Hanoi has pledged financial support to help residents and workers in low-emission zones in Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem districts transition to cleaner, non-polluting vehicles. However, questions remain about the adequacy of the proposed financial assistance.

New policies for low-emission zones

The Hanoi People’s Council recently approved a resolution to establish low-emission zones as part of the city’s efforts to reduce air pollution. From 2025 to 2030, pilot low-emission areas will be implemented in Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem districts, where only vehicles using clean energy or those with zero emissions will be permitted.

To facilitate the shift, Hanoi has proposed supporting residents and workers in these zones to transition from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles to cleaner alternatives, such as electric vehicles.

Concerns over implementation and cost

While the initiative aims to tackle pollution, both experts and residents have expressed concerns about its feasibility and financial implications.

Transportation expert Nguyen Xuan Thuy emphasized that such restrictions on personal vehicles can only be successful if public transport meets at least 50% of the population’s travel needs.

Currently, public transport in Hanoi only accounts for 17–19% of demand, with buses as the primary option.

Although the city plans to build 10 urban rail lines, only 1.5 lines are operational, which makes achieving the goal challenging.

From a resident’s perspective, Ta Xuan Manh, a retired worker living in Hoan Kiem district, questioned the practicality of the financial support promised by the city.

Manh, who relies on income from a small food stall and occasional motorcycle taxi rides, noted that transitioning to electric vehicles would impose a significant financial burden.

“Even budget electric motorbikes cost around 20 million VND. If the city provides financial support of 5–10 million VND per vehicle, families like mine would still have to pay 10–15 million VND per bike. My household has four motorbikes, so we’d need to spend an additional 40–60 million VND to make the switch. For a small business family, that’s a significant expense,” he explained.

Manh highlighted that motorbikes are essential for his family’s livelihood. His wife uses one to collect goods for their stall, his daughter-in-law relies on another to take her children to school, and his son commutes daily to Gia Lam district for work. “Replacing all our bikes is not a simple matter; it’s a major challenge for us,” he said.

Suggestions for more equitable support

Manh acknowledged the necessity of reducing polluting vehicles but urged city officials to reconsider the support mechanism.

“For old, heavily polluting motorbikes, mandatory retirement is reasonable, but the government should subsidize 50% of the cost of a new vehicle. For motorbikes under 10 years old, they should still be allowed to operate. This approach would balance environmental goals with the realities of people’s livelihoods,” he suggested.

Without clearer and more substantial financial assistance, transitioning to cleaner transportation may become an insurmountable challenge for many residents, potentially undermining the broader success of the low-emission zone policy.

N. Huyen