The Vietnamese capital will limit where and when petrol-powered motorbikes can travel next year, to avoid a total ban on this essential form of transport.
Under a draft law approved on Wednesday, nine areas within Ring Road 1, which surrounds the city centre, will be classified as low-emission zones, where the use of gasoline-powered motorcycles will be restricted from July 1.
The official goal is to reduce air pollution.
The nine districts include Hoan Kiem – home of the Old Quarter, a popular tourist destination – and Ba Dinh, where many embassies are located.
The specific times when gasoline-powered motorcycles will be banned have not yet been announced. The impact of the restrictions is likely to depend on these times.
There were initial fears of a complete ban, but looser restrictions have been adopted, likely due to concerns about the impact on passengers. The capital does not have sufficient charging infrastructure for widespread use of electric motorcycles.
In January 2028, the low-emission zone will be expanded to include Ring Road 2. A larger zone is planned for 2030, allowing time for the transition from gasoline to electric power.
The Vietnamese Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM) requested the restrictions be postponed, citing concerns about their impact on the lives of citizens and local industries.
According to VAMM, 2.65 million motorcycles were sold in Vietnam last year. Honda Motor Company, with an estimated market share of 80%, is most affected by the restrictions. In recent years, sales of electric motorcycles manufactured by Vietnamese automobile group VinFast have been increasing.