Vietnam MIC/MOST: radio, telecom and ICT certification
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) no longer exists. Since 1 March 2025 its remit sits with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), and since 1 July 2026 the radio and ICT products that need conformity are listed by risk level in Circular 36/2026/TT-BKHCN, next to every other product the ministry regulates. The technical references are still the national technical regulations (QCVN), most of them issued under MIC and still carrying the /BTTTT suffix. This page sets out who does what after the merger, the high-risk and medium-risk routes that replaced the old certification and declaration split, a per-product table of QCVN with their application dates, who may test, the SAR timetable, Vietnamese labelling, and the claims about Vietnam that the current texts contradict.
Who regulates after the merger
Section titled “Who regulates after the merger”Decree 55/2025/ND-CP sets the functions and structure of MOST, takes effect on 1 March 2025 and supersedes Decree 48/2022/ND-CP, which organised the former MIC. Telecommunications, radio frequencies, the ICT industry and digital transformation are now MOST remits.
| Actor | Role in product conformity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) | Issues the product lists and QCVN; designates conformity assessment bodies | Decree 55/2025/ND-CP; Circular 36/2026, Article 3(3) |
| Telecommunications Authority | Unit of MOST, carried over from MIC | Decree 55/2025/ND-CP |
| Radio Frequency Authority | Unit of MOST; frequency management and control of radio equipment | Decree 55/2025/ND-CP |
| National Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality | Proposed Circular 36/2026; reviews the QCVN attached to the list | Circular 36/2026, preamble and Article 8(3)(a) |
| Designated certification bodies | Certify high-risk products; bodies designated under the old MIC regime keep working until their designation expires | Circular 36/2026, Appendix I and Article 7(3) |
| Provincial science and technology departments | State quality inspection of imported high-risk goods (fuels excepted) | Circular 36/2026, Article 8(4)(b) |
The English portal of the former ministry, english.mic.gov.vn, now serves english.mst.gov.vn.
QCVN and TCVN
Section titled “QCVN and TCVN”QCVN are national technical regulations, mandatory for the products they cover; TCVN are national standards, voluntary unless a regulation makes them binding. Circular 36/2026 is issued under the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations (68/2006/QH11, last amended by Law 70/2025/QH15) and the Law on Product and Goods Quality (05/2007/QH12, amended by Law 78/2025/QH15). Every list entry names its QCVN; none names a TCVN. A product that meets two or more QCVN must meet all of them, and the same technical requirement is not to be assessed twice (Article 5(2)).
High risk and medium risk: the routes since 1 July 2026
Section titled “High risk and medium risk: the routes since 1 July 2026”| High risk (Appendix I) | Medium risk (Appendix II) | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis of the declaration of conformity | Certification by a designated certification body | Certification by an accredited or MOST-designated body, or the company's own self-assessment (most entries) |
| Conformity assessment methods | Methods 3 and 7 of Circular 14/2026/TT-BKHCN (9 April 2026) | Methods 3 and 7 of Circular 14/2026/TT-BKHCN |
| Imports | State quality inspection | Declaration of conformity before the goods circulate |
| Test results | Lab accredited, designated by MOST or recognised (Article 3(3)) | Same rule (Article 4(3)) |
Note 13 of the appendices adds that, under method 3, the certification body may skip the factory assessment when the production line holds a valid quality management system certificate covering the product. For the mobile terminal entries of Appendix II, the text lists only certification as the basis of the declaration, not self-assessment.
Between 31 December 2025 and 30 June 2026, Circular 29/2025 used a different split: Appendix I products needed certification and declaration, Appendix II products declaration only. The phones that were in Appendix I then are medium risk now.
Integrated products. When a high-risk ICT product is built into a medium-risk ICT product (a Wi-Fi radio inside a laptop, for example), the host follows the medium-risk measures but must meet every QCVN of the host and of the integrated function (note 12).
