From July 1, Hanoi will not simultaneously ban all motorbikes, mopeds and cars from using gasoline and oil throughout Ring Road 1.
However, the city is starting to apply specific restrictive measures in Area 1, Area 2 of Hoan Kiem ward, according to vehicle type and time frame. The scope of control and requirements for emission standards are expanded, gradually increasing from 2027 and 2028 according to the approved roadmap.
Area 1 (area inside the road surrounding the pedestrian street and night market area), including 12 surrounding streets: Trang Tien - Hang Khay - Le Thai To - Hang Dao - Hang Ngang - Hang Buom - Ma May - Hang Bac - Hang Mam - Nguyen Huu Huan - Ly Thai To - Ngo Quyen.
Area 2 along the road axis includes the routes Trang Thi - Tho Nhuom (section from Trang Thi to Hang Bong) - Hang Bong (section from Tho Nhuom to Phung Hung) - Phung Hung (section from Hang Bong to Le Van Linh and Le Van Linh to Phan Dinh Phung) - Phan Dinh Phung (section from Phung Hung to Hang Dau) - Hang Dau - Tran Nhat Duat - Tran Quang Khai - Trang Tien - Hang Khay returning to the Old Quarter area.
Ring Road 1 includes 9 wards: Hoan Kiem, Cua Nam, Ba Dinh, Giang Vo, Ngoc Ha, Tay Ho, O Cho Dua, Hai Ba Trung and Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam. The specific boundaries of Areas 1, 2, 3 and the entire Ring Road 1 are determined in the map attached to Decision No. 3273/QD-UBND.
| Time | Scope of implementation | Implementation nature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 7. 2026 - 31. 12. 2026 | Area 1, Area 2 belongs to Hoan Kiem ward | Phase 1: Pilot |
| 1. 1. 2027 - 31. 12. 2027 | Areas 1, 2, 3 belong to Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards | Phase 2: Expanding the pilot program |
| 1. 1. 2028 - 31. 12. 2029 | The entire Ring Road 1 area | Phase 3: Regional expansion |
| From January 1, 2030 onwards | Low emission zone in Ring Road 1 | Maintain, improve and enhance efficiency |
The regulation applies throughout the stages:
In Zone 1: All road vehicles are prohibited, including motorbikes, mopeds and all types of cars, from 7 pm to 12 am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays every week.
Priority vehicles are allowed to operate 24/24h according to the provisions of law.
From January 1, 2027, cars belonging to the priority vehicle group and vehicles approved to operate within the restricted scope must meet emission standards from level 4 or higher according to QCVN 85:2025/BNNMT.
From January 1, 2028, motorbikes and mopeds belonging to this group must meet emission standards from level 3 or higher according to QCVN 99:2025/BNNMT, except for vehicles under the management of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security.
Phase 1 (from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026):
Phase 1 is piloted in Area 1 and Area 2 of Hoan Kiem ward. In addition to the regulations prohibiting vehicles in Area 1 on weekend evenings mentioned above, the main measures include:
Motorcycles and mopeds using fossil fuels operating business on the application software platform supporting transport connection: Encourage limited operation; application software providers encourage vehicle navigation on vehicle management and operation systems.
Motorbikes and mopeds not operating business on application platforms: Encourage restricting the circulation of motorbikes manufactured and imported before 2008 and motorbikes manufactured and imported before 2016; encourage the use of public transport, unmotorized vehicles and switch to green transportation.
Passenger cars with more than 16 seats, except for buses and school buses: Only allowed to operate outside peak hours; cases of operation during peak hours must be approved in writing by the City Police.
School buses, buses, cars with 16 seats or less and pick-up trucks: Encourage conversion to vehicles using clean energy, green energy, environmentally friendly and vehicles meeting emission standards from level 4 or higher.
Trucks with a total weight of less than 2 tons: are only allowed to operate outside peak hours; cases of operation during peak hours must be approved in writing by the City Police.
Trucks with a total weight of 2 tons to 3.5 tons: Only allowed to operate from 9 pm to 6 am the next morning; outside this time frame, they must be approved in writing by the City Police.
Trucks with a total weight of over 3.5 tons: Only allowed to operate from 9 pm to 6 am the next morning; outside this time frame, they must be approved in writing by the City Police or the Department of Construction according to their authority.
Thus, from July 1, 2026, the city has applied a number of specific restrictive measures by area, time frame and type of vehicle. However, it has not yet banned all motorbikes and cars using gasoline and oil simultaneously on the entire Ring Road 1.
Phase 2 (from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027):
The scope of low emission zones is expanded to Area 1, Area 2 and Area 3 belonging to Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards.
The level of control is raised as follows:
Do not allow motorbikes and mopeds using fossil fuels to operate business on the application software platform supporting transport connections circulating in the area; application providers are responsible for navigating vehicles.
For the remaining motorbikes and mopeds: continue to encourage restricting the circulation of motorbikes manufactured and imported before 2008 and motorbikes manufactured and imported before 2016; encourage the conversion to green vehicles and vehicles meeting emission standards from level 3 or higher.
Do not allow cars using fossil fuels that do not meet emission standards level 4 according to QCVN 85:2025/BNNMT to circulate in the area.
Cars with more than 16 seats, except for buses and school buses, in Area 1 and Area 2 are only allowed to operate outside peak hours; operating during peak hours must be approved in writing by the City Police.
Trucks under 2 tons are only allowed to operate outside peak hours; trucks from 2 tons to 3.5 tons are only allowed to operate from 9 pm to 6 am the next morning, unless approved by a competent authority.
Completely prohibit the circulation of trucks with a total weight of over 3.5 tons in the area.
Phase 3 (from January 1, 2028 to December 31, 2029):
Low emission zones are expanded throughout Ring Road 1.
The main measures include:
Continue not to allow motorbikes and mopeds using fossil fuels to operate business on circulating application platforms.
Do not allow motorbikes and mopeds that do not meet emission standard level 3 according to QCVN 99:2025/BNNMT to circulate.
Do not allow cars using fossil fuels that do not meet emission standards level 4 according to QCVN 85:2025/BNNMT to circulate.
Continue to apply restricted hours for cars with more than 16 seats, trucks under 2 tons and trucks from 2 tons to 3.5 tons; completely prohibit the circulation of trucks with a total weight of over 3.5 tons.
Encourage people, organizations and businesses to use public transport, non-motorized vehicles, vehicles using clean energy, green energy and being environmentally friendly.
From January 1, 2030 onwards:
From January 1, 2030, the city will continue to apply measures to restrict vehicles of phase 3.
Along with that, maintain and operate stably the Low Emission Zone in Ring Road 1.
At the same time, assess the impact, improve the management model and consider adjusting, enhancing requirements or expanding the scope of implementation according to regulations and actual conditions.
Support policies and alternative travel options
Toll exemption for using public passenger transport by bus, excluding business and tourist buses, for journeys within Ring Road 1 from July 1, 2026 to the end of June 30, 2027.
Develop electric and green-energy buses; study opening small bus routes suitable to the street characteristics of the central area; strengthen connectivity with urban railways, transfer points and parking lots.
Develop public bicycles and electric bicycles; improve walking and unmotorized traffic conditions; review and arrange stops, parking spots, charging stations and battery exchange cabinets.
Implement policies to support the conversion of road vehicles from fossil fuels to clean energy; support according to groups of subjects and conditions specified in Resolution No. 68/2026/NQ-HĐND and guiding documents for implementation.
Strengthen propaganda, guidance and information provision so that people and businesses can proactively choose suitable travel, transportation and vehicle conversion options.
