Vietnam to require open access at public EV chargers by 2027
A new technical regulation will oblige public charging stations to serve any compatible vehicle and disclose prices and electricity use during each session.
From July 1, 2027, Vietnam will require public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to serve all compatible vehicles and to show their prices. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued technical regulation QCVN 32:2026/BCT, which sets national standards for charging infrastructure.
The rules apply to stations in public areas, car parks and rest stops, and to outdoor and stand-alone sites. They exclude chargers in basements or indoor garages, private stations, wireless and in-car chargers, and test equipment.
Public stations must meet technical standards for connectors, charging modes and specifications so that different vehicles can share them. Their control systems also cannot block charging for setups already declared compatible. Commercial operators will have to display the price, billing method and electricity used before and during each session, and protect that data from tampering.
Stations installed before July 2027 can keep running if they are maintained safely. They will be subject to a six-month safety review and will have up to two years to fix any shortcomings. Any later repairs or expansions must follow the new standard. The regulation does not set penalties for operators that don't comply.
Vietnam's charging market is currently split among carmakers, distributors and independent operators, and some serve only their own customers. VinFast, the country's best-selling EV brand, runs the dominant network. TC Group, TMT and Tasco are also investing in shared charging, as reported by TechNode Global.
