According to the plan, Hanoi will pilot a low-emission zone in the core area of Hoan Kiem Lake from July 1, 2026, then expand it according to a roadmap. The goal is to control emissions, reduce air pollution and promote the transition to environmentally friendly transportation methods. Experts believe that the implementation needs to be cautious and synchronize policies to ensure feasibility and long-term effectiveness.
Resolution 57 of the Hanoi City People's Council identifies traffic as one of the major sources of emissions in urban areas, so it will focus on controlling this area. Accordingly, Hanoi City plans to adjust traffic organization in a more reasonable direction to reduce emissions. In the first phase, the pilot scope is relatively small, mainly inheriting the existing pedestrian street space and expanding some adjacent areas in Hoan Kiem ward.
Dr. Pham Sy Thanh - Director of the Center for Economic and Strategic Research (CESS) said that green transportation transformation is a long-term process, which needs to be well prepared with a decade-long vision. Accordingly, the roadmap needs to be implemented step by step clearly, first improving the efficiency of vehicles using internal combustion engines, then switching to vehicles using new energy, and finally developing an intelligent transportation system to achieve an optimal green state.
From a policy perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thuy - University of Economics (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), consultant of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), said that transportation solutions need to be built in sync with the development strategy of the domestic automobile and motorcycle industry. The transformation is not only aimed at reducing congestion and pollution but also towards the goal of reducing emissions and promoting a green industry.
International experience shows that the effectiveness of transportation conversion depends on the synchronous combination of many policy tools. Among them, financial measures such as electric vehicle purchase subsidies, tax and fee exemptions and reductions play an important role in the initial stage to stimulate the market. Besides, there are management tools such as applying low emission zones, affixing emission classification stamps, and collecting fees according to emission levels to improve urban air quality.
Along with policies, infrastructure development is considered a key factor. Charging station systems, battery replacement, as well as regulations on installing charging stations in buildings will contribute to increasing accessibility and reducing people's anxiety when switching to green vehicles.
Representatives of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment said that the city is gradually building low-emission zone policies according to a roadmap suitable to actual conditions. According to Ms. Le Thanh Thuy - Deputy Head of the Environment Department, pedestrian streets are essentially also a type of low-emission zone. From pilot models, the city will evaluate the effectiveness to gradually expand.
It is expected that after the pilot phase, the low emission zone will expand to the entire central area of Hoan Kiem district, then spread to other areas. In the next 3-5 years, Hanoi City aims to expand the scope to Ring Road 1 and move towards Ring Road 2 according to the Government's orientation. However, experts believe that this is an ambitious goal, requiring large resources and careful preparation of infrastructure and policies.
In parallel with that, Hanoi City also sets a goal to gradually limit vehicles using fossil fuels and promote green transportation. Representatives of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment said they are studying policies to support people and businesses to switch to environmentally friendly vehicles, and at the same time build a monitoring and evaluation system based on scientific tools and digital transformation.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy - Deputy Head of Transport Management Department (Hanoi Department of Construction) said that Hanoi City will promote the development of public transport, control polluting vehicles, and encourage the use of vehicles that meet emission standards. At the same time, Hanoi will expand pedestrian space, strengthen transit connections, and invest in green infrastructure for vehicles such as electric charging stations and battery treatment systems.
According to the roadmap, vehicles using fossil fuels will be gradually restricted, moving towards strict control in low-emission areas. Some types of vehicles may be restricted or banned from circulation if they do not meet emission standards. Currently, Hanoi City is studying policies to support the transition to clean vehicles, expected to be submitted to Hanoi City People's Council in the first quarter of 2026.
Monitoring will be implemented through camera systems, emission measurement devices and an integrated AI (Intelligence) data platform, QR codes and automatic toll collection, to ensure effective and transparent management.
