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The Independent
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Vietnam to ban petrol and diesel motorcycles from Hanoi to tackle rising air pollution
Vietnam will ban fossil-fuel motorcycles and mopeds from central Hanoi from next year in an attempt to curb worsening air pollution. From 1 July 2026, motorbikes running on petrol and diesel will not be allowed inside and along Hanoi's main ring road, which surrounds the city's business and government districts. The directive was issued by prime minister Pham Minh Chinh. City authorities have been told to prepare for the transition and ensure compliance by the deadline. The majority of Hanoi's nearly eight million people rely on two-wheelers for daily transport. The city has some seven million motorcycles and just over a million cars. As incomes rise and more people switch to private vehicles, the air quality is deteriorating. Hanoi regularly ranks among the world's most polluted cities. AQI levels in parts of the city in July range from 115 to 165 – categorised as 'poor' to 'very poor'. The WHO estimates that over 60,000 deaths per year in Vietnam are linked to air pollution. The government plans to encourage a shift to electric vehicles, led by domestic automaker VinFast, which controls some 20 per cent of Vietnam's EV market share. However, adoption of electric two-wheelers remains limited. While air pollution remains a concern, many people are worried about the plan and its timeline. 'It'll affect people who rely on motorbikes to earn a living. How can people just discard their vehicles?' Nguyen Van Hung, 62, a Hanoi motorcycle taxi driver who works with ride-hailing service Grab, told the Associated Press. Some residents say they support cleaner air but question whether the city is ready. 'We need better public transport and more support before such a big change,' Hoang Duy Dung, 32, who works in a central Hanoi office, said. The Vietnamese city's move came barely days after a plan to stop old vehicles from getting fuel in Delhi, India, sparked backlash, prompting its rollback by the local government. Hanoi's next phase of restrictions, due in January 2028, will impose the ban to a wider area and limit petrol-fuelled private cars. In addition to vehicle restrictions, the Vietnamese government said it would upgrade waste treatment infrastructure, implement digital monitoring systems and introduce stricter environmental penalties. Rewards will also be offered to whistleblowers who report pollution breaches. Hanoi is the first major city in Vietnam to set a date for a motorcycle ban. Similar discussions are underway in Ho Chi Minh City, where traffic congestion and smog are growing concerns. Like Hanoi, several major cities around the world are taking steps to restrict private vehicles from their roads. In Amsterdam, petrol and diesel cars, bikes and mopeds will be banned from 2030. Across Europe, over 340 municipalities, including Paris and Milan, have introduced low‑emission zones or traffic restrictions to reclaim public space and improve health.
Radio Free Asia
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Radio Free Asia
Vietnam to ban gas-powered motorbikes in central Hanoi next year
Vietnam will ban fossil-fuel-powered motorcycles and mopeds in the heart of Hanoi starting in July 2026 in an effort to reduce air pollution, state media reported on Monday, curbing the main mode of transport for many of the city's 8 million residents. Issued by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the directive applies to the area within the main ring road around central Hanoi, home to much of the city's business activity. The city has nearly 7 million motorbikes and a million cars. Some residents say that the move will disproportionately impact low-income residents. 'It will affect people who rely on motorbikes to earn a living,' Nguyen Van Hung, who has spent three decades driving a motorcycle taxi and now works with Grab, a ride-hailing app used widely across Southeast Asia, told the Associated Press. 'How can people just discard their vehicles?' Others said that the timeline for the change was too aggressive to make financial sense for residents. 'The life cycle of a car lasts for several decades, not just a few years or a few months,' Pham The Anh, an economics professor, wrote on his personal Facebook page. 'The policy roadmap must be announced long enough before being applied so that people can proactively choose' their mode of transportation. The Vietnamese government aims to replace gas-fueled motorbikes with electric vehicles in what it says is an effort to cut pollution and tackle climate change. Local EV maker VinFast holds nearly a fifth of the market share, according to the European Chamber of Commerce, but its share of the two-wheeler market is still small. A second phase, set to begin in January 2028, would expand the ban's geographic area and include some gas-powered private cars.
The Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Vietnam will ban fossil-fuel motorcycles from central Hanoi over pollution concerns
HANOI, Vietnam (AP): Vietnam will ban fossil-fuel motorcycles and mopeds in the heart of the capital, Hanoi, starting July 2026, as part of a nationwide effort to curb air pollution, state media reported. The directive issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh applies to the area inside and along the main ring road that encircles the center of Hanoi. The local government has been tasked with phasing out the two-wheelers by the deadline. Like the rest of Vietnam, motorcycles are the main mode of transport for most of Hanoi's 8 million residents. The city has nearly 7 million motorcycles and just over a million cars. But as incomes rise and more people switch to private vehicles, air pollution from traffic has become a growing concern. Hanoi is often enveloped in thick smog, ranking among the most polluted cities worldwide. Vietnam also wants to switch from fossil-fuel to electric vehicles to cut pollution and tackle climate change. Local EV maker VinFast is leading the shift by holding nearly a fifth of the market share, according to the European Chamber of Commerce. But it still has only a small share of the two-wheeler market. But many are concerned about the unclear plan for phasing out the vehicles. Nguyen Van Hung, 62, has spent three decades driving a motorcycle taxi in Hanoi, now working with Grab, a ride-hailing app widely used across Southeast Asia. He worries the ban will hit the working class hardest. "It will affect people who rely on motorbikes to earn a living,' he said, pointing to delivery drivers, commuters and ride-hailing services. "How can people just discard their vehicles?' Others said that the timeline was unrealistic. Hoang Duy Dung, 32, an office clerk who works in the city center, said he supports cleaner air but believes it is too soon. "We need better public transport and more support before such a big change.' Central Hanoi is home to much of the city's business activity, including offices, government buildings and commercial hubs. A second phase, set to begin in January 2028, will expand the ban to a wider area and include all fossil-fuel two-wheelers, while also restricting some gasoline-powered cars. Other measures include upgrading waste-treatment plants, using digital tools to monitor pollution and introducing stricter penalties for violators. Whistleblowers could be rewarded for reporting environmental breaches. - AP
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Vietnam to ban fossil-fuel motorcycles in central Hanoi from July 2026
The directive issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh applies to the area inside and along the main ring road that encircles the centre of Hanoi AP Hanoi Vietnam will ban fossil-fuel motorcycles and mopeds in the heart of the capital, Hanoi, starting July 2026, as part of a nationwide effort to curb air pollution, state media reported. The directive issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh applies to the area inside and along the main ring road that encircles the centre of Hanoi. The local government has been tasked with phasing out the two-wheelers by the deadline. Like the rest of Vietnam, motorcycles are the main mode of transport for most of Hanoi's 8 million residents. The city has nearly 7 million motorcycles and just over a million cars. But as incomes rise and more people switch to private vehicles, air pollution from traffic has become a growing concern. Hanoi is often enveloped in thick smog, ranking among the most polluted cities worldwide. Vietnam also wants to switch from fossil-fuel to electric vehicles to cut pollution and tackle climate change. Local EV maker VinFast is leading the shift by holding nearly a fifth of the market share, according to the European Chamber of Commerce. But it still has only a small share of the two-wheeler market. But many are concerned about the unclear plan for phasing out the vehicles. Nguyen Van Hung, 62, has spent three decades driving a motorcycle taxi in Hanoi, now working with Grab, a ride-hailing app widely used across Southeast Asia. He worries the ban will hit the working class hardest. It will affect people who rely on motorbikes to earn a living, he said, pointing to delivery drivers, commuters and ride-hailing services. How can people just discard their vehicles? Others said that the timeline was unrealistic. Hoang Duy Dung, 32, an office clerk who works in the city centre, said he supports cleaner air but believes it is too soon. We need better public transport and more support before such a big change. Central Hanoi is home to much of the city's business activity, including offices, government buildings and commercial hubs. A second phase, set to begin in January 2028, will expand the ban to a wider area and include all fossil-fuel two-wheelers, while also restricting some gasoline-powered cars. Other measures include upgrading waste-treatment plants, using digital tools to monitor pollution and introducing stricter penalties for violators. Whistleblowers could be rewarded for reporting environmental breaches. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
2 days ago
- Automotive
Vietnam will ban fossil-fuel motorcycles from central Hanoi over pollution concerns
HANOI, Vietnam -- Vietnam will ban fossil-fuel motorcycles and mopeds in the heart of the capital, Hanoi, starting July 2026, as part of a nationwide effort to curb air pollution, state media reported. The directive issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh applies to the area inside and along the main ring road that encircles the center of Hanoi. The local government has been tasked with phasing out the two-wheelers by the deadline. Like the rest of Vietnam, motorcycles are the main mode of transport for most of Hanoi's 8 million residents. The city has nearly 7 million motorcycles and just over a million cars. But as incomes rise and more people switch to private vehicles, air pollution from traffic has become a growing concern. Hanoi is often enveloped in thick smog, ranking among the most polluted cities worldwide. Vietnam also wants to switch from fossil-fuel to electric vehicles to cut pollution and tackle climate change. Local EV maker VinFast is leading the shift by holding nearly a fifth of the market share, according to the European Chamber of Commerce. But it still has only a small share of the two-wheeler market. But many are concerned about the unclear plan for phasing out the vehicles. Nguyen Van Hung, 62, has spent three decades driving a motorcycle taxi in Hanoi, now working with Grab, a ride-hailing app widely used across Southeast Asia. He worries the ban will hit the working class hardest. 'It will affect people who rely on motorbikes to earn a living,' he said, pointing to delivery drivers, commuters and ride-hailing services. 'How can people just discard their vehicles?' Others said that the timeline was unrealistic. Hoang Duy Dung, 32, an office clerk who works in the city center, said he supports cleaner air but believes it is too soon. 'We need better public transport and more support before such a big change.' Central Hanoi is home to much of the city's business activity, including offices, government buildings and commercial hubs. A second phase, set to begin in January 2028, will expand the ban to a wider area and include all fossil-fuel two-wheelers, while also restricting some gasoline-powered cars. Other measures include upgrading waste-treatment plants, using digital tools to monitor pollution and introducing stricter penalties for violators. Whistleblowers could be rewarded for reporting environmental breaches. ___
