
The government has issued Decree No. 218/2026/ND-CP, amending and supplementing several provisions of Decree No. 158/2024/ND-CP dated December 18, 2024, on road transport operations.
The new decree strengthens oversight of contract-based passenger transport services while introducing additional restrictions on passenger pick-up and drop-off activities at fixed locations operated by transport businesses.
Under the new rules, contract passenger transport operators are prohibited from confirming seat reservations for individual passengers, selling tickets, collecting fares, or establishing fixed routes and schedules to serve multiple passengers or multiple transport hirers.
Operators are also prohibited from using transport vehicles to pick up or drop off passengers at their headquarters, branch offices, representative offices, or other fixed locations rented or jointly operated by the business along urban streets.
Starting January 1, 2028, contract passenger transport operators must connect and share data related to passenger transport contracts with the Ministry of Public Security's Traffic Police Department before each trip begins.
Data collected through the ministry's system will be used to support traffic patrols, inspections and other related operational activities. The system will also share data with the Ministry of Construction's Vietnam Road Administration, the Ministry of Finance, including tax and customs authorities, and provincial-level People's Committees through local Departments of Construction to support state management functions.
The Ministry of Public Security has been assigned responsibility for issuing detailed regulations and guidance on the connection, sharing and use of passenger transport contract data.
The decree also revises regulations governing professional training for commercial transport drivers by transferring responsibility for organizing training courses from transport companies to provincial and municipal Departments of Construction.
At the same time, the decree standardizes training procedures, introduces computer-based multiple-choice testing, extends document retention requirements and promotes greater transparency and modernization in certification and assessment processes.
Departments of Construction will be responsible for organizing professional transport training for drivers employed by transport businesses under their jurisdiction while ensuring all regulatory requirements are met.
Tran Thuong