Vietnam bans import of used vehicles

Domestic automobile businesses will not be allowed to import used cars, carriers and special purpose vehicles that have been in use for five years or more as of Feb. 20, 2014, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade on its website Friday.

Accordingly, the new regulation was set down in Circular 04 issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, detailing the government's Decree 187/2013/ND-CP on international goods and purchases, processing and transiting agency activities with foreign countries.

Under the new regulation, the automobile businesses can import used 16-seat cars through international ports, including Hai Phong, Cai Lan (in northern Quang Ninh province), Da Nang (in the central region), Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau (in the south). Meanwhile, they are not allowed to import used ambulances, said the regulation.

It bans imports of vehicles with steering wheels on the right side, except for special purpose vehicles such as cranes, canal diggers, street cleaning trucks, water trucks, waste trucks, passenger buses in the airports, lift trucks in warehouses and ports and small cars serving golf courses.