Bản tin hàng tháng OneStepVietnam – Tháng 8/2025
ECONOMIC NEWS
Vietnam’s economic picture in August is being shaped by both positive signals from foreign trade and important policy adjustments. At the overall level, the Government reaffirmed the 2025 growth target at 8.3 – 8.5%, and issued a series of policies that have a direct impact on the market and businesses.
Industrial output continued its upward trend in August, with the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) estimated to rise by 2.2% from the previous month and 8.9% year-on-year. For the first eight months of 2025, the IIP increased by 8.5% compared to the same period last year. Notably, apparel manufacturing expanded by 13.9%, while leather and related products grew by 13.4%.
Regarding foreign trade, preliminary data from the customs authority showed that in the first half of August (August 1 – 15), the total turnover reached about 40.36 billion USD, of which exports were 20.06 billion USD (down 13.5% compared to the second half of July) and imports were 20.29 billion USD (down 2.6%), with a slight deficit of 0.23 billion USD. The transaction volume remained high compared to the same period last year, reflecting the continued recovery of world orders in some key groups. Although this is only mid-month data, this development creates a foundation for industrial production and freight transport in the remaining weeks of the third quarter.
Source: Online Newspaper of the Government, General Statistics Office, Department of Vietnam Customs
NEW LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Decree No. 119/2025/ND-CP – Amendments Decree No. 06/2022/ND-CP on Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation
Key updates in the regulation include:
– Amends Decree 06/2022/ND-CP, introducing verification mechanisms for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at sectoral and national levels, managed by ministries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
– Facilities must submit annual GHG emissions reports by March 31, commencing in 2027, using prescribed forms. Ministries are required to submit sectoral reports by January 15, starting in 2024, adhering to standardized formats.
– Establishes a national registry for managing emission allowances and carbon credits. Implements a pilot carbon trading exchange by 2028, with a fully operational domestic carbon credit exchange effective from January 1, 2028.
– Prohibits the production and import of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from 2040. Imposes strict controls on methyl bromide imports.
– Adds definitions for carbon credit mechanisms, including those under Articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.
Effective date: August 1, 2025.
2. Decision No. 21/2025/QD-TTg – Regulations on Environmental Criteria and Certification of Green Investment Projects
Key updates in the regulation include:
– Defines environmental criteria for classifying investment projects as part of the green taxonomy list.
– Provides the basis for projects to access State incentives through green credit and green bonds.
– Applies to project developers and bond issuers seeking green certification, and authorized State agencies.
– Outlines two types of certifying authorities: Government agencies issuing environmental permits, independent verifying organizations meeting ISO/IEC or ISAE standards.
– Sets environmental requirements such as valid environmental impact assessments or permits.
– Lists sectors and project types eligible for green classification in an attached appendix (e.g., renewable energy, waste treatment, eco-construction).
– Details documentation, procedures, and templates required for submission and certification.
– Requires periodic environmental monitoring and compliance commitments from certified projects.
Effective date: August 22, 2025.
3. Circular No. 41/2025/TT-BCT – National Technical Regulation on Electrical Safety (QCVN 25:2025/BCT)
Key updates in the regulation include:
– Specifies safety measures for construction, operation, testing, inspection, maintenance, and repair of power lines and electrical equipment.
– Regulates conditions for working on live systems over 1 kV: Work must be approved by unit leaders; Personnel must be trained for specific equipment and procedures; Construction and safety plans must be pre-approved; Standardized work procedures must be in place.
– Requires proper protective equipment and tools for live work; prohibits wearing metal accessories near energized parts.
– Mandates identification of the nearest energized part at the worksite before proceeding.
Effective date: August 8, 2025.
4. Circular No. 45/2024/TT-BTNMT – Issuance of QCVN 19:2024/BTNMT on National Technical Regulation on Industrial Emission
Key updates in the regulation include:
– Consolidation / repeal: Replaces multiple sectoral QCVNs (19:2009; 20:2009; 21:2009; 22:2009; 23:2009; 34:2010; 51:2017) and, via transitional rules, supersedes key limit tables in 41:2011; 02:2012; 30:2012; 56:2013; 61-MT:2016.
– Three-zone limits (A/B/C) + O₂ reference: Limits are set by location zoning—A (strict protection), B (emission-restricted), C (other areas). Reference oxygen contents are embedded in the tables; Column B applies if zoning hasn’t been determined.
– Broader pollutant coverage: Beyond PM, SO₂, NOₓ, CO, the regulation standardizes limits for NH₃, HCl/HF, H₂S, TVOC, Hg, metal groups, PAHs (as BaP-TEQ), and dioxins/furans (TEQ), with TEQ calculation rules in the annexes.
– Limit table by type of equipment/process: separate boiler/oil furnace (by fuel), power plant (by capacity), cement/lime/ceramic/glass, waste incinerator (by capacity, including medical furnace), refinery-petrochemical, steel/non-ferrous metal, coke… to help license/control closer to reality.
– Unified and “internationalized” measurement and testing methods: appendix cites TCVN/US EPA/EN/ISO/JIS/ASTM; in case of dispute, use the leading method; continuous automated monitoring (CEMS) is allowed if requirements are met.
– Attached to EIA & environmental license: mandatory parameters must be shown in the appraisal decision/license; if new characteristic parameters arise that are not included in QCVN, the environmental standards of the corresponding G7 country will be temporarily applied until updated.
– Requirements on measurement capacity: reported data must be issued by an organization with a certificate of eligibility for environmental monitoring services; for new parameters, the organization must register for testing activities according to Decree 107/2016/ND-CP.
Transitional clauses
– Any establishment which has been put into operation or any investment project which has been issued with the decision on approval of result of environmental impact assessment report appraisal or of which a sufficient and valid application for appraisal of environmental impact assessment report, issuance of environmental license or environmental registration (hereinafter referred to as “ongoing investment project”) has been received by the competent authority before the effective date of this Circular may continue to apply the national technical regulation on emission corresponding to the type of production, business or service and regulations of the local government (including the local technical regulation on wastewater) until December 31, 2031.
– In case a competent authority promulgates regulations on change of the regional coefficient (kV), the entities specified in clause 1 of this Article shall follow the roadmap prescribed by the competent authority upon promulgating the abovementioned regulations.
Roadmap for application
– From the effective date of this Circular, investment projects (including new investment projects, projects on investment in scale expansion and capacity increase which submit applications for appraisal of environmental impact assessment report, issuance of environmental license or environmental registration after the effective date of this Circular) must apply the regulations enshrined in QCVN 19:2024/BTNMT.
– As of January 01, 2032, the entities specified in clause 1 Article 3 of this Circular shall comply with the requirements specified under QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT, unless they have to comply with such requirements sooner according to the roadmap of the provincial People’s Committee.
Effective date: July 1, 2025.
ONESTEPVIETNAM NEWS
At the Ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Cultural Sector’s Traditional Day (1945-2025) on August 23, 2025, Mr. Nguyen Chau A – General Director of Oxalis Limited Liability Company, also Chairman of OneStep Viet Co., Limited – was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the field of Culture, Sports and Tourism among 80 individuals honored for his contributions in promoting sustainable tourism, preserved cultural heritage and nature.
In addition, OneStep Vietnam conducted an in-depth online training session on the recent updates to the Social Insurance Regulations (effective from July 1, 2025). Throughout August, we have also consistently delivered our services in audits, assessments, and verifications in response to both client requirements and customer requests.
OneStepVietnam team – August 2025