Per-product table: QCVN and dates under Circular 36/2026
Section titled “Per-product table: QCVN and dates under Circular 36/2026”| Product (HS code) | QCVN | Risk | Dates and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphones and other cellular phones, 2G to 4G (8517.13.00, 8517.14.00) | QCVN 86 (EMC), QCVN 101:2020 (battery, clause 2.6 only), QCVN 117:2023, QCVN 134:2024 (SAR) | Medium | QCVN 86:2019 or 86:2025 until 31 December 2026, QCVN 86:2025 only from 1 January 2027; QCVN 134 from 1 January 2027 |
| 5G phones (8517.13.00, 8517.14.00) | QCVN 18:2022 or 86:2025, QCVN 101:2020, QCVN 127:2021 (SA) or 129:2021 (NSA), QCVN 134:2024 | Medium | QCVN 86:2025 only from 1 January 2027; QCVN 134 from 1 January 2027 |
| Non-phone 4G and 5G terminals (8517.62.59) | QCVN 86 and 117:2023, or QCVN 127/129 for 5G | Medium | Same QCVN 86 switch on 1 January 2027 |
| NB-IoT terminals (8517.14.00) | QCVN 131:2022, EMC to QCVN 18:2022 or QCVN 86:2025 (listed from 1 January 2027) | High | TRS and TRP clauses of QCVN 131 not applied (note 8) |
| LPWAN devices at 920 to 923 MHz (8517.62.43 and others, sensors under chapters 85 and 90) | QCVN 122:2020 up to 25 mW ERP; QCVN 47:2015 above 25 mW and up to 306 mW ERP; plus QCVN 18:2022 | High | Extreme-condition requirements of QCVN 122 not applied since 1 July 2025 |
| LPWAN devices at 433.05 to 434.79 MHz, up to 100 mW ERP | QCVN 47:2015, QCVN 18:2022 | High | |
| 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, 60 to 200 mW EIRP (8517.62.51), also camera drones | QCVN 54:2020, QCVN 112:2017 | High | Extreme-condition requirements of QCVN 54 suspended 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2027 for products other than Wi-Fi modems |
| 5 GHz Wi-Fi, 60 mW EIRP and above (8517.62.51) | QCVN 65:2021, QCVN 112:2017 | High | Formula (1) of clause 2.1.2 of QCVN 65 not applied (note 6) |
| 6 GHz Wi-Fi, 5.925 to 6.425 GHz (8517.62.51) | QCVN 47:2015 until 31 December 2026, QCVN 96:2015, QCVN 136:2025/BKHCN from 1 January 2027 | High | See the note 3 caveat below |
| Wireless microphones and speakers in listed bands (8518) | QCVN 91:2015, QCVN 130:2022 | High | |
| DECT cordless phones (8517.11.00) | QCVN 47:2015, 113:2017, 132:2022, 134:2024 | High | QCVN 134 from 1 July 2027 |
| General-purpose short-range devices, including active NFC (8517.62.59, 8517.62.69) | 9 kHz to 25 MHz: QCVN 55:2023; 25 MHz to 1 GHz: QCVN 73:2013; 1 to 40 GHz: QCVN 74:2020; each with QCVN 96:2015 | Medium | Extreme-condition requirements of QCVN 55 not applied since 1 July 2025 |
| Wireless chargers (8504.40) | QCVN 96:2015 | Medium | |
| Laptops (8471.30.20) and tablets (8471.30.90) | QCVN 118:2018, 101:2020, 132:2022, QCVN 134:2024 if radio-equipped | Medium | QCVN 134 from 1 July 2027 |
| Desktop and industrial computers (8471.41) | QCVN 118:2018, QCVN 132:2022 | Medium |
Note 3, the low-power carve-out. The short-range device sections of both appendices exclude receive-only devices, 2.4 GHz broadband data devices below 60 mW EIRP, 5 GHz access devices below 60 mW EIRP, and Bluetooth and Zigbee devices below 60 mW EIRP. In Appendix I, the same note also excludes stand-alone 6 GHz data and access devices, while item 2.4 of that appendix lists 6 GHz Wi-Fi modems and access points: read both before classifying a 6 GHz product.
