1. Background
Noise pollution has become a critical urban issue, often underestimated in its long-term negative effects. Unlike visible pollution, noise leaves no trace once the source stops, which makes its harm less obvious but no less severe. Vietnamese cities are undeniably noisy, and the law regulating noise has long lagged behind reality. For 15 years, the QCVN 26:2010 on Noise[1] (“QCVN 26:2010”), stood as the backbone of Vietnam’s noise management framework. It introduced the uniform thresholds for permissible decibel (“dBA”) levels, but its shortcomings soon became apparent: measurement methods were vague, enforcement was inconsistent, and community complaints frequently stalled in bureaucratic limbo.
After 15 years of implementation, the Government has now turned the page. On 15 May 2025, the new QCVN 26:2025 on Noise[2] (“QCVN 26:2025”) was issued. Effective from 14 November 2025, this new standard will formally replace QCVN 26:2010. QCVN 26:2025 recalibrates its focus by tying noise limits to specific urban zones, ensuring that residential neighborhoods, schools, and hospitals receive differentiated and heightened protection. In doing so, it replaces one-size-fits-all rules with tailored safeguards for the most sensitive communities.
2. Permissible noise limits
Both the 2010 and 2025 standards share a common structure; they define maximum allowable noise levels in decibels across zones and times of day.
The earlier QCVN 26:2010 recognized “usual areas” (ie, residential buildings and administrative offices) and set thresholds of 70 dBA during the day (6 am – 9 pm) and 55 dBA at night (9 pm – 6 am). “Special areas” (ie, areas within the boundaries of hospitals, schools, and religious establishments) had thresholds of 55 dBA by day and 45 dBA by night. The dichotomy of “usual” versus “special” zones proved too blunt for Vietnam’s rapidly urbanizing landscape. A resident living near a stadium or busy marketplace, for instance, was given the same protections as one living in a quiet residential lane, despite vastly different noise realities. The regulatory design left gray zones where neither communities nor authorities could easily apply the law.
QCVN 26:2025 has moved beyond this dichotomy by introducing a more granular classification of five affected areas and a three-part timeframe. Instead of a simple day – night distinction, the new regulations recognize daytime from 6 am to before 6 pm, evening from 6 pm to before 10 pm, and nighttime from 10 pm to before 6 am. Within this structure:
- Area A covers sensitive institutions such as schools, hospitals, elder care facilities, libraries, religious sites, and government or political offices, and is subject to the strictest thresholds of 50 dBA during the day, 45 in the evening, and 40 at night;
- Area B applies to ordinary housing and accommodations, including residential buildings, detached houses, hotels, and guesthouses, and is limited to 55 dBA during the day, 50 in the evening, and 45 at night;
- Area C encompasses agricultural zones, including livestock, cultivation, and aquaculture facilities, with thresholds of 60, 55, and 50 dBA respectively;
- Area D consists of cultural, recreational, and commercial spaces such as sports grounds, parks, theaters, malls, restaurants, and amusement venues, where the dBA limits rise slightly to 65 by day, 60 in the evening, and 55 at night; and
- Area E addresses transport and industrial hubs, including airports, bus and railway terminals, parking lots, industrial areas, and certain defense works, which are allowed the highest ceilings at 70, 65, and 60 dBA.
Construction in residential zones is limited to 65 dBA by day, 60 in the evening, and 50 at night, with only brief exceptions. Road traffic is capped at 68 dBA by day (6 am – 10 pm) and 58 at night (10 pm – 6 am) in residential areas, while railways are limited to 70 and 60. Temporary allowances exist for short bursts of activity, but prolonged noise must remain within baseline limits. Adjustment rules for background noise further ensure fair measurement.[3]
These refinements matter in practice. Residents living near sensitive institutions now have stronger grounds to demand night-time quiet, while those living along major intersections or rail lines can point to traffic-specific caps to press for enforcement. Communities facing continuous construction can rely on strict limits that balance development with liveability. By tailoring thresholds to zones, time periods, and sources, the QCVN 26:2025 transforms what was once a blunt legal tool into a sophisticated framework that mirrors the lived experience of urban residents.
Importantly, the standards are backed by enforcement mechanisms, which prescribe fines ranging from 1 million to 160 million Vietnamese dong for individuals, with organizations liable for up to double that amount.[4] Sanctions include not only financial penalties but also corrective measures such as halting operations that create the noise, restricting hours of activity, or requiring soundproofing.
3. The effectiveness of the new standards
The significance of QCVN 26:2025 lies not only in its technical detail but also in how it reshapes the lived experience of residents. Clear thresholds now empower authorities to act on complaints. Inspectors can cite precise decibel caps applicable to a karaoke bar, a construction site, or a traffic corridor, removing the ambiguities that hampered enforcement under QCVN 26:2010. With fines that bite and obligations to remediate, local authorities hold meaningful deterrents.
Ultimately, the impact of QCVN 26:2025 will depend on both enforcement and compliance. The legal architecture is robust: clear thresholds, statutory authority, and penalties with deterrent effect. What remains is consistency in application by authorities and adaptation by businesses and communities. If effectively implemented, the regulation promises to reshape Vietnam’s soundscape, giving residents not only quieter nights but also the assurance that their right to a healthy environment is backed by enforceable law.
[1] National Technical Regulation on Noise No. QCVN 26:2010/BTNMT dated December 16, 2010, effective from February 15, 2011.
[2] National Technical Regulation on Noise No. QCVN 26:2025/BNNMT, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s Circular 01/2025/TT-BNNMT dated May 15, 2025.
[3] Table 3, 4, 5,6 of the QCVN 26:2025/BNNMT
[4] These mechanisions derive their statutory authority from the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and are reinforced by Decree 45/2022/ND-CP.
Ho Huynh Bao Tran
