According to the draft report of the Hanoi People's Committee on the Low Emission Zone project in Belt 1, phase 1 (July 1 - December 31), the city will pilot a low emission zone in Hoan Kiem ward.
Specifically, the low emission zone is limited to 11 streets in Hoan Kiem ward including: Trang Tien, Hang Khay, Le Thai To, Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, Hang Buom, Ma May, Hang Bac, Hang Mam, Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To. This area is 0.5 km2 wide, 3.5 km in circumference, and has a population of about 20,000.
The area of streets around Hoan Kiem Lake is expected to be selected as a pilot low emission zone from July 1. Photo: Giang Huy
In low emission zones, motorbikes and gasoline motorbikes operating business on application software platforms that support transport connection (technology motorbike taxis) are prohibited. Gasoline motorbikes other than technology motorbike taxis are banned from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday, and from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Cars with trucks under 2 tons and meeting level 4 emission standards are only allowed to operate outside peak hours. Trucks weighing from 2 to under 3.5 tons, meeting level 4 emission standards, are only allowed to run from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day and must be approved in writing by the City Police. Trucks over 3.5 tons are prohibited from operating.
Cars with 16 seats or more (except buses and school buses) on streets in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards must meet level 4 according to the National Technical Regulations on automobile emissions participating in road traffic (norms). This vehicle is prohibited from circulating from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day.
For buses and school buses, emissions must reach level 4 according to standards. Vehicles with less than 16 seats use fossil fuels and emissions must reach level 4.
AI-powered graphics.
The city has determined phase 2 (January 1, 2027 - December 31, 2027) to expand the pilot area in Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards, including the core area of Hoan Kiem ward implemented in phase 1 and 14 surrounding streets in Cua Nam ward: Nguyen Du, Han Thuyen, Tran Hung Dao, Tran Khanh Du, Tran Quang Khai, Tran Nhat Duat, Hang Dau, Cua Dong, Ly Nam De, Ton That Thiep, Dien Bien Phu, Hang Bong, Cua Nam, Le Duan.
Phase 3 (January 1, 2028 - December 31, 2029), the city expands the low emission zone to the entire area in belt 1 with more than 26 square kilometers, a circumference of 25 kilometers and a population of 625,000. Belt 1 includes 9 wards surrounded by roads: Hoang Cau, De La Thanh, O Cho Dua, Xa Dan, Dai Co Viet, Tran Khat Chan, Nguyen Khoai, Tran Khanh Du, Tran Quang Khai, Tran Nhat Duat, Yen Phu, Nghi Tam, Au Co, An Duong Vuong, Lac Long Quan, Buoi, Cau Giay.
The blue lines are routes expected to pilot low emission zones from July 1. Source: According to the draft project
The development of the low emission zone project aims to concretize Resolution No. 57/2025 of the People's Council on implementing low emission zones in the area, which determines the implementation roadmap at Belt 1 from July 1, 2026.
According to the Hanoi People's Committee, in recent years, the quality of the air environment in the area has declined at times, especially in the urban center, where high population density, large traffic flow and many socio-economic activities are concentrated.
Research results of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment conducted in the years 2023-2025 show that the contribution rate of PM2.5 fine dust in the city from transportation activities is 25%, construction and road dust 20%, combustion 12%, secondary dust formed from polluted gases, including industry 27% and other sources 6%.
Inventory data of internal waste sources, in the city alone, direct sources from traffic activities account for 59%, road dust and construction activities 28%, burning and residential activities 11%, industrial activities 2%.
It is expected that the next stages will implement the low emission zone in belt 1. Source: According to the draft project
The construction and implementation of the low emission zone project in Belt 1 is a premise for departments, branches and People's Committees of wards and communes to organize and synchronously deploy solutions such as: controlling high-emission vehicles entering the center; organize public transportation, develop vehicles using clean energy; Strengthen management, monitoring and application of technology in traffic emission control.
The implementation of the project is also an important pilot step to evaluate practical effectiveness, serving as a basis for research to expand the low emission zone model to other areas in the next stages.
Currently, Hanoi has about 6.9 million motorbikes, of which about 450,000 in Belt 1 alone.
