Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh proposes curbs on gasoline, diesel vehicles

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is considering limiting the use of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles in its commercial center, Ho Chi Minh City, in a bid to create a low-emission zone (LEZ) by mid-2027, according to a report from the state-run Thanh Nien newspaper. The city plans to test the LEZ in its central business district and a new urban area, covering around 930 hectares, starting in July 2027.

After a two-year trial, the LEZ would extend to a larger area within the city's Ring Road 2, an existing zone that restricts heavy trucks and sleeper buses to certain hours. The revised timeline is later than initially planned, aiming to give people and businesses more time to switch to cleaner vehicles. Buses will be the first to comply, requiring electric or clean-energy powered vehicles to enter the LEZ from 2027.

Motorbike-taxi drivers, delivery riders, and taxis will face later deadlines. The proposal is still under review before it can be officially approved, while Hanoi announced in June plans to phase out gasoline-powered ride-hailing motorbikes in low-emission zones, starting with voluntary restrictions and a ban from January 2027.