The biggest difference of the Capital Law 2026 is the establishment of a separate legal corridor, optimal for environmental protection work with strong decentralization and delegation of power mechanisms. Not stopping at orientation or incentive regulations, the new law has given proactive power, allowing Hanoi to establish specific sanctions, proactively plan urban space and shape strong measures to handle pollution independently.
Sharing about this issue, Dr. Tran Van Mieu - Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment - expressed his excitement, saying that this is a good sign for the Capital's environment in particular as well as the issues of Hanoi in general. From his perspective, the Capital Law 2026 possesses many breakthrough new points, fundamentally changing from the root of management and administration thinking to modern urban space operation methods.
Among the breakthrough regulations mentioned in the law, the implementation of the low-emission zone model combined with a green and clean transportation system is of great interest to many people (mentioned in points e, g, clause 1, article 13 of the Capital Law 2026). Since the beginning of July, low-emission zones have begun to be piloted in the core area of Hoan Kiem, accompanied by policies to encourage and support people to limit gasoline trucks, or free buses moving in Ring Road 1...
Dr. Tran Van Mieu highly appreciated that the city did not apply local prohibition measures, but proactively built a step-by-step roadmap.
This is a civilized approach, both tough enough to gradually change habits and creating favorable conditions for people to adapt to changes, in accordance with the rationality that the Capital Law of 2026 has outlined" - Dr. Mieu assessed.
The strong resonance between the political will of the government and the close interests of the people is further strengthened thanks to strategic macroeconomic operating mechanisms. From this perspective, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi An - Director of the Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Community Development - said that the Capital Law 2026 will help Hanoi take strong action, thereby handling environmental violations more strictly. At the same time, it will help thoroughly remove legal obstacles for key environmental infrastructure projects that have been stalled for many years.
However, for the law to truly maximize its effectiveness in practice, it is necessary to have the highest political determination of the leadership team, closely combined with joint action from each citizen of the Capital in preserving the environment. Because the environment is the measure of civilization of a city" - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi An emphasized.
Empowering Hanoi from the 2026 Capital Law will create a great pressure of responsibility, forcing both businesses and managers to change their behavior towards sustainability. The combination of management thinking, drastic action and strong legal support will bring Hanoi closer to the goal of becoming a green, livable and sustainable city.
