Hanoi will pilot a low-emission zone (LEZ) in the central area of Ring Road 1 from July 1, 2026 to reduce air pollution, traffic congestion and improve the quality of life of people.
The information was announced by the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment on June 30. Accordingly, low-emission zones (LEZs) are areas where measures are applied to restrict vehicles with high emissions, especially sources of PM2.5 fine dust.
Currently, Hanoi has more than 8 million vehicles. In which, traffic activities are identified as one of the major sources of emissions, causing the air quality in the inner city to be at a bad level at many times.
The scope of implementation belongs to Ring Road 1, including 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.
In Zone 1, from July 1, 2026, all motorbikes, mopeds and cars will be banned from circulating from 7 pm to 12 am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays every week. Priority vehicles are still allowed to operate according to regulations.
From January 1, 2027, cars eligible to operate in restricted areas must meet emission standards of level 4 or higher. From January 1, 2028, motorbikes and mopeds belonging to this group must meet emission standards of level 3 or higher.
According to the roadmap, phase 1 (from July 1 to December 31, 2026) is implemented in Area 1 and Area 2 of Hoan Kiem ward. In addition to banning vehicles in Area 1 on weekend evenings, Hanoi City restricts gasoline-powered motorbikes operating on technology platforms; encourages people to reduce the use of old motorbikes, increase the use of public transport and green vehicles.
For cars with more than 16 seats (excluding buses and school buses), trucks under 2 tons and trucks from 2-3.5 tons, traffic will be restricted according to time frames; cases of operating outside regulations must be approved by competent authorities. Trucks over 3.5 tons are only allowed to operate at night or when licensed.
Hanoi City emphasized that from July 1, 2026, it will not simultaneously ban all cars and motorbikes running on gasoline and oil on the entire Ring Road 1, but only apply restrictive measures according to each area, time frame and type of vehicle.
Phase 2 (from January 1 to December 31, 2027), the low emission zone is expanded to areas belonging to Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards. Petrol-powered motorbikes operating on technology platforms will not be allowed to circulate. At the same time, cars using fossil fuels that do not meet level 4 emission standards will also be banned from entering the area. Trucks over 3.5 tons will be completely banned from circulating.
By phase 3 (2028-2029), the scope of low emission zones will be expanded throughout Ring Road 1. Motorbikes that do not meet level 3 emission standards and cars that do not meet level 4 emission standards will not be allowed to circulate. Limited hours for passenger cars and trucks will continue to be maintained.
From 2030, Hanoi City will maintain stable operation of low emission zones, and at the same time assess the effectiveness to adjust or expand the scope of application to suit actual conditions.
To support people in the initial implementation phase, the city will exempt bus tickets within Ring Road 1 from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027; and continue to develop electric buses, public bicycles and strengthen public transport connections.
Functional forces will organize traffic diversion, monitor air quality and handle violations through camera systems. According to functional agencies, the deployment of low-emission zones is expected to contribute to improving air quality and urban environment, but requires the consensus of people and businesses for policies to be effective.
