Leaving aside restrictions on gasoline motorbikes will prolong pollution
On July 12, 2025, the Government issued Directive 20/CT-TTg, requiring Hanoi to build a roadmap for no more gasoline-powered motorbikes in Ring Road 1 from July 1, 2026. This is not only a policy on vehicle management, but also a warning about the limit of tolerance of the urban environment, where human health is threatened every day by dust and noise.
However, immediately after Directive 20 was issued, some traditional gasoline motorbike manufacturers expressed concern, saying that this roadmap was too fast, putting pressure on production and people's finances. Enterprises recommend another 2-3 years of transition to develop charging infrastructure and ensure the market is not disrupted.
However, environmental experts argue that environmental policies cannot wait, because air pollution does not stop to wait for business preparation.
Dr. Hoang Duong Tung - Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network - emphasized at the seminar "Green transport transformation: Irreversible trend", "Green transformation is not only a policy but a vital need. Each person must change their travel habits for their own health".
Mr. Ngo Viet Dung - Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Sports Automobile Association, also frankly said: "If everyone is afraid of change, how can we demand cleaner air? Now, if you travel 300 - 500m, you can only take a motorbike, while you can walk, take the bus or use an electric vehicle.
The transformation story is not simple, but it cannot be delayed. Because every day of delay is another day the city has to "breathe" in the dust. When countries in the region have set the mark of stopping gasoline vehicles, Hanoi's steadfastness in the 2026 - 2030 roadmap is an inevitable step if it wants to get closer to the green urban standard.
The roadmap has been prepared for more than 10 years
In fact, the roadmap to limit gasoline motorbikes is not new. In 2017, the Hanoi People's Committee issued Decision No. 5953/QD-UBND, approving the Project "Strengthening the management of road vehicles to reduce congestion and environmental pollution in the period of 2017 - 2020, with a vision to 2030".
The project is divided into 3 clear phases. In the period of 2017 - 2018, the city focused on managing vehicles and strengthening the role of State management agencies.
In the period of 2018 - 2020, implement solutions to limit personal vehicles in areas with serious congestion, while developing public passenger transport.
In the period of 2020 - 2030, motorbikes will be gradually limited in some inner-city districts and conditions are being prepared to stop motorbike operations by 2030.
Thus, the policy that many units consider " hasty" has been prepared, researched and announced for more than 10 years. The steps are all planned according to the roadmap, with a transition and testing phase.
8 years later, in July 2025, Directive 20/CT-TTg is just the next step in a long-term plan. The Hanoi government has repeatedly affirmed that it will not adjust the time frame for 2026 - 2028 - 2030. Accordingly, from July 1, 2026, fossil fuel motorbikes will stop circulating in Ring Road 1; from January 1, 2028, private cars running on gasoline will be restricted in Ring Roads 1 and 2; by 2030, it will be expanded to all private vehicles using fossil fuels within Ring Road 3.
The government and the city government have repeatedly affirmed: "No one is left behind". Hanoi is studying a mechanism to directly provide financial support to people when converting gasoline motorbikes to electric vehicles, while expanding the network of charging stations and parking lots in residential areas, stations and bus stations.
Dr. Khuat Viet Hung - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hanoi Metro - said that Hanoi's public transport capacity is currently up to 80%, and metro and electric bus routes are ready to receive a large number of passengers. "If every citizen takes the train and parked at a station near their home, we will find it not too difficult to abandon gasoline motorbikes," said Mr. Hung.
For the past decade, Hanoi has not stood still, from issuing policies, building infrastructure, testing green transportation to supporting people in conversion. Now, as the 2026 mark is approaching, the choice is no longer "whether to ban or not", but who will go faster in this race for transformation.
Human health and the living environment cannot wait any longer. Every day of delay is another day the city has to pay the price with the stuffy air and the loud noise. A city that wants to develop must first be a city where people are healthy enough to live and work.
