in July 2026, as part of a nationwide effort to curb air pollution, Vietnam is banning fossil-fuel motorcycles and mopeds in the capital, Hanoi. Why? 7 million motorcycles that poor people use, and 1 million cars rich people use... so, rich people win this round too

The phase one directive issued by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh applies to the area inside and along the main ring road that encircles the center of Hanoi. The local government has been tasked with phasing out the two-wheelers by the deadline.

Like the rest of Vietnam, motorcycles are the main mode of transport for most of Hanoi’s 8 million residents. The city has nearly 7 million motorcycles and just over a million cars. But as incomes rise and more people switch to private vehicles, air pollution from traffic has become a growing concern. Hanoi is often enveloped in thick smog, ranking among the most polluted cities worldwide.

The ban will hit the working class hardest - motorcycle taxis in Hanoi, delivery drivers, commuters and ride-hailing services, all the people who rely on motorbikes to earn a living

A second phase, set to begin in January 2028, will expand the ban to a wider area and include all fossil-fuel two-wheelers, while also restricting some gasoline-powered cars

https://apnews.com/article/vietnam-hanoi-motorcycles-pollution-29bf81ec6b7bad9e8a63bd636ea34d18