The VinFast electric vehicle charging station system at the CT1 apartment complex near Hospital 103, Hanoi. Photo: VNA  

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a dispatch directing ministries, sectors and localities to accelerate the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in urban areas and apartment buildings.

Dispatch No. 27/CD-TTg, dated March 31, 2026, highlights that the transition to electric transport is an inevitable trend aligned with the country’s goals on green growth, digitalisation and energy transition. However, the development of charging stations, parking facilities and battery-swapping points in residential areas remains limited and inconsistent. Many urban projects lack adequate parking planning to meet EV charging demand, placing pressure on internal power systems and raising concerns over fire safety.

To address these challenges, PM Chinh requested ministries, agencies and provincial authorities to improve communications, ensure transparency in planning information, and review and update policies, standards and regulations related to EV infrastructure. He stressed the need for strict supervision to prevent corruption, wastefulness and vested interests during implementation.

The Ministry of Construction has been tasked with completing urban planning standards with green transport infrastructure taken into account, including charging stations, by the second quarter of 2026. It must also revise national technical regulations for apartment buildings to provide detailed guidance on the design, installation and incident response for charging systems, with a deadline set for April 30, 2026.

In addition, the ministry will work with relevant agencies to remove bottlenecks in licensing procedures for installing or upgrading charging stations at existing residential buildings. It is also required to review the implementation of the national action programme on green energy transition in transport to propose necessary adjustments.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been assigned to develop and issue national technical standards on safety and energy efficiency for charging equipment and systems by the third quarter of this year. It will also encourage the adoption of electric and clean-fuel vehicles, as well as the use of public transport vehicles.

Vietnam Electricity (EVN) has been instructed to enhance power demand management and simplify procedures for grid connection and separate metering for charging stations in apartment complexes, ensuring transparency in electricity usage and billing.

Local authorities are required to review planning and ensure the allocation of land and infrastructure for EV charging systems, while guiding investors and apartment buildings' management boards to deploy and use charging facilities safely and efficiently./.