Ban on gasoline and diesel motorbikes in Hanoi from July 1, 2026: People hope for support in switching vehicles

The Prime Minister has just issued Directive No. 20/CT-TTg on a number of urgent and drastic tasks to prevent and resolve environmental pollution. The Directive is receiving great attention from the people when it requires Hanoi City to implement measures for organizations and individuals to convert their vehicles and routes so that by July 1, 2026, there will be no motorbikes and scooters using fossil fuels (gasoline and oil-powered vehicles) circulating in Ring Road 1.

Hanoi's inner city is often congested and polluted due to an overload of gasoline and diesel cars and motorbikes.

More than 70% of motorbikes are past their "lifespan"

According to statistics from the Hanoi Department of Construction, the city currently has more than 1.1 million cars and about 6.9 million motorbikes.

The number of motorbikes used for more than 10 years accounts for more than 72%, increasing the level of toxic emissions into the air if old vehicles are not regularly maintained.

Faced with this situation, in order to reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution, the Hanoi People's Council has passed a resolution to implement a low emission zone (LEZ), effective from January 1, 2025, focusing on the old inner city districts (Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh).

At the same time, Hanoi is gradually implementing a roadmap to limit and eventually ban gasoline and diesel motorbikes, first in the Ring Road 1 area by mid-2026.

According to the Hanoi capital's transport planning until 2030, with a vision to 2050, Ring Road 1, once completed, will close the inner city area, the core area of the capital.

Specifically: Beltway 1 includes central streets such as: Tran Nhat Duat - Tran Quang Khai - Tran Khanh Du - Nguyen Khoi - Minh Khai - Dai Co Viet - Xa Dan - Kham Thien - Le Duan - Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam - Dang Tat - Hang Dau - Phan Dinh Phung - Quan Thanh - Thanh Nien - Yen Phu - Cua Bac - Hang Dau - Tran Nhat Duat.

Beltway 1 also runs through the districts of Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da (old) and this is also the main urban axis connecting from East to West, passing through the central area of Hanoi with a total length of 7.2km.

Most people in Hanoi still use motorbikes and gasoline-powered cars as their daily means of transportation.

Great impact on people's lives

According to Directive 20, from July 1, 2026, all motorbikes using gasoline and diesel will not be allowed to enter the Ring Road 1 area of the capital. The only vehicles allowed will be electric vehicles, clean energy vehicles or environmentally friendly public transport.

In response to this information, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh (Kim Lien Ward, Hanoi City) shared: "Every day, I still go to work by an old motorbike that has been over 11 years old. If I switch to an electric vehicle now, the cost will be quite high, not to mention having to have a place to charge and maintain it. My family doesn't know what to do yet!"

Not only Ms. Thanh but many people in Hanoi are also confused by the decision to ban gasoline vehicles. Most opinions say that this is the right and necessary direction to protect the environment, but the city needs to have practical support policies to help people switch vehicles.

According to some experts, the upcoming ban on gasoline and diesel motorbikes in the Capital's Ring Road 1 is not just a regulation, but a major change in the way Hanoians travel and think about using vehicles.

If there are reasonable, clear and practical support policies, people can completely accompany the government, join hands for a greener, cleaner and more livable capital.

To successfully implement this policy, some support that can be implemented immediately is needed, such as: subsidizing electric motorbikes, exempting or reducing registration fees, supporting interest rates on loans to buy electric vehicles, supporting businesses to produce and import green vehicles, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to publicize the roadmap, which types of vehicles are banned, specific prohibited areas, and penalties for violations.

Air pollution in Hanoi is caused by the large number of motorbikes and cars running on gasoline and diesel.

Dr. Hoang Duong Tung, Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network, assessed that this is a necessary determination of the Government to reduce pollution. With this directive, the entire area inside Ring Road 1 can be considered a low-emission zone. From now until July 2026, there is not much left, requiring Hanoi to take urgent action, step up propaganda and have specific plans to support people.

Along with that, Hanoi needs to urgently plan and install public charging stations to meet demand and ensure safety; at the same time, strongly developing the public transport system is a fundamental solution to reduce pollution and encourage people to give up personal vehicles.

A representative of the Hanoi Department of Construction said that to realize the above goals, the city is urgently preparing infrastructure to serve electric vehicles.

From now until 2030, 100% of Hanoi's buses will switch to using electricity or green energy.

The Hanoi Department of Construction is also checking land funds to develop a system of electric charging stations/posts, located at bus stations, parking lots, residential areas, etc. Hanoi Electricity Corporation will ensure stable power supply for the entire system to operate most safely.

In addition, Hanoi City is drafting a policy mechanism to support loan interest rates for businesses investing in green buses, electric charging infrastructure, and environmentally friendly bus stops.

MINH KHANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/cam-xe-may-chay-xang-dau-o-ha-noi-tu-1-7-2026-nguoi-dan-mong-ho-tro-chuyen-doi-phuong-tien-post803629.html