In further exchanges with Thanh Niên newspaper, the division leader clarified that during Phase 1 – from July 1 to the end of 2026 – only petrol-powered ride-hailing motorbikes would be banned from entering the low-emission zone. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Privately owned petrol motorbikes will not be banned from Hà Nội's new low-emission zone when it launches on July 1, an official from the Environmental Management Division under the Department of Agriculture and Environment has confirmed.

The clarification was made to the newspaper Thanh Niên on the morning of May 8, a day after the Hà Nội People's Committee submitted to the municipal People's Council a draft resolution approving the scheme "Low-Emission Zone within Ring Road 1, Hà Nội City".

According to the submission, Phase 1 of the scheme – running from July 1 to December 31 – will roll out a pilot low-emission zone across a core zone and a buffer zone within Hoàn Kiếm Ward.

The buffer zone comprises the surrounding streets of Hàng Đậu, Phùng Hưng, Tràng Thi, Hàng Khay, Tràng Tiền, Trần Quang Khải, and Trần Nhật Duật, extending inward into the old quarter.

The core zone covers 11 streets: Tràng Tiền, Hàng Khay, Lê Thái Tổ, Hàng Đào, Hàng Ngang, Hàng Buồm, Mã Mây, Hàng Bạc, Hàng Mắm, Nguyễn Hữu Huân, and Lý Thái Tổ.

In the explanatory note for the scheme, approved by the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Environmental Management Division stated that within the core zone, all petrol-powered motorbikes and mopeds operating commercially through ride-hailing application platforms would be banned.

For privately owned petrol motorbikes not used commercially through such platforms, restrictions would apply from 6pm to midnight on Fridays, and from 6am to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.

The scheme also requires residents within the pilot area to register online with local authorities during the three months from July 1 to October 1, indicating their plans to convert from petrol motorbikes.

However, in further exchanges with Thanh Niên, the division leader clarified that during Phase 1 – from July 1 to the end of 2026 – only petrol-powered ride-hailing motorbikes would be banned from entering the low-emission zone. Privately owned petrol motorbikes would face no ban. The phase would instead focus on public communication and encouraging residents to switch to "green vehicles".

The online registration requirement is aimed at assessing demand and evaluating behaviour in order to prepare support resources to help residents make the transition, the official said.

A full ban on all petrol motorbikes entering the low-emission zone would only be introduced once "all necessary and sufficient conditions have been met" – meaning technical infrastructure and transport plans must first be in place, the division leader added.

"The unit is reporting to the Hà Nội People's Committee and will provide communication guidance to disseminate all information related to the low-emission zone," the official said.

Under Phase 2, running from January 1 to December 31, 2027, the city proposes to expand the pilot area to cover the core zones of Hoàn Kiếm and Cửa Nam wards, encompassing 14 surrounding streets: Nguyễn Du, Hàn Thuyên, Trần Hưng Đạo, Trần Khánh Dư, Trần Quang Khải, Trần Nhật Duật, Hàng Đậu, Cửa Đông, Lý Nam Đế, Tôn Thất Thiệp, Điện Biên Phủ, Hàng Bông, Cửa Nam, and Lê Duẩn.

Phase 3, from January 1, 2028 to December 31, 2029, will extend the low-emission zone to cover the entirety of Ring Road 1, comprising nine wards bounded by the streets: Hoàng Cầu, Đê La Thành, Ô Chợ Dừa, Xã Đàn, Đại Cồ Việt, Trần Khát Chân, Nguyễn Khoái, Trần Khánh Dư, Trần Quang Khải, Trần Nhật Duật, Yên Phụ, Nghi Tàm, Âu Cơ, An Dương Vương, Lạc Long Quân, Bưởi, and Cầu Giấy.

The Hà Nội People's Council is expected to consider and give its opinion on the draft resolution at a thematic session on May 11. — VNS