On May 3, 2026, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, officially launched the first round of review for the "China Cultural and Tourism Smart Equipment Green White List." The first batch of products open for application includes three categories: LED interactive guide screens, solar-powered smart light poles, and low-carbon visitor center modules. This mechanism will directly impact Chinese cultural and tourism equipment exporters, smart hardware manufacturers, and stakeholders in the green infrastructure supply chain targeting the Vietnamese market, marking a crucial step in the standardization and greening of Sino-Vietnamese cultural and tourism equipment trade.

Event Overview

On May 3, 2026, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Industry and Trade jointly launched the first round of review for the "Green White List of Chinese Cultural and Tourism Intelligent Equipment." The initial application scope is clearly limited to three categories of products: LED interactive guide screens, solar-powered intelligent light poles, and low-carbon visitor center modules. Selected companies will enjoy a 5% reduction in import tariffs, priority customs clearance, and eligibility for direct procurement through the Vietnamese government. The review results will be publicized by June 15, 2026.

Which sub-sectors will be affected?

Direct trading enterprises

Foreign trade companies exporting LED information displays, smart light poles, and modular visitor centers to Vietnam will directly benefit from tariff reductions and streamlined customs clearance. The impact will primarily manifest in changes to export cost structures, shorter order response times, and lower barriers to government procurement.

Processing and manufacturing enterprises

Manufacturers specializing in the R&D and production of smart terminals for cultural tourism (such as LED display equipment manufacturers, smart light pole integrators, and prefabricated building module suppliers) need to meet Vietnam's technical requirements regarding energy efficiency, material environmental friendliness, and localized interface compatibility. This impacts the industry by requiring earlier product certification preparation, increased investment in technical documentation compliance, and a rise in demand for small-batch trial production.

Supply chain service companies

Third-party organizations providing services such as customs clearance in Vietnam, green standards consulting, and localized testing and certification coordination will see a short-term increase in business. The impact will primarily manifest in increased demand for the ability to interpret technical documents from TISI (Vietnam Institute of Standards and Industry) and MOT (Ministry of Industry and Trade), as well as higher requirements for responsiveness to dynamic updates to the 'green whitelist'.

What key areas should relevant enterprises or practitioners focus on, and how should they respond at present?

Pay attention to the subsequent application details and technical assessment guidelines released by the Vietnamese government.

Currently, only three product categories and their policy benefits are clearly defined, but key review indicators such as energy efficiency limits, hazardous substance control levels, and data security interface specifications are not disclosed. Companies should continuously monitor the official website of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and announcements from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to avoid submitting materials based on past experience.

Focusing on the first batch of pilot product categories, conduct compliance pre-inspection and document preparation.

LED interactive information displays need to be verified for CE/IEC 62368-1 applicability and Vietnamese language UI localization; solar-powered smart light poles need to confirm the TUV certification coverage of photovoltaic modules and battery thermal management reports; low-carbon visitor center modules should compile building material EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) and a simplified carbon footprint table for the assembly process. It is not recommended to wait for official notification before starting preparations.

Distinguishing between the policy signals of the 'whitelist' and the actual pace of procurement implementation

The public announcement of the review results before June 15th only signifies eligibility for entry and does not equate to immediately triggering bulk procurement. Given the lengthy budget approval process for Vietnamese local government cultural and tourism projects, companies should simultaneously compile a list of previously won or negotiated Vietnamese cultural and tourism EPC projects and embed their whitelist qualifications into their bidding technical proposals, rather than marketing the qualifications themselves separately.

Coordinate with local Vietnamese partners in advance to participate in joint declarations

Vietnam's policy emphasizes 'localization and collaboration,' and unilateral applications from Chinese companies may face insufficient evidence of technological compatibility. It is recommended that they form consortia with licensed system integrators, design institutes, or cultural and tourism operators in Vietnam to jointly prepare application scenario descriptions and operation and maintenance support commitment letters, thereby increasing the likelihood of approval.

Editor's Viewpoint / Industry Observation

Observably, this initiative is not yet a fully operational procurement mechanism but rather a structured policy signal — one that formalizes Vietnam's intent to decouple green infrastructure sourcing from generic import channels and anchor it within defined environmental and interoperability criteria. Analysis shows the focus on 'Chinese' equipment reflects both supply-chain pragmatism and strategic calibration: it acknowledges China's current dominance in these hardware categories while introducing governance levers for long-term diversification. From an industry perspective, the timing — ahead of Vietnam's 2026–2030 National Tourism Development Strategy rollout — suggests alignment with broader public investment planning, making sustained monitoring of subsequent batches and category expansions essential.

In conclusion, this review mechanism signifies a shift in Vietnam's trade with China in cultural and tourism intelligent equipment from extensive imports to rule-based and green management. Currently, it is more appropriate to understand it as a guiding institutional arrangement still in its early verification stage. Its core value lies in providing a definite path for compliant enterprises, rather than immediate market expansion. Industry participants should adhere to the principles of 'prudent follow-up, phased preparation, and collaborative implementation,' avoiding over-interpreting short-term policy benefits while also recognizing its potential long-term impact on shaping a regional green cultural and tourism supply chain.

Information source: Joint announcement by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam (issued on May 3, 2026).
The following information is still under observation: the review details, technical evaluation methodology, categories to be opened in subsequent batches, and the validity period of the whitelist have not yet been announced. We need to keep an eye on the official channels for updates.