Decree 218/2026/ND-CP, which regulates Vietnam's contract transport (xe hợp đồng) and shared limousines, took effect on August 10, 2026. It bans selling individual seats, collecting fares, and confirming bookings for individual passengers, and no longer allows picking up or dropping off passengers at company or office locations. On routes like Hanoi–Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City–Vung Tau, the “effectively shared-ride” limousines that residents and business travelers have used for intercity travel see their booking process change as of this date.
The people most affected are those who have booked a single seat with one phone call. Residents outside the cities who use shared vans for airport transfers, and expatriates who had a van pick them up at their office before every business trip, will need to rethink how they book from August 10 onward. This article lays out, for residents and business travelers moving between cities and airports by limousine or contract van, what is now banned and how to change your booking approach.
The three lines Decree 218 draws for contract transport
This decree bans contract transport operators from three main things. First, confirming bookings, selling tickets, or collecting fares from individual passengers. Second, operating fixed routes at fixed times for multiple passengers. Third, picking up or dropping off passengers at headquarters, branch offices, representative offices, or other fixed locations. Operators that violate these rules face having their business license revoked.
In addition, starting January 1, 2028, operators will also be required to share passenger contract data with the Ministry of Public Security before departure. The system is designed to make actual operations visible in stages.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Effective date | June 19, 2026 |
| Effective date | August 10, 2026 |
| What is being amended | Decree 158/2024/ND-CP (road transport) |
| Contract data-sharing requirement | From January 1, 2028 |
Source: Decree 218/2026/ND-CP and Vietnam.vn. Dates and decree numbers were confirmed against the original text.
Contract transport that was supposed to be chartered had turned into a bus route
Contract transport was originally meant for a group to charter an entire vehicle. But 9-to-16-seat limousines had increasingly been selling individual seats and running the same route at the same time every day — operating essentially the same way as a scheduled bus route. Thanks to comfortable seating even for small groups and the convenience of door-to-door service, some of these routes connecting Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City with surrounding cities had become more popular than scheduled buses or trains.
At the same time, running to fixed stops and timetables makes it, in practice, close to a scheduled bus service. That created unfair conditions relative to licensed scheduled bus operators, and passenger manifests and fare records tended to be kept loosely. Decree 218 amends the existing Decree 158/2024 to draw a clear line around this “charter on paper, shared ride in practice” setup. Operators who want to keep running are now pushed toward one of two choices: obtain a proper scheduled bus license, or commit fully to genuine charter service.
How to change your booking for airport transfers and intercity travel
Three things change in practice. First, booking a single seat no longer works — you now need either a full vehicle charter contract or to switch to a licensed scheduled bus or train. Business travelers who used to ask for “one seat tomorrow” through a hotel front desk or a Zalo message will find that this kind of request no longer flies. Second, since office pickups are no longer allowed, you will need to arrange to meet at a designated, legal pickup point instead. Any travel that assumed being picked up right at your office or home entrance will need to be rearranged. And for airport transfers, demand is shifting toward ride-hailing apps like Grab and Xanh SM, metered licensed taxis, and scheduled buses.
Enforcement is tightening at the same time. Paid transport using a private car isseparately regulated under fines for paid transport in private vehicles,andthe practice of using footage shot by ordinary citizens to prosecute traffic violationsalso began in August. It is safest to assume that workaround-style transport options have become harder to rely on.
What to check before booking
- Whether the booking is a “charter contract” or “seat sale.” Operators built around selling individual seats may stop running
- Whether a contract or receipt is actually issued, and whether a nominal contract reflects the real arrangement
- Whether the pickup/drop-off point is designated as in front of an office. If so, it can no longer be used from August 10 onward
- For airport trips, use ride-hailing apps, licensed taxis, or scheduled buses as alternatives. In the future,Metro Line 6, which will connect directly to Tan Son Nhat Airport via an underground station,will also become an option
- For intercity travel, keep scheduled bus and train timetables on hand. Routes like Hanoi–Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City–Vung Tau have relatively many alternative services
- Build in buffer time before and after travel. Travel time is hard to predict until the new booking arrangements settle down
Starting with your next booking, ask a quick question about how the service actually operates
From August 10 onward, contract transport operators that keep selling individual seats or picking passengers up in front of offices face the serious consequence of having their business license revoked. The practical safeguard for residents and business travelers is a simple one: the next time you book a limousine, ask whether it is a “charter” or a “seat sale.” If it is a seat sale, switch to a licensed scheduled bus, train, or ride-hailing app instead. In 2028, contract data sharing with the Ministry of Public Security will also begin, making it even harder for quasi-shared-ride operations to keep running. Travel itself is not grinding to a halt — think of this as a moment to redraw your route toward legal arrangements.
