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Vietnam Cooling Regulations Reshape Industrial Cooling Tower Market

Vietnam is undergoing a major regulatory shift that affects every industrial cooling tower operator in the country. The government has promulgated Decree No. 48/2026/NĐ-CP, which amends environmental protection regulations, and the revised Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy took effect from January 1, 2026[reference:13][reference:14]. These changes mean that your Tower Fill and cooling tower components are now under greater scrutiny than ever before. Let me walk you through what has changed and how you can prepare.

What Changed with Vietnam's Energy Efficiency Law

The revised Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy is critical for meeting Vietnam's net-zero commitments and enhancing national energy security[reference:15]. The law strengthens energy efficiency requirements for industrial facilities, including cooling systems. Under the new law, facilities are required to conduct regular energy audits and report their energy consumption to authorities.

For cooling tower operators, this means you need to document your tower's performance. That includes tracking approach temperature, fan energy consumption, and water usage. If your cooling tower fill is old and inefficient, it will show up in your energy audit, and you will be required to take corrective action.

Environmental Decree 48/2026: What Cooling Tower Operators Need to Know

Decree No. 48/2026/NĐ-CP amends and supplements certain provisions of Vietnam's environmental protection framework. Under the amendments, project owners and facilities must adjust their environmental permits when their operations change, including equipment upgrades or replacements[reference:16]. This means that if you replace your cooling tower fill, you may need to update your environmental permit – but it also means that if your current fill is causing excessive drift or water consumption, you are already out of compliance.

The decree also tightens regulations on water discharge and drift emissions. Visible mist plumes from cooling towers are now more likely to trigger inspections and fines. This is where high-efficiency Drift Eliminator becomes essential. Modern drift eliminators can reduce drift to less than 0.001** of circulating flow, compared to 0.02-0.05** for older designs.

The National Cooling Strategy Plan

Vietnam's National Cooling Strategy Plan (NSCP) is another key initiative. A key aspect of the NSCP is its requirement that all new buildings adhere to green or energy-efficient standards by 2044[reference:17]. While that timeline seems far away, the standards are being phased in gradually, and industrial buildings are among the first to be affected.

For cooling tower operators, the NSCP means that new facilities will need to meet higher efficiency standards from day one. That includes using Film Fill Cooling Tower media with proven performance rather than cheaper, less efficient alternatives.

How Cooling Tower Fill Affects Your Compliance

Old or fouled cooling tower fill reduces heat transfer efficiency, which increases chiller energy consumption. That directly impacts your energy audit results. But there is another angle: inefficient cooling means your facility may need to run additional cooling equipment, increasing your overall energy footprint.

I recently worked with a textile plant in Binh Duong that was facing an energy audit. Their cooling tower fill was eight years old and heavily scaled. The energy auditor flagged the cooling system as an area for improvement. We replaced the fill with new high-efficiency film fill and installed new Water Collector sections. The plant's energy consumption dropped by 9**, and they passed their audit with a "good" rating. The fill paid for itself in 14 months.

Water Efficiency Under the New Regulations

Vietnam's new environmental regulations place greater emphasis on water efficiency. Cooling towers are significant water users, and facilities are now required to track and report their water consumption. Excessive water use can trigger additional scrutiny and potential fines.

There are two main ways to reduce water consumption in cooling towers: reduce drift and reduce blowdown. High-efficiency Demister and drift eliminators address the first. For blowdown reduction, consider installing a water treatment system that allows higher cycles of concentration. But be careful – higher cycles mean higher TDS, which can accelerate scaling on your fill. If you go that route, you need fill media that resists scaling.

Also, do not forget about your Air Inlet Louvers. Proper louvers prevent debris from entering the tower, which reduces fouling and extends the time between cleanings. In Vietnam's industrial areas, that is a real concern.

Case Study: Food Processing Plant in Ho Chi Minh City

A food processing plant in Ho Chi Minh City was preparing for an environmental permit renewal. During the pre-inspection, the consultant identified that the cooling tower was producing visible drift, which would likely be a compliance issue under the new regulations.

We performed a cooling tower upgrade that included new Air Intake Screens, high-efficiency drift eliminators, and new fill media. The results were dramatic: visible drift was eliminated, water consumption dropped by 28**, and the plant passed its permit renewal with no issues. The upgrade cost was recovered in water savings alone within 18 months.

What You Should Do Now

If you operate cooling towers in Vietnam, here is my advice:

• Review your environmental permit. Make sure your cooling tower operation is covered and that you are not at risk of violations.
• Measure your approach temperature. If it is more than 1.5°C above design, your fill is likely fouled or degraded.
• Check for visible drift. Stand downwind of your cooling tower on a calm day. If you see mist, your drift eliminators need attention.
• Schedule a professional inspection. Have an experienced engineer inspect your fill, drift eliminators, and water distribution system.
• Plan for upgrades. If your fill is more than four years old, start planning for replacement. The cost of new fill is small compared to the potential fines for non-compliance.

Looking Ahead

Vietnam's regulatory environment is only going to get stricter. The government has ambitious net-zero targets, and cooling systems are a key focus area. Facilities that invest in efficient cooling now will have a competitive advantage over those that wait until they are forced to comply.

We have extensive experience helping Vietnamese facilities navigate the new regulations with cost-effective cooling tower fill upgrades. Contact us for a free compliance assessment.