Hanoi’s gasoline motorbike ban: ‘major surgery’ for transport system to give residents cleaner air

In my view, Hanoi’s plan to ban gasoline motorbikes within Ring Road No. 1, which encircles the city center, during specific hours starting July 1, 2026, marks a transformative step for the city.

This policy touches upon a change I have quietly desired for years: breaking free from the acrid smell of burnt fuel and the thin layer of smog I breathe in every morning on my way to work.

My motorbike is not an old one and has never failed me. Yet over time, using gasoline has become a peculiar source of guilt. The city’s latest move feels like a push, forcing me to finally cross the threshold of change I once hesitated to take.

For years, I have lived in Hanoi, a city that feels increasingly suffocating each summer noon and more polluted every winter morning. I have gradually realized that small things like fuel fumes, engine noise, and smoke do more than cause discomfort, they form an invisible barrier that constricts our health and quality of life. When the city announced its plan to restrict gasoline motorbikes within Ring Road No. 1 during specific hours, I felt relieved. Not because I enjoy inconvenience, but because I know that without change today, we will pay dearly in the future.

Traffic congestion in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

Anyone who has ever squeezed through Hanoi’s rush-hour traffic knows the feeling of being engulfed by hundreds of exhaust pipes, forming a thick, suffocating smog. My motorbike may not be old, but it plays a part just like any other internal combustion engine that quietly emits exhaust. I cannot help but feel uneasy knowing I am contributing to the grey haze that silently blankets the city.

This ban gives me new motivation to switch to greener transport. I have participated in campaigns such as cutting down on plastic bags and reducing plastic waste, yet I hesitated to abandon my gasoline motorbike for its convenience. This policy puts me in a position where I am "forced to change," and sometimes, that is a good thing.

I believe my children and grandchildren deserve cleaner air than what we have today. We cannot wait until the city becomes too polluted to fix before we start acting. Hanoi’s traffic system needs a "major surgery" when streets are narrow, vehicle density is high, and noise never ceases. Reducing the number of gasoline-powered motorbikes will give the city a chance to "breathe" and operate more efficiently.

I have realized how much time I have wasted commuting by motorbike. A modern city cannot rely forever on private vehicles. This policy forces me to plan my daily commute more logically, walking more and using public transport more efficiently. Besides, the costs of fuel, maintenance, and replacement parts for a gasoline motorbike are not small. As restrictions take effect, I now have the chance to reconsider the long-term economic equation for my family.

Ultimately, I hope the city becomes safer, as electric engines reduce noise and emissions, easing the noise and chaos on the streets. A quieter, cleaner environment will also lift our collective spirits. This is an opportunity for us to change our habits, the hardest thing for any society. Without strong policies, people will keep delaying change for short-term convenience. This measure compels us to reflect on both our consumption behavior and civic responsibility.

Hanoi’s decision to restrict gasoline motorbikes is not merely a transport policy. It is a reminder of individual responsibility amid a worsening environmental crisis. I do not believe the process will be easy, it will require adaptation, investment, and patience. But I trust that today’s difficult changes will lay the foundation for a greener, more sustainable, and more humane Hanoi in the future.

*Readers' opinions are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress' viewpoints.