Resolutely taking action from the Government and localities
Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that by 2030, all road vehicles must meet emission levels according to national standards, in order to reduce pollution and protect people's health.
Accordingly, on November 19, 2025, the Prime Minister approved a national action plan on air quality management for the period 2026 - 2030, which requires large cities to significantly reduce fine dust and increase the number of days with good air quality. Hanoi aims to reduce PM2.5 dust concentration by 20% compared to 2024 by 2030; Ho Chi Minh City is assigned to maintain a continuous improvement trend over the years.
Along with efforts at the national level, the two largest cities in the country are implementing stronger programs than ever.
Hanoi identifies the transition to green transportation as a key task. The city has 393 buses using clean energy, equivalent to 20.7% of the total number of vehicles, exceeding the target for 2026. It is expected that by the end of 2025, this rate will reach 26.5%. In addition to buses, 60.8% of taxis and 40.2% of technology vehicles have switched to clean fuel. The goal is that by 2030, 100% of the capital's buses and taxis will be "green".
The Hanoi People's Committee has just sent a proposal and draft resolution to the City People's Council on regulating low emission zones. Accordingly, Hanoi proposed a roadmap for green transformation for motorbikes before 2030, with taxis being 100% replacement, investing in new vehicles using clean energy, green energy, and environmentally friendly from July 1, 2026.
From January 1, 2025, the City People's Committee will decide to limit the circulation of road vehicles, routes, and ranges on a number of routes, road sections, lanes, road directions, and time frames according to actual conditions.
Along with that, Hanoi will not make new investments and carry out new registration with control of vehicles using fossil fuels when discharging old vehicles that have expired, especially vehicles owned by the organization.
Hanoi will have preferential policies, support and encouragement for converting environmentally friendly vehicles, vehicles using clean energy and green energy. Apply policies to support those living and working in low-emission zones.
Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating the project of controlling emissions and converting vehicles, in the context that each year the city emits more than 13 million tons of CO2 from road traffic. With more than 1.4 million cars and nearly 8 million motorbikes, traffic emissions account for 88% of urban dust. PM2.5 levels are 5-6 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommendations, showing that emission control is an urgent requirement.
The city has strongly shifted to a data-based management model with sensors, cameras and online emission monitoring platforms. From 2026, the city will start limiting vehicles running on gasoline and oil that do not meet emission standards in the central area and Can Gio district. The first low-emission zone (LEZ) piloted at the Rung Sac route only allows vehicles that meet level 5 or higher standards or use clean energy.
In the period of 2027 - 2030, Ho Chi Minh City will expand motorbike emission inspection, limit cars below level 4 to the inner city, and install about 200 license plate recognition and emission monitoring cameras at 70 key locations. To date, 45% of buses have used electricity or CNG; 71%, taxis operate on electricity; nearly 30% of technology motorbikes have switched to electricity. The charging infrastructure system includes more than 9,000 charging stations and 15,000 charging ports in operation.
People and experts hope to soon apply the roadmap
The problem of air pollution, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, is truly becoming a serious challenge for public health.
Mr. Le Thanh Tung (Cau Giay ward, Hanoi) said that the roadmap for emission control is "as soon as possible". According to him, the fine dust pollution in winter has forced many families to limit going out. If the city switches to electric vehicles earlier, air quality will certainly improve significantly, he said.
Many transport experts consider the construction of low emission zones and emission inspection as an urgent solution.
Dr. Hoang Duong Tung - Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network - commented that the cost of handling pollution, diseases and economic damage caused by dirty air is many times higher than the cost of converting vehicles. A year late is another year when people have to live in pollution.
In addition to limiting emissions, experts say that popularizing electric vehicles is a key solution. Vietnam is having many favorable conditions as electric vehicles are getting closer to the people, especially thanks to the appearance of domestic brands such as VinFast. Currently, the cost of owning an electric motorbike is only over 10 million VND, suitable for the majority, while its performance and durability have been verified by tens of thousands of users. If there are more appropriate support policies, the speed of converting to electric vehicles is expected to increase much faster than at present.
