Currently,　biodegradable　metals　for　implantation　applications　are　widely　investigated　to　replace　biodegradable　polymeric　implantations,　which　may　cause　inflammatory　or　adverse　local　tissue　reactions.　Amongst　these　metals,　magnesium　(Mg)　and　zinc　(Zn)　alloys　with　good　biocompatibility,　mechanical　properties,　and　corrosion　resistance　are　being　widely　investigated.　In　this　review,　the　criteria　for　biodegradable　vascular　stents,　and　the　advantages　and　limitations　of　biodegradable　Mg　and　Zn　vascular　stents,　are　summarized　and　evaluated.　By　summarizing　and　discussing　recent　research　on　Mg-　and　Zn-based　alloys　used　as　biodegradable　vascular　stents,　this　review　considered　many　alloys　that　can　potentially　serve　as　biodegradable　vascular　stents　and　suggests　future　research　directions　for　the　development　of　Mg-　and　Zn-based　alloys　as　biodegradable　metal　stents.　©　2019　Ying　Liu　et　al.