Every radio product must also comply with Vietnam's frequency plan and allocation, and its technical and operating conditions (general notes of both appendices). Vietnam is in ITU Region 3 for the allocation table of the Radio Regulations.
Suspended and deferred requirements
Section titled “Suspended and deferred requirements”| QCVN | What Circular 36/2026 says | Previous position (Circular 29/2025) |
|---|---|---|
| QCVN 123:2021 (40 to 246 GHz devices) | Suspended in full from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2027 | Suspended until 15 December 2026 |
| QCVN 54:2020 and QCVN 65:2021, extreme conditions | Suspended from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2027 for products other than Wi-Fi modems | Suspended until 15 December 2026 |
| QCVN 128:2021, 5G base stations type 1-O and 2-O | Suspended in full from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2027 | |
| QCVN 117:2023 | TRS and TRP requirements and GSM requirements not applied (note 4) | Same note |
| QCVN 134:2024 (SAR), phones | From 1 January 2027 | From 1 July 2026 |
Who may test
Section titled “Who may test”Article 3(3) (high risk) and Article 4(3) (medium risk) require test results from a laboratory that is accredited, designated by MOST, or recognised under the law on standards and technical regulations, with a scope covering the QCVN. Three notes narrow or widen that rule:
- Note 9: for the QCVN it is attached to (for example QCVN 132:2022 for IT equipment, or QCVN 37:2018 and QCVN 44:2018 for land mobile handhelds), results from domestic or foreign labs that are not designated or recognised, and manufacturer results, cannot be used.
- Note 12: for EMC under QCVN 18:2022, results from a foreign lab accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by an APAC or ILAC member can be used for products of 300 kg or more powered from three-phase supply. Since January 1, 2026 the Global ACI MRA covers the former ILAC MRA scope.
- Recognition: Canada and Vietnam exchanged letters to implement Phase I of the APEC TEL MRA; the Canadian regulator publishes the designation requirements for Canadian labs testing to Vietnamese technical regulations.
SAR: QCVN 134:2024/BTTTT
Section titled “SAR: QCVN 134:2024/BTTTT”QCVN 134:2024/BTTTT is the national technical regulation on specific absorption rate for handheld and body-worn radio equipment. Its application dates moved when Circular 36/2026 replaced Circular 29/2025.
| Product | Circular 29/2025 | Circular 36/2026 (in force) |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphones and other cellular phones, 2G to 5G | 1 July 2026 | 1 January 2027 |
| DECT handsets | 1 July 2027 | 1 July 2027 |
| Laptops and tablets with radio | 1 July 2027 | 1 July 2027 |
For the measurement methods behind SAR regulations, see SAR procedures.
Vietnamese labelling
Section titled “Vietnamese labelling”Goods labelling now follows Decree 37/2026/ND-CP, applicable from 23 January 2026. Its Article 42(1) requires the mandatory label content in Vietnamese. For imported goods, Article 42(2)(b) allows the name and origin to appear in a foreign language at customs clearance, and the importer must add a Vietnamese supplementary label before the goods circulate on the market. Origin must use one of the wordings of Article 47(2), such as "sản xuất tại", "xuất xứ", "Made in" or "Origin", followed by the country.
Importer and representative
Section titled “Importer and representative”Circular 36/2026 applies to organisations and individuals that produce, import or trade listed products in Vietnam (Article 2(1)). The declaration of conformity and the import formalities are therefore carried by an entity in Vietnam: a subsidiary, an importer or a distributor. Until the National Single Window is updated to the new list, importers register state quality inspection of high-risk goods on the National Public Service Portal or as the inspecting body directs (Article 7(4)).
Energy performance
Section titled “Energy performance”Decision 14/2023/QD-TTg (in force 15 July 2023) bars import, manufacture and trade of listed devices below a minimum energy performance. Office equipment on the list includes printers (TCVN 9509:2012) and computer monitors (TCVN 9508:2012) from entry into force, and laptops (TCVN 11848:2021) and desktop computers (TCVN 13371:2021) from 1 April 2025. Here a TCVN is the performance reference that the decision makes binding.
