From July 1, Hanoi will begin piloting a low-emission zone within Ring Road 1 while offering free bus travel for one year and providing hundreds of parking locations and public bicycle stations to support residents.

The first phase of the "Low-Emission Zone within Ring Road 1" project will run from July 1 through December 31, 2026. According to the Hanoi Department of Construction, alongside new vehicle restrictions, the city will adjust traffic organization, expand parking facilities and strengthen public transport services to reduce emissions and ease congestion in the city center.

Under the traffic management plan, the pilot area is divided into two zones.

Zone 1 covers the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area, the Old Quarter and the Hoan Kiem Night Market. It is bounded by 12 streets: Trang Tien, Hang Khay, Le Thai To, Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, Hang Buom, Ma May, Hang Bac, Hang Mam, Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To and Ngo Quyen.

The city will continue operating the existing pedestrian zone while banning motorcycles, motorbikes and cars, except for vehicles belonging to the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, from 7 p.m. to midnight every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Zone 2 includes the Old Quarter and the surrounding area of Hoan Kiem Lake, bounded by Trang Thi, Tho Nhuom, Hang Bong, Phung Hung, Phan Dinh Phung, Hang Dau, Tran Nhat Duat, Tran Quang Khai, Trang Tien and Hang Khay.

Within this zone, fossil fuel-powered passenger vehicles with more than 16 seats, excluding public buses and school buses, are prohibited from operating during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. These vehicles are also prohibited from stopping or parking on the surrounding roads during the same periods.

To facilitate passenger pick-up and drop-off, the city has designated four transfer points on Ba Trieu Street (between Hang Khay and Hai Ba Trung), Tran Nhat Duat Street (between Cao Thang and O Quan Chuong), Tran Quang Khai Street (between Hang Mam and Hang Thung), and Tran Khanh Du Street (in front of the National Museum of Vietnamese History).

Fossil fuel-powered freight vehicles will continue to operate under the existing regulations issued by the Hanoi People's Committee governing road traffic within the city.

Free bus travel within Ring Road 1 for one year

According to Tran Huu Bao, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Construction, the city will waive fares on subsidized public bus routes for passengers traveling within Ring Road 1 from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, to encourage greater use of public transport.

The policy does not apply to commercial bus services or tourist buses.

At present, 45 bus routes and branch routes operate within Ring Road 1, including 29 routes that begin or end within the area and 16 routes that pass through it.

The city has also installed 44 public bicycle stations with 456 bicycles across the Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards, making it easier for commuters to connect between buses, urban railway services and destinations in the city center.

More parking facilities and park-and-ride hubs

To meet parking demand, the Hanoi Department of Construction has worked with local authorities to identify and arrange 220 parking lots and parking locations around the low-emission zone.

The city also plans to develop 10 park-and-ride facilities in Long Bien, Tran Khat Chan, Tran Khanh Du, Tran Quang Khai, Yen Phu and the Thu Le Park area, allowing residents to park private vehicles before continuing their journeys by bus or urban railway.

In addition, the department has instructed relevant agencies to adjust traffic signs, reorganize traffic flows, review bus routes, and coordinate with the Hanoi Police Department to guide traffic and enforce regulations within the pilot area.

The People's Committees of Hoan Kiem, Cua Nam and Ba Dinh wards, together with other relevant local authorities, are responsible for informing residents about vehicle restrictions and designated routes while encouraging a shift toward environmentally friendly transport that meets emission standards.

The pilot low-emission zone within Ring Road 1 will run from July 1 through December 31, 2026, providing the basis for the city to assess its effectiveness before considering broader implementation.

Vu Diep