Experts want Hanoi to support switch away from gasoline motorcycles before 2026 ban

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a directive on July 12 that prohibits gasoline-powered two-wheel vehicles within Ring Road 1, which encircles central areas around the Sword Lake and West Lake.

This area, home to over a million people, also sees hundreds of thousands of people from suburban areas and neighboring provinces entering daily, resulting in a very high density of personal vehicles.

Nguyen Van Quyen, president of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, said removing gasoline motorcycles would help improve air quality and reduce noise, but would only be effective if feasible alternatives are available.

With Hanoi's public transportation meeting only about 19% of demand, far below the 30-35% target for 2025, the ban would create huge inconvenience if timely solutions are not implemented, he warned.

He called for increasing the frequency and network of bus services and rapidly rolling out metro services.

Hanoi should introduce flexible transport options like 10-12 seat electric mini-buses, which could operate in narrow alleys, serve short routes and connect to major transportation corridors, he said.

Vehicles are seen on Son Tay Street of Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

Dinh Thi Thanh Binh, a lecturer at the University of Transport and Communications, said the ban on gasoline motorcycles would mean people coming from suburban areas by personal vehicles need to switch to other forms of transportation from Ring Road 1, and the city needs to provide parking facilities near bus, metro and electric shuttle vehicle routes.

"Limited land availability will be a major constraint, requiring coordinated urban planning and early infrastructure investment."

To further reduce personal vehicle use during peak hours, she said the city should collaborate with schools, industrial parks and large businesses to organize transportation for students and workers.

Nguyen Van Thanh, a former president of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, pointed out that Hanoi also needs to help people, especially those with low incomes, make the transition to alternative vehicles.

It needs to find out the exact number of gasoline motorcycles and categorize them by age and condition to develop appropriate support packages, he said.

Newer motorcycles should receive greater assistance but those with older ones should be encouraged to recycle them, he said.

The assistance could include subsidies for switching to other vehicles or to public transport, he said.

"It is necessary to encourage electric vehicle manufacturers to launch programs for exchanging old motorcycles for new ones and offer discounts on electric vehicles, especially to low-income people."

The government could waive registration fees and reduce special consumption tax, or provide interest-free loans to people buying electric vehicles, he added.

Binh called on the city to build public charging stations at parking lots, residential areas and shopping centers.

To avoid monopolies, Hanoi should also design open charging points compatible with multiple types of vehicles, he said.

The city and businesses should come up with ways to collect expired batteries, he said.

Both experts suggested that, to avoid disruptions, the city should clearly announce the timeline for implementing the ban so that the public could prepare in advance.

There should be a coordinated support mechanism for users and businesses making clean energy vehicles to create a sustainable and feasible transportation ecosystem, they added.

Hanoians have 1.1 million cars and 6.9 million motorcycles while migrants own another 1.2 million vehicles.