
1 January 2028 | Existing stations finish their compliance review (6 months) |
1 July 2029 | Existing stations complete fixes (24 months) |
Required Actions for Manufacturers
1. List the charger models you sell or plan to sell in Vietnam and check them against the scope and exclusions.
2. Review your IEC 61851-1, 61851-21-2 and 61851-23 test reports for coverage and lab status.
3. Plan certification with a designated body under method 5 or method 7.
4. Add radio approvals for chargers with wireless modules.
5. Update labels, user interface text and manuals to Vietnamese.
6. Prepare the declaration of conformity and CR marking before 1 July 2027.
Conclusion
Vietnam QCVN 32:2026/BCT EV charger rules give Vietnam a full certification regime for EV charging equipment, built on the IEC 61851 series. With testing, certification and Vietnamese labelling all needed before 1 July 2027, manufacturers have about eight months to get ready. Our team can manage your Vietnam certification, radio approvals and documentation through the agency in Vietnam.
