What is the new plan for gasoline motorbikes in Hanoi?

Hanoi's new plan will ban gasoline motorbikes in the Hoan Kiem low-emission zone on Friday nights and weekends, and restrict or ban certain cars and trucks during designated hours.

Why did Hanoi reduce the scope of the motorbike ban?

The ban was reduced because of limited public support and insufficient charging networks for electric vehicles and public transport, as indicated by a local survey.

When will Hanoi expand its motorbike restrictions?

The plan will expand to other streets in 2027 before extending to the entire Ring Road 1 area in 2028.

Home / Environment / Hanoi Halves Motorbike Ban for City Center

Hanoi Halves Motorbike Ban for City Center

23 Apr

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Summary

Gasoline motorbikes to be banned on certain streets, not city-wide.
Public transport and EV infrastructure gaps cited as reasons.
New plan targets Friday nights and weekends in Hoan Kiem zone.

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.