On November 26, with 100% of attending deputies in agreement, the Hanoi People’s Council approved a new resolution on Low Emission Zones. Following that, starting from July 1, 2026, the city will pilot a ban on gasoline-powered motorbikes in 9 central wards, during certain hours, with a view to gradually expand restrictions in the whole city in the coming years.
The new resolution replaces Resolution No.47 of 2024, which outlined the concept of Low Emission Zones but had yet to define them. The policy aligns with Directive 20 issued by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in July 2025, which required Hanoi to ban fossil-fuel motorcycles within Ring Road 1 by mid-2026.
Restricted gas-powered motorbikes in Low Emission Zones
Hanoi has introduced the definition of Low-Emission Zones, where polluting vehicles will be restricted to improve air quality.
Following No.4 of the new Resolution, Low Emission Zone are: areas within strict protection, or are defined as Low Emission Zone before in Hanoi’s Capital Planning for 2021–2030, vision to 2050; areas with frequent traffic congestion, rated from level D to F according to TCVN 13592:2022 on urban road design; and areas where the Air Quality Index (AQI) remain below average over last years or over last national and city monitoring data.
From July 1 2026, Low Emission Zone will be piloted in Ring Road 1, which includes 9 central wards: Hai Ba Trung, Cua Nam, Hoan Kiem, O Cho Dua, Van Mieu–Quoc Tu Giam, Ba Dinh, Giang Vo, Ngoc Ha, and Tay Ho.
The plan foresees a gradual rollout: from January 1, 2028 expanding to 14 wards inside Ring Road 2, and from January 1, 2030 extending to 36 wards inside Ring Road 3. Local authorities are encouraged to designate Low-Emission Zones within their area, and from 2031 onward, any area meeting the criteria under the resolution will be required to implement them.
Within Low-Emission Zones, a restriction will be applied to fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Hanoi will restrict gas-powered motorbikes from entering the Low Emission Zones at certain times. Cars that do not meet Euro 4 emission standards would face limitations as well.
In the meantime, all commercial gasoline-powered motorbikes (including those operating via ride-hailing platforms) will be banned at all times from entering Low-Emission Zones.
Up to 20 million VND for green transition
Hanoi currently has more than 8 million registered vehicles, including 6.9 million motorbikes. A policy to support switching to environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric motorbikes, is essential to ensure timely implementation without disrupting residents’ daily lives.
A proposal has been made under the draft of the Hanoi People’s Council’s 28th Meeting on November 26-28. According to this, residents in Hanoi for at least two years and currently own fossil-fuel motorcycles will receive a 20% subsidy for the purchase of electric motorcycles (priced from 10 million VND), capped at 5 million VND per case.
Households classified as poor (monthly income lower than 2,5 million VND) will receive up to 20 million VND, and each individual can only claim once. The policy will apply before January 31, 2031.
The city has yet to finalize this support policy.
According to Ms Le Thanh Thuy, Deputy Head of the Environmental Management Division, Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, Hanoi is making efforts to maximize assistance for transition as much as possible.
“The goal is to provide citizens with more motivation and means to make the transition sooner,” - she told Lao Dong
“I sincerely hope that by the end of this year, we will have concrete support measures that balance economic development and budget capacity while partially addressing the public’s needs, thereby encouraging them to adopt green vehicles voluntarily”
Air quality vs. livelihoods
Amid rising concerns over air pollution, especially after Hanoi was ranked among the world’s most air-polluted cities, many residents say they support the city’s plan to restrict gas-powered vehicles. They consider it as a necessary measure that will deliver long-term public-health benefits.
But for those directly affected, there are far more concerns. With the full ban on gas-powered commercial vehicles in Ring Road 1- the city’s central zone - many ride-hailing drivers worry that the policy will disrupt their livelihoods.
A ride-hailing driver told Vietnamnet that the majority of their income comes from short but frequent trips in the city center, where demand is highest. A complete ban in this area would force them to take longer detours or lose their primary source of income altogether.
“If gasoline bikes are banned downtown, we’ll lose a significant number of customers,” he said.
Drivers also noted the mandatory switch to electric bikes can cost them a high price (around 18-40 million VND). Many rented houses in the city have also refused electric vehicles in their parking areas due to fire safety concerns.
For this policy to work in practice, experts say Hanoi will need a well-designed roadmap along with a series of detailed legal and infrastructure solutions.
“Tens of thousands of people will have to buy or fully switch to electric motorbikes, which will inevitably affect their finances and livelihoods, especially for low-income workers. Then there is the question of enforcement: how will violations be handled, and who will oversee such a large area? If not implemented carefully, the plan could lead to congestion, bottlenecks, and even significant waste of resources,” said Prof. Dr. Tu Sy Sua, Senior Lecturer of University of Transport and Communications, to Vietnamnet.