Cybersecurity and personal data
Section titled “Cybersecurity and personal data”- Law on Cybersecurity No. 116/2025/QH15, in force from 1 July 2026, consolidates and supersedes the 2018 Law on Cybersecurity and the 2015 Law on Network Information Security. Decree 53/2022/ND-CP was issued under the 2018 law.
- Law on Personal Data Protection No. 91/2025/QH15, in force from 1 January 2026. Before it, personal data protection rested on a government decree (Decree 13/2023/ND-CP), not on a law.
Neither text is part of the product conformity route. They govern the services and data processing behind a connected product.
Operator acceptance
Section titled “Operator acceptance”Circular 36/2026 and its appendices do not mention network operator approval. Any acceptance programme run by a Vietnamese mobile operator is a commercial arrangement with that operator, separate from QCVN conformity. Compare with AT&T NAF and Chinese operator acceptance, where the operator programmes are documented.
Step by step for a radio product in 2026
Section titled “Step by step for a radio product in 2026”- Find the HS code and the entry in Circular 36/2026: Appendix I (high risk) or Appendix II (medium risk), and note 3 if the radio is below 60 mW EIRP.
- List every QCVN the entry names, and the dates in the "requirements" column (QCVN 86:2025 from 1 January 2027, QCVN 134 from 1 January 2027 or 1 July 2027).
- Check integration: a listed radio inside a listed host adds its QCVN to the host (note 12).
- Choose a lab accredited, designated or recognised for those QCVN, and check whether note 9 rules out manufacturer or non-designated results.
- Certify with a designated body (high risk) or certify or self-assess (medium risk where allowed), under methods 3 and 7 of Circular 14/2026/TT-BKHCN.
- Declare conformity through the entity in Vietnam.
- Import: state quality inspection for high-risk goods; declaration before circulation for medium-risk goods.
- Label in Vietnamese before the goods circulate (Decree 37/2026/ND-CP).
- Watch the dates: certificates issued before 1 July 2026 run to their expiry; new QCVN apply from their own entry into force (Article 5(4)).
For cross-cutting timing, see certification timeline.
Vietnam compared with RED, FCC and PTCRB
Section titled “Vietnam compared with RED, FCC and PTCRB”| Criterion | RED (EU) | FCC (US) | PTCRB (North American operators) | Vietnam (MOST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Directive 2014/53/EU | 47 CFR | Industry programme, not law | Circular 36/2026/TT-BKHCN and QCVN |
| Route | Modules A, B+C or H | Certification by a TCB, or SDoC | Certification by the programme | Designated-body certification (high risk) or certification or self-assessment (medium risk), then declaration |
| Technical references | Harmonised standards, many from ETSI | FCC rules and KDB | 3GPP and PTCRB test plans | QCVN named in the product list |
| Identifier | CE marking | FCC ID | PTCRB certification | Certificate and declaration acceptance notice |
| Label language | Language of the Member State | English | Not applicable | Vietnamese |
Claims the texts contradict
Section titled “Claims the texts contradict”| Common claim (including this page before October 2026) | What the texts say |
|---|---|
| "MIC and VNTA run the procedure." | MIC was merged into MOST; Decree 55/2025/ND-CP applies from 1 March 2025. Certification of high-risk products is by designated certification bodies, and high-risk import inspection is by provincial science and technology departments (Circular 36/2026, Article 8(4)(b)). |
| "Two routes: DoC for lower risk, CoC issued by VNTA for higher risk." | Since 1 July 2026 the routes are high risk and medium risk, both ending in a declaration of conformity. There is no certificate issued by the Telecommunications Authority in the text. |
| "Wi-Fi 6 GHz is under regulatory review, do not presume it open." | 6 GHz Wi-Fi modems and access points (5.925 to 6.425 GHz) are listed with their QCVN, and QCVN 136:2025/BKHCN applies from 1 January 2027. |
| "Tests must be done in a Vietnamese lab; foreign reports are only supporting documents." | The rule is accredited, designated or recognised labs (Articles 3(3) and 4(3)). Note 12 accepts accredited foreign EMC results for large three-phase products, and Canada and Vietnam implement APEC TEL MRA Phase I. |
