as the quality of air in these major cities has been worsening, affecting the health of residents and the socioeconomic development.

An old motorcycle traveling on a street in Hanoi City. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has written to Hanoi and HCM City asking the two cities to get rid of aging motor vehicles to reduce air pollution. – Photo: VOV

The ministry attributed the rising air pollution to gas emissions from transport vehicles and construction and industrial activities as well as the unfavorable weather.

The ministry proposed that the governments of Hanoi and HCM City speed up their plans of developing public transport systems that prioritize vehicles powered by clean energy sources and eliminating aging and outdated vehicles that cause air pollution.

The municipal governments were also asked to develop a traffic system of non-motor vehicles and encourage residents to use public transport and reduce private vehicles.

In addition, the ministry told the two cities to adopt suitable solutions to ease traffic jams, helping reduce air pollution, and regularly spray water onto the main roads to wash off dust.

Hanoi City is adopting a pilot program for the exchange of old motorbikes proposed by the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM).

Under the program, Hanoi City will set up eight stations to examine gas emissions and 30 outlets to exchange aging motorcycles in Hoan Kiem, Cau Giay, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan and Ha Dong districts.

Accordingly, Hanoian residents who own an operational old motorcycle that has been used for over 18 years and fails to meet emission standards will be offered VND2-4 million by VAMM to buy a new bike.

However, many people have voiced their concern over the impact of the policy to get rid of old vehicles on poor workers.

An automobile engineering lecturer at a university in HCMC said that terminating old and outdated motorbikes to protect the environment is necessary, but it is vital to adopt appropriate measures. Most people who own aging motorcycles are low-income earners.

The support level of VND2-4 million for an old motorbike is not high enough to encourage residents to exchange their old vehicles for new ones as a new motorcycle costs at least VND20 million.

On the other hand, old vehicles, after being exchanged, will pose a threat to become industrial waste and cause environmental pollution.

Some residents in HCM City also said that it was essential to carefully consider the plan to eliminate old motorbikes so poor people are not affected.  SGT

Chanh Trung

HCMC striving to reduce air pollution

Like other major urban areas in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is now facing serious effects caused by air pollution, including respiratory health problems, climate change, and unbalanced ecosystems.

Hanoi working hard to combat air pollution

Deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment Le Tuan Dinh speaks about solving the root cause of environmental pollution in Hanoi in a bid to improve air quality.