Hanoi authorities have selected Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem districts to pilot restrictions or bans on vehicles that emit high levels of air pollutants, as part of a low-emission zone initiative.

On the morning of December 12, the Hanoi People’s Council approved a resolution to implement low-emission zones in the city, with the majority of council members voting in favor.

The resolution outlines a two-phase roadmap for low-emission zones:

Phase 1 (2025–2030): Pilot the establishment of low-emission zones in selected areas of Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts, while encouraging other localities to set up similar zones.

Phase 2 (2031 onwards): Expand implementation citywide in areas meeting specific criteria for low-emission zones.
The resolution mandates several measures for these zones:

Only vehicles that produce no emissions or use clean energy will be allowed to operate within low-emission areas.

Heavy-duty diesel trucks will be banned.

Cars and motorcycles that fail to meet emission standards will be restricted or banned from entering low-emission zones based on specific times or locations.

Local governments in low-emission zones will propose fees and charges for vehicles with emissions that wish to enter these areas.
Additionally, Hanoi will provide support for residents and workers in these zones to transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to clean energy or zero-emission vehicles.

According to Le Thanh Nam, Director of Hanoi’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, road dust and motor vehicles are the primary contributors to local air pollution, accounting for 58–74% of emissions depending on the time of year. Motorcycles are the largest source of pollution from vehicles, followed by taxis.

As of August 2024, Hanoi had over 8 million registered vehicles, including: Nearly 1.13 million cars; Over 6.9 million motorcycles.

Nam noted that 72.58% of motorcycles have been in use for more than 10 years, significantly increasing harmful emissions if they are not maintained according to manufacturer recommendations.

Quang Phong