Gasoline vehicles could vanish from downtown Ho Chi Minh City by 2026
Gasoline and diesel vehicles could vanish from downtown Ho Chi Minh City from 2026 under an ambitious push to cut pollution, protect health and modernize transport.
A consortium has proposed to pilot « low-emission zones » (LEZs) in the downtown core and the coastal district of Can Gio, gradually tightening restrictions on non-compliant vehicles from 2026 before phasing them out entirely by 2032.
The proposal, presented to the Department of Construction on Aug. 8, targets areas with the highest traffic density and pollution levels. The downtown zone would cover key bridges and busy streets bounded by thoroughfares like Dien Bien Phu, Hai Ba Trung, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Van Sy, Nguyen Van Cu, Calmette and Khanh Hoi.
Can Gio, home to a UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve, has been included to preserve its fragile ecosystems while promoting sustainable tourism. Officials say they want to protect the area before pollution becomes a crisis.
Under the plan, 2025 will be a preparation year, focused on building the legal framework and infrastructure. In 2026, the city will begin restricting commercial cars that fail to meet Euro 4 standards and service motorbikes below Euro 2.
By 2027, all motorbikes will need to pass emissions tests to enter the LEZ. In late 2028, ride-hailing motorbikes must be fully electric, and by December 2029, gasoline-powered motorbikes will be banned from app-based transport services.
From 2030, the low-emission rules will apply to all personal vehicles in the downtown area. After 2032, the city will review the program and consider expanding the LEZ to cover the entire Ring Road 1 corridor.
License plate recognition cameras will monitor all vehicles entering the zone, checking them against emissions databases. Non-compliant vehicles will be fined.
The consortium says success will depend on building a « full ecosystem » of solutions: affordable alternatives for residents, a network of electric charging stations, financial support for those who rely on older vehicles and clear safety and compatibility standards for new technology.
The city plans to expand electric bus routes, develop public bicycle-sharing systems and create green corridors for pedestrians and cyclists. Charging stations will be prioritized at parking lots, shopping centers and major traffic hubs.
Low-income residents and small business owners who depend on older vehicles will receive targeted support to ensure they can adapt without losing their livelihoods, said Bui Hoa An, vice director of the municipal Department of Construction.
As of June 2025, Ho Chi Minh City manages more than 9.6 million vehicles, the highest in Vietnam, including over one million cars and nearly 8.6 million motorbikes. Vehicle numbers rose 3% from the previous year, with car ownership alone jumping 9%.
The LEZ plan is part of Vietnam’s broader national emissions reduction strategy. Hanoi is already preparing a similar transition, aiming to ban fossil fuel motorbikes from its city center starting in mid-2026 and expand low-emission zones citywide by 2030.
By Giang Anh – VnExpress.net – August 8, 2025