Ho Chi Minh City traffic police recorded more than 321,000 violations from images in nearly 10 months. The most common cases involved riding without a helmet, riding a motorbike on the sidewalk and ignoring road signs.
According to the Traffic Police Department, the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police Division detected more than 321,000 image-recorded violations from Dec. 15, 2025, to Oct. 8, 2026. More than 217,000 cases involved motorbikes and nearly 104,000 involved cars.
The following are three common violations whose images can be recorded directly by traffic cameras and used for fines issued without stopping the vehicle at the scene.
Riding without a helmet
Some motorbike riders travel without a helmet when making short trips. In other cases, a helmet is worn but its strap is not fastened or is fastened incorrectly.
Under current rules, these actions can result in a fine. Point h, Clause 2, Article 7 of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP sets a fine of 400,000 to 600,000 Vietnamese dong for a motorbike or moped rider who does not wear a helmet or fastens it incorrectly.
A rider carrying a passenger who is not wearing a helmet or has fastened the strap incorrectly can receive the same fine. Exceptions apply when carrying a child under 6, a patient being taken for emergency care or a person being escorted for violating the law.
Riding on the sidewalk
On roads in Ho Chi Minh City that often experience congestion, some motorbike riders move onto the sidewalk to get past traffic. Some travel along it for dozens of metres rather than wait for a traffic signal or pass through a crowded section of road.
Under Decree 168, riding a motorbike on a sidewalk in violation of the rules carries a fine of 4 million to 6 million dong and the deduction of 2 points from the driving licence. For car drivers, the fine is 6 million to 8 million dong and 4 points are deducted.
Ignoring road signs
Another common violation occurs when drivers fail to notice signs on unfamiliar roads. Some violations are deliberate, while others happen because drivers focus on traffic ahead and overlook signs beside the road.
Under Decree 168, the usual fine for failing to follow a road sign's instructions is 400,000 to 600,000 dong for car drivers. For motorbike riders, it is 200,000 to 400,000 dong.
Some violations carry higher fines. For example, a car entering a road with a sign banning the relevant type of vehicle can result in a fine of 4 million to 6 million dong. For a motorbike, the fine is 2 million to 3 million dong.
Separate penalties also apply to turning left or right where the corresponding turn is prohibited. Drivers therefore need to identify the type of sign and the scope of its restriction correctly, rather than assume that all sign violations carry the same fine.
According to the Traffic Police Department, surveillance cameras and other recording equipment can capture violations and provide grounds for enforcement. After receiving a notice, the vehicle owner should work with the authorities and identify the actual driver if someone else was using the vehicle.
Sources: Thanh Niên