| "Bluetooth modules need certification." | Bluetooth and Zigbee devices below 60 mW EIRP are outside the short-range sections (note 3). |
| "SAR applies to phones from 1 July 2026." | That was Circular 29/2025. Circular 36/2026 sets 1 January 2027 for phones and 1 July 2027 for laptops, tablets and DECT. |
| "The MIC certificate number must appear on the label." | Neither Circular 36/2026 nor the Decree 37/2026 points cited here require it; the labelling rule cited is Vietnamese mandatory content and a supplementary label for imports. |
| "Vietnam passed a Personal Data Protection Law in 2023." | The 2023 instrument was Decree 13/2023/ND-CP. The law is No. 91/2025/QH15, in force from 1 January 2026. |
| "Operator acceptance by Viettel, VNPT or MobiFone is a regulatory layer." | No operator approval appears in Circular 36/2026. |
Further reading
Section titled “Further reading”- RED: EU radio regime, for comparison with the QCVN route
- FCC: US regime
- PTCRB: North American cellular certification
- AT&T NAF operator acceptance: a documented operator programme
- Chinese operator acceptance: China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom
- SAR procedures: measurement standards behind SAR rules
- Certification timeline: cross-cutting timing per phase
- Glossary: definitions
See also
Section titled “See also”- IMDA Singapore: radio and telecom certification
- Malaysia SIRIM and MCMC: product and radio certification
- Thailand NBTC: radio and telecom certification
- China Mobile, Telecom, Unicom: cellular IoT acceptance
- Philippines NTC: type acceptance for radio and telecom
Sources & references
- Circular 36/2026/TT-BKHCN, list of medium-risk and high-risk products (in force 1 July 2026), Government of Viet Nam, legal documents portal vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=218716
- Circular 36/2026/TT-BKHCN, signed text (PDF), Government of Viet Nam datafiles.chinhphu.vn/cpp/files/vbpq/2026/7/36-bkhcn.signed.pdf
- Circular 29/2025/TT-BKHCN, ICT product list (31 December 2025 to 30 June 2026), Government of Viet Nam, legal documents portal vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=215881
- Decree 55/2025/ND-CP, functions and structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Viet Nam, policy portal xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn/nghi-dinh-so-55-2025-nd-cp-ve-chuc-nang-nhiem-vu-va-co-cau-to-chuc-cua-bo-khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-119250303161514429.htm
- Ministry of Science and Technology (English portal, formerly MIC), MOST, Viet Nam english.mst.gov.vn/
- Guide on the designation requirements for Vietnam (APEC TEL MRA Phase I), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada ised-isde.canada.ca/site/mutual-recognition-agreements/en/canadian-conformity-assessment-bodies-guide-designation-requirements-vietnam
- Goods labelling under Decree 37/2026/ND-CP (questions and answers), MOST, Viet Nam mst.gov.vn/hoi-dap/ve-ghi-nhan-hang-hoa-theo-nghi-dinh-372026nd-cp-17760.htm
- Label position and mandatory content under Decree 37/2026/ND-CP (secondary summary), LuatVietnam luatvietnam.vn/linh-vuc-khac/quy-dinh-ve-vi-tri-nhan-hang-hoa-theo-nghi-dinh-37-2026-nd-cp-883-106907-article.html
- Law on Cybersecurity No. 116/2025/QH15 (official gazette), Government of Viet Nam, Official Gazette congbao.chinhphu.vn/van-ban/luat-so-116-2025-qh15-468678.htm
- What is new in Law on Cybersecurity No. 116/2025/QH15, Government of Viet Nam, policy portal xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn/nhung-noi-dung-moi-trong-luat-an-ninh-mang-so-116-2025-qh15-119260629145615168.htm
- Law on Personal Data Protection No. 91/2025/QH15, Ministry of Public Security, Viet Nam bocongan.gov.vn/chinh-sach-phap-luat/co-so-du-lieu-van-ban/luat-bao-ve-du-lieu-ca-nhan-1753688803
- Decision 14/2023/QD-TTg, minimum energy performance phase-out list (secondary summary), LuatVietnam luatvietnam.vn/dien-luc/quyet-dinh-14-2023-qd-ttg-danh-muc-va-lo-trinh-thiet-bi-su-dung-nang-luong-phai-loai-bo-253382-d1.html
- ITU Radio Regulations, ITU www.itu.int/pub/R-REG-RR
- Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated launch (January 1, 2026), IAF iaf.nu/en/news/global-accreditation-cooperation-incorporated-launch-unifies-international-accreditation-organisations-and-strengthens-worldwide-trust/
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) still exist?
