Hanoi Metro urges limiting foldable bicycles with lithium batteries on trains

On August 12 it issued a statement addressing reports that some passengers with foldable lithium battery bicycles were denied entry earlier that day.

The company said it has not banned such bicycles on its Cat Linh - Ha Dong (Line 2A) and Nhon - Cau Giay (Line 3.1) metro lines.

A train runs on the Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station line during its launch on August 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

But it admitted that on August 12 some of its staff prevented passengers with the bicycles from boarding trains, and it later instructed them not to do so again.

The company encourages passengers to use public buses and bicycles, and advises those bringing foldable bicycles on trains to avoid models with lithium batteries, especially during rush hour.

Lithium-ion batteries used in devices like phones, laptops and electric vehicles store high amounts of energy and pose fire and explosion risks.

Hanoi currently operates two metro lines. The Cat Linh–Ha Dong line, Vietnam’s first urban railway, opened in November 2021, runs 13 km from downtown Cat Linh to the southwestern area of Ha Dong in 23 minutes, and carries about 45,000 passengers daily.

The Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line spans 12.5 km, featuring eight elevated stations and four underground ones. The elevated section, from Nhon to Cau Giay, covers 8.5 km, while the underground section, from Cau Giay to Hanoi Station, stretches 4 km.

Since its launch in August 2024, it has handled between 19,000 and 21,000 passengers each day.