Hanoi drops proposal for outright petrol motorbike ban around Hoan Kiem Lake

Hanoi revised the low-emission zone proposal around Hoan Kiem Lake, removing the immediate petrol motorbike ban and replacing it with a phased plan that gradually restricts higher-emission vehicles. The pilot phase runs July 1 to December 31, 2026, in Hoan Kiem Ward, covering about 0.5 square kilometers and roughly 20,000 residents. Within this zone, all road vehicles would be barred from entering 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Outside those hours, restrictions would apply to specific vehicle categories in the wider Old Quarter. Petrol ride-hailing motorcycles would not be banned in phase one, while private petrol motorcycles would remain permitted. The plan also imposes tighter rules on larger vehicles, with exemptions for buses, school transport and employee shuttles. Trucks under two tonnes would be allowed only outside peak hours, while two-to-3.5-tonne trucks would have nighttime access, and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes would be prohibited. Phase two, set for 2027, would expand restrictions further.