The ban is seen as a bold but necessary move to reduce inner-city emissions. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has also sent a directive to 34 provinces and cities, urging the implementation of strong measures to reduce air pollution.

The market is seeing new developments from VinFast, Honda, and Yamaha, the most popular brands in the country.

Demand for new motorcycles among students in September spiked as the school year began. Contrasting price trends clearly reflect supply-demand dynamics and each brand’s strategy.

Popular scooter models like Honda Vision (VND31.89-37.29 million), Honda Lead (VND40.29-46.49 million), and Yamaha Janus (VND29.69-34 million) are sold by dealers at or below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). Depending on the version, discounts range from a few hundred thousand to a million VND.

In the premium scooter segment, price markups persist for the Honda SH Series. The SH125i and SH160i see markups of VND1.7-8 million depending on the version and region, showing their enduring appeal.

To meet high demand during the back-to-school season, manufacturers have rolled out promotions targeting students. Honda offers gifts, 0 percent interest financing, and subsidies for models like Vario 150 and CBR150R. 

Yamaha has cuts prices on Janus and Exciter by VND2-3 million. Notably, the Yamaha Neo’s electric motorcycle has a massive discount of up to VND15 million, bringing its price to VND33-34 million to compete with the Honda ICON:e.

Not to be outdone, electric motorcycle brands have launched new products and promotions. VinFast introduced three new electric models, Vero X, Feliz, and Feliz Lite, with dual-battery support and an expanded battery-swapping network. Yadea offers trade-in programs and direct discounts, focusing on student customers.

Gasoline motorcycles dominate but growth stalls

Despite growing competition from electric motorcycles, gasoline motorcycles maintain dominance due to long-standing consumer habits and widespread fuel station infrastructure. 

According to Motorcycles Data, Honda and Yamaha are leading the market, with Honda holding a commanding 84 percent market share.

Unaudited financial reports showed that VinFast stands out with a 447 percent year-to-date growth in electric motorcycle and bicycle sales in the first six months, climbing to third place overall and leading the electric motorcycle segment. Other brands like Yadea, Dibao, Dat Bike, and Pega share the remaining market but lack the momentum like VInfast’s.

The L1 electric motorcycle segment (equivalent to under 50cc vehicles) grew 89 percent, while the L3 segment (over 50cc) surged 197 percent compared to last year. This is a major boost as Hanoi prepares to ban gasoline motorcycles from mid-2026.

Both Japanese giants are feeling the heat from electric motorcycle competitors, with sales growth slowing compared to the overall market. Honda recorded a 6.3 percent year-to-date increase over eight months, but in August 2025, it sold only 154,599 motorcycles, down 21.7 percent from July and 13.4 percent from the previous year. Motorcycles Data also notes that Yamaha’s eight-month cumulative sales dropped 8.6 percent year-on-year.

However, the analyst noted that the first eight months of 2025, industry sales reached 2.08 million units, up 15.2 percent year-on-year. August alone saw a 17.4 percent increase, signaling a clear recovery in consumer demand after the pandemic. 

The electric motorcycle segment, led by VinFast’s surge, is the main driver of industry growth.

Vietnam is the world’s fourth-largest motorcycle market and third largest for electric motorcycles. 

According to the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM), total motorcycle sales in 2024 reached over 2.65 million units, up 5.46 percent from 2023. If including non-VAMM brands like VinFast and Yadea, Motorcycles Data estimates total new motorcycle sales at around 2.9 million units, a 4.9 percent increase.

Experts believe that Vietnam’s motorcycle market will remain vibrant in the last months of 2025, driven by rising demand for low-emission motorcycles and policies in major cities like Hanoi and HCMC to restrict and eventually ban fossil fuel-powered motorcycles. This is drawing more attention to the electric segment.

Meanwhile, traditional motorcycle brands may need to introduce new electric models and improve gasoline ones to maintain market share. In this transformative phase for Vietnam’s motorcycle industry, consumers stand to benefit from the fierce competition.

Duy Anh