Ho Chi Minh City May Mandate Community Service for Traffic Offen

Photo courtesy of VN Express

Ho Chi Minh City is contemplating a new measure requiring traffic violators to perform community service tasks, such as street cleaning or assisting in public facilities, in addition to paying fines. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to enhance road safety following Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha's directive after the 2025 mid-year traffic safety review.

The city police have been instructed to collaborate with other departments to propose legal amendments necessary for implementing community service. Currently, Vietnam's administrative law does not recognize community service, though it is a practice in various other countries as a supplement or alternative to fines. Alongside this proposal, there will be stricter enforcement of traffic violations leading to most accidents, including drunk driving and speeding. Improvements will also be made to infrastructure and traffic management.

Furthermore, the Department of Construction is developing a "Traffic Safety City" plan. This scheme seeks to encourage public transport use, enforce emissions standards, and promote green vehicles. Over the years, Vietnam has increased fines for traffic violations. For instance, the penalty for running a red light has risen significantly and will range from VND18-20 million ($681-757) from 2025.

The city currently oversees over 13 million vehicles after its merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau. In the first nine months of this year, Ho Chi Minh City reported 1,328 traffic accidents, resulting in 666 fatalities and 71 injuries. This statistic represents a 31% decrease in accidents and a 41% reduction in injuries from the same period last year.

Key Takeaways

• Ho Chi Minh City may require community service for traffic violations.
• Community service is not yet legally recognized in Vietnam's law.
• Traffic accidents have significantly decreased in Ho Chi Minh City this year.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-10-01