Hanoi Halves Motorbike Ban for City Center

Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, has scaled back its ambitious plan to ban gasoline-powered motorbikes. The revised plan, effective July 1st, 2026, will now restrict these vehicles to just 11 streets in the city center, covering approximately 0.5 square kilometers. This is a significant reduction from the initial proposal of a ban across 26 square kilometers.

Authorities cited a lack of public support and insufficient charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and public transport as key reasons for the modification. A survey indicated that public backing for restrictive measures on private vehicles is low unless viable alternatives are available. Traffic, predominantly from motorbikes and cars, accounts for up to 59% of emissions in Hanoi.

The new regulations will prohibit gasoline motorbikes in the Hoan Kiem low-emission zone on Friday nights and weekends. Ride-hailing gasoline motorbikes will also be banned. Trucks and certain cars face restrictions or bans during specific hours. The city plans to gradually expand these measures to other streets in 2027 and across the entire Ring Road 1 area in 2028.

Challenges remain, including Hanoi's limited public transport system, with only two metro lines operational. Despite incentives for electric vehicles, such as a 0% registration fee until the end of February next year, subsidies for motorbike users are pending. Nevertheless, electric motorbike sales increased by 8.3% in the first quarter.