Hanoi to ban gas bikes, push EV shift by July 2026

Hanoi will ban gas-powered motorbikes in its downtown area starting July 2026, following a directive from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The ban will apply to all fossil fuel-powered motorbikes and scooters within Ring Road 1, including the Old Quarter.

By 2028, restrictions will extend to gas-powered private cars within Ring Roads 1 and 2, and by 2030, to all personal fossil fuel vehicles inside Ring Road 3.

The goal is to reduce emissions and improve air quality.

The city aims to transition to EV and clean public transport over the next five years.

Hanoi must finalize its Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) plan by Q3 2025, including infrastructure upgrades. Public transport is expected to fully use electric buses and metro lines by 2030.

Financial incentives will support EV production, while fossil fuel vehicles will face higher registration and parking fees

🔗 Source: VnExpress International

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Major urban centers are leading transportation transitions with proven models

Hanoi’s phased approach mirrors successful strategies already implemented in cities worldwide, showing how transportation bans typically expand from downtown cores outward.

Oslo pioneered similar restrictions and now boasts 80% electric vehicle adoption rates with a documented 35% reduction in air pollution levels, demonstrating the potential impact of such policies 1.

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) achieved a 46% reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels despite initial public resistance, providing a blueprint for managing the transition and measuring outcomes 1.

Paris, Madrid, Mexico City, and Athens made similar commitments to ban diesel vehicles specifically, focusing initially on their most congested central areas before expanding outward 2.

This pattern of urban-led transition suggests that national policies often follow successful city implementations, as seen with Norway, France, and the UK, where city-level restrictions preceded country-wide commitments 3.