Hanoi Scales Back Petrol Motorbike Ban Amid Public Opposition

Authorities in Hanoi have significantly reduced plans to ban petrol-powered motorbikes in the city centre after resistance from residents and concerns over infrastructure exposed the challenges of shifting millions of commuters toward electric vehicles.

The Vietnamese capital, known for its dense traffic and worsening air pollution, had originally announced plans last year to prohibit petrol motorbikes across a 26-square-kilometre section of the historic city centre. Officials argued that vehicle emissions account for more than half of Hanoi’s pollution levels, which frequently rank among the worst in the world.

However, the proposal has since been cut back dramatically. The revised plan would apply to just 11 streets covering roughly 0.5 square kilometres and only during Friday evenings and parts of the weekend. Even the smaller low-emissions zone now faces uncertainty after city officials delayed approval until June, putting a planned July 1 launch in doubt.

The retreat highlights the difficulties governments face in accelerating the transition to electric transport, even in countries with tightly controlled political systems.

Motorbikes dominate daily life in Hanoi, where nearly seven million two-wheelers crowd the streets. Across Vietnam, motorcycles remain the primary mode of transport due to limited public transit and the high cost of cars. Most are still powered by petrol engines.

Many residents remain unconvinced about switching to electric alternatives.

“I think almost everyone opposes the ban,” said 24-year-old researcher Phuong Anh Nguyen, who relies on a petrol bike for commuting. While acknowledging the city’s serious pollution problem, she expressed concern over the reliability and maintenance demands of electric vehicles.

The government has attempted to encourage adoption through subsidies of up to five million Vietnamese dong, or around $190, for people purchasing electric bikes. Yet many riders say the incentives fall short, with some electric models costing more than 30 million dong.

Concerns over charging infrastructure have also slowed acceptance. Charging stations have expanded slowly despite government promises, while reports of battery fires and technical failures have raised safety fears. Some apartment buildings in Hanoi have already restricted or banned electric bikes indoors, according to local media reports.

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast has benefited from rising interest in electric transport, recording stronger bike sales in recent years. Still, petrol-bike manufacturers continue to dominate the market, with companies such as Honda selling far more units annually.

Industry analysts said the rapid transition timetable may have been unrealistic. Nguyen Minh Dong, a former Volkswagen emissions engineer who now advises on vehicle electrification, described the pace of Hanoi’s proposed shift as overly ambitious given existing infrastructure limitations.

Authorities say efforts are continuing to improve charging networks and introduce battery-swapping systems aimed at reducing safety concerns. For now, though, Hanoi’s attempt to phase out petrol bikes appears to be moving far more slowly than originally planned.