Yes, beekeeping is legal in Vietnam, but compliance with agricultural and environmental regulations is mandatory. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) oversees apiculture under the Law on Animal Health (2015) and Decree 13/2020/ND-CP, requiring registration and disease control measures. Local authorities may impose additional restrictions, particularly in protected areas or urban zones.
Key Regulations for Keeping Bees in Vietnam
- Registration and Licensing: Beekeepers must register hives with provincial or district-level Departments of Animal Health (DAH) under MARD’s Circular 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT, which mandates health certificates for colonies. Failure to register risks fines up to ₫5 million (Decree 91/2017/ND-CP).
- Disease Control: Hives must comply with OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code standards; outbreaks of Varroa destructor or American foulbrood trigger mandatory culling or quarantine (Article 42, Law on Animal Health). Provincial DAHs conduct annual inspections.
- Environmental and Zoning Restrictions: Urban and protected areas (e.g., national parks) often prohibit beekeeping due to nuisance risks. Decree 11/2021/ND-CP empowers local governments to ban apiculture in sensitive zones, with penalties including hive confiscation.
Note: As of 2024, MARD is drafting amendments to the Law on Animal Health (expected 2026), which may introduce stricter biosecurity protocols and mandatory apiary mapping for commercial operations. Consult local DAH offices for jurisdiction-specific rules before establishing hives.