- No. Decree 55/2025/ND-CP, in force from 1 March 2025, sets the functions and structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), which now holds telecommunications, radio frequencies and the ICT industry, and it supersedes Decree 48/2022/ND-CP on the former MIC. The Telecommunications Authority and the Radio Frequency Authority are units of MOST. QCVN issued under MIC keep their /BTTTT suffix and remain in force; newer ones carry /BKHCN.
- Which text lists the radio and ICT products that need conformity?
- Since 1 July 2026, Circular 36/2026/TT-BKHCN. It lists products by risk level: Appendix I (high risk) and Appendix II (medium risk), each with HS codes, the applicable QCVN and the quality management requirement. It repealed Circular 29/2025/TT-BKHCN, which had itself replaced Circular 02/2024/TT-BTTTT on 31 December 2025, and it also repealed the procedural Circular 30/2011/TT-BTTTT with its 2018 and 2020 amendments.
- What is the difference between high-risk and medium-risk products?
- For high-risk items (Appendix I), the declaration of conformity must rest on certification by a designated certification body, and imports go through state quality inspection. For medium-risk items (Appendix II), the declaration rests on certification by an accredited or MOST-designated body or, for most entries, on the company's own self-assessment, and imports must be declared before they circulate. Wi-Fi routers from 60 mW EIRP, LPWAN devices and NB-IoT terminals are high risk; smartphones, laptops and general short-range devices are medium risk.
- Are foreign test reports accepted?
- It depends on the lab, not on the country. Circular 36/2026 requires test results from a laboratory that is accredited, designated by MOST or recognised under the law on standards. Some QCVN are flagged so that results from non-designated labs, domestic or foreign, and manufacturer results cannot be used. For EMC under QCVN 18:2022/BTTTT, ILAC or APAC accredited foreign labs are accepted for products of 300 kg or more on three-phase power. Canada and Vietnam implement Phase I of the APEC TEL MRA.
- When does SAR testing become mandatory in Vietnam?
- QCVN 134:2024/BTTTT applies to smartphones and other mobile phones from 1 January 2027 under Circular 36/2026. Circular 29/2025 had set 1 July 2026 for phones; that date never took effect because the circular was repealed on 1 July 2026. For radio-equipped laptops and tablets and for DECT handsets the date is 1 July 2027.
- Do Bluetooth and low-power Wi-Fi products need certification?
- Note 3 of both appendices removes from the short-range device sections receive-only devices, 2.4 GHz data devices and 5 GHz access devices below 60 mW EIRP, and Bluetooth and Zigbee devices below 60 mW EIRP. A host that is itself on the list, such as a phone or a laptop, still follows its own entry and its QCVN.
- Is Vietnamese labelling mandatory?
- Yes. Under Decree 37/2026/ND-CP, applicable from 23 January 2026, mandatory label content must be in Vietnamese. Imported goods may clear customs with the name and origin in a foreign language, but the importer must add a Vietnamese supplementary label before the goods circulate on the market.
- Is operator acceptance part of the regulatory procedure?
- No. Neither Circular 36/2026 nor its appendices mention network operator approval. Any acceptance programme run by a Vietnamese operator is a commercial requirement agreed with that operator, separate from the QCVN conformity route.