The Vietnamese government is considering a proposal that would allow for fines to be imposed without the need for documentation, specifically for violations that amount to less than one million dong. This initiative, which has garnered mixed reactions from various ministries, aims to streamline the process of handling minor infractions.

In late June, the Ministry of Public Security drafted an amendment to the Law on Administrative Violations, suggesting an increase in the threshold for fines that do not require documentation from 500,000 dong to one million dong for individuals. The aim is to facilitate quicker resolutions for simple violations detected through technical means, thereby reducing the burden on enforcement agencies and minimizing the need for citizens to make multiple trips for administrative processes.

However, several ministries, including the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance, have raised concerns regarding this proposal. They argue that administrative violations are not criminal offenses, and imposing fines without documentation could infringe on the legal rights and interests of individuals. This is particularly relevant in cases where violations occur under unavoidable circumstances or involve mitigating factors that may not be captured by technical equipment.

Furthermore, the complexity of violations detected through technical means, such as customs infractions identified by scanning machines, necessitates thorough documentation to ensure legal accountability and the right to appeal. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has suggested that the non-documentation fines should only apply to cases where the fine is under one million dong to ensure legal safety.

In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Public Security stated that the technical data collected for these fines would be sufficient to support enforcement actions without additional paperwork, thus saving time and resources. They emphasized that all necessary information, including time, location, and evidence of the violation, would be accurately recorded through existing technical systems.

Moreover, the Hanoi delegation has proposed that any decision to impose a fine without documentation must include supporting evidence such as images or electronic data to allow citizens to verify the violation and exercise their right to contest the fine if they believe it is unjust.

As discussions continue, the draft proposal is open for public feedback until August 10, with plans to present it to the National Assembly for consideration during its second session in October 2026.