The Hanoi People’s Committee has approved a proposal from the Department of Construction to amend and supplement several provisions of Decision No. 01/2026/QD-UBND on road traffic management in the city. The department has been assigned to coordinate with relevant units to finalize documents and submit them for approval before April 30.

Prior to that, the Hanoi Department of Construction had sent a proposal to the Hanoi People's Committee to amend and supplement several provisions of Decision 01 to overcome inadequacies and ensure harmony between the goal of reducing traffic congestion and the requirements for socio-economic development of the capital city, including content related to pickup trucks.

Specifically, the Department of Construction proposed allowing pickup trucks to circulate like passenger cars in the area. Thus, in just a few days, pickup trucks will be unrestricted in central Hanoi, meaning they will not be limited by area or operating time.

Many pickup drivers in Hanoi have expressed support if the new policy is adjusted toward relaxation. This reflects the local government's listening and flexible management regarding a "vital" issue for tens of thousands of people using pickup trucks.

Nguyen Van Dung (Thanh Liet ward), the owner of a pickup truck serving both his family and his construction materials business, said: "I bought the car because of its versatility - carrying children to school in the morning and goods in the afternoon. But if it is banned during certain hours like a truck, it is very difficult to manage; often I have to take a detour or miss work."

According to Dung, if Hanoi treats pickup trucks like freight trucks and "shuts the door" on them in the city center during most time slots, it will turn lives upside down. The goal of "reducing traffic congestion" might not be achieved because small traders like him would still have to hire other types of vehicles to carry goods, pushing costs higher.

Tran Quoc Huy (Cau Giay ward), who works in plumbing and electricity repair, said that a pickup truck is a "fishing rod for a living" as it can be used as a family car while still carrying bulky tools and equipment. If it can circulate like a passenger car, work will be much more convenient.

"For about one to two months now, although I haven't been fined, I always have to watch the clock and plan the route when going to work, which is very inconvenient. My family even intended to sell the car, but after selling it, I wouldn't be able to buy a vehicle more suitable than a pickup," Huy said.

These opinions reflect the reality that most users today do not consider pickups as pure freight trucks, but rather as versatile and flexible vehicles. Applying rigid management would partly diminish the utility value of this vehicle line.

The Hanoi Department of Construction reported that from 2021 to 2025, Hanoi had 14,704 newly registered pickup trucks. Compared to more than 8 million vehicles in circulation, including 1.2 million cars, this is a very small ratio.

Through surveys, the Department of Construction believes that pickup trucks have weight and sizes similar to passenger cars (7-seater SUV type) and that the number participating in traffic is not large compared to the structure of other passenger cars. This agency also admitted that the impact of this vehicle line on congestion is not significant.

However, that is only research and policy adjustment specifically for Hanoi. Meanwhile, on a national scale, localities still apply Circular 53/2024/TT-BGTVT dated November 15, 2024, and Regulation 41/2024/BGTVT regarding road signage.

From a broader perspective, Hanoi also sets a requirement for a unified legal framework nationwide for this type of vehicle.

According to experts, currently, each locality may apply different regulations, causing confusion for users when traveling inter-provincially. This further shows the necessity of redefining pickup trucks based on size, payload, and purpose of use, rather than just labeling them "trucks."

Treating pickups like passenger cars in traffic organization is considered more reasonable in the context of current infrastructure. This approach helps unify regulations when circulating on highways and expressways, where operating speeds and stopping/parking principles differ clearly between vehicle groups.

Hoang Hiep