According to Decision No. 01/2026/QD-UBND of the Hanoi People's Committee on zoning traffic vehicles in the inner city area, passenger transport business vehicles under contracts with 28 seats or more are restricted from operating during peak hours, from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM daily within the restricted belt area.
However, in reality, there has been a situation where many passenger cars stop and park improperly on gateway and ring roads to wait for the time to enter the inner city.
Large vehicles parked in the wrong places not only obstruct traffic but also pose potential safety risks, especially during peak hours.
On the morning of March 16, Road Traffic Police Team No. 1 (CSGT) - Traffic Police Department of Hanoi City Police organized patrols and inspections on some gateway and inner-city belt routes, handling the situation of passenger cars stopping to wait for hours to enter restricted areas not in accordance with regulations.
In the morning, the working group discovered 7 cases of passenger cars stopping and parking in the wrong places on routes outside restricted areas. Most of them were tourist cars and contract cars waiting for the time to be allowed to circulate into the inner city.
All violations were recorded and fined 700,000 VND by functional forces for the offense of stopping and parking in violation of regulations and causing traffic obstruction during peak hours.
Among the cases handled, driver N.V.D (born 1972, in Hanoi) driving passenger car license plate 29E-481. XX said that he had been propagated by the traffic police force beforehand.
However, according to this driver, some tourism businesses do not have small vehicles to transfer passengers to the Old Quarter area.
We have to ensure picking up passengers on time to be on schedule to other tourist attractions, even to distant provinces. There is no other way, so we have to park near this area to wait," driver D shared.
Another driver who was also fined said that tourists often visit around Hoan Kiem Lake area and then continue to move to other locations. If the car does not wait at the nearest location, it will be easy to be late to pick up passengers, while the Old Quarter area currently has very few parking lots for vehicles over 30 seats.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hai - officer of Road Traffic Police Team No. 1, most drivers are aware of the regulations on restricted hours, but due to the need to pick up and drop off passengers, illegal parking still occurs.
Large vehicles, if parked arbitrarily, can easily cause traffic obstruction and potential safety risks," Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hai said.
According to statistics, from February 15, 2026 to March 15, 2026, Road Traffic Police Team No. 1 handled 141 cases of passenger car violations, with a total fine of 108 million VND. Among them, there were 140 cases of stopping and parking improperly and 1 case of entering prohibited roads.
The Traffic Police Department of Hanoi City Police recommends that transport businesses and drivers need to proactively grasp regulations on scope and time limits for passenger cars; arrange appropriate routes, avoid arbitrary stopping and parking on the road causing traffic obstruction.
Violations will be handled according to the provisions of law.
