Hanoi Plans 12-Fold Expansion of Low-Emission Zones From 2027

Hanoi's Department of Construction has proposed expanding its low-emission zone pilot roughly twelvefold in 2027, extending restricted-area coverage from 0.45 square kilometers to 5.7 square kilometers and bringing nearly 247,000 residents into zones with tightened vehicle rules. The proposal, submitted to the municipal People's Committee, forms the second phase of a pilot plan approved on June 29, 2026, and would run from January 1 to December 31, 2027.

For carriers and delivery operators, the most consequential element is a proposed outright ban on fossil fuel-powered trucks with a gross vehicle weight between two and 3.5 metric tons inside the zones. Trucks under two metric tons would operate only if they meet Level 4 emission standards under QCVN 85:2025, and even then peak-hour access would require written approval from Hanoi police.

What does the proposal change?

The expansion covers three areas in Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam Wards in central Hanoi. The first zone, already active, spans 0.45 square kilometers and holds about 20,000 residents across 12 streets around Hoan Kien Lake and the Old Quarter, including Trang Tien, Hang Khay, Le Thai To, Hang Dao, and Hang Ngang.

The second zone would add 1.65 square kilometers and roughly 90,000 residents, bounded by major arteries such as Trang Thi, Phung Hung, Phan Dinh Phung, Tran Nhat Duat, and Tran Quang Khai. The third and largest zone would cover 3.6 square kilometers across both wards, with nearly 137,000 residents, bounded by Nguyen Du, Tran Hung Dao, Tran Quang Khai, Dien Bien Phu, and Le Duan Streets.

Under the proposal, all vehicles — cars, motorcycles, and mopeds — would be banned from the first zone between 7:00 pm and midnight on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, except authorized vehicles. From January 1, 2027, cars entering low-emission zones would generally need to meet at least Level 4 standards under QCVN 85:2025. Motorcycles and mopeds would face a Level 3 threshold under QCVN 99:2025 from January 1, 2028.

How will delivery and ride-hailing fleets be hit?

The department proposed banning fossil fuel-powered motorcycles and mopeds used for app-based transport services from operating within the zones altogether. Ride-hailing and delivery platforms would have to adjust their routing and dispatch systems to keep such vehicles out of restricted areas — a direct operational mandate for companies whose two-wheeled fleets dominate last-mile deliveries in Vietnam's capital.

For private owners, authorities would encourage residents to limit use of motorcycles manufactured or imported before 2008 and mopeds from before 2016, while promoting public transport and cleaner alternatives.

Larger passenger vehicles face their own tier. Vehicles with more than 16 seats, excluding buses and school transport, must meet Level 4 standards; in the first two zones, compliant vehicles would be restricted to off-peak hours unless granted written police approval. Buses, school transport, cars with up to 16 seats, and pickup trucks would also need Level 4 compliance to enter.

Priority vehicles would generally remain exempt from operating-hour restrictions, though emission requirements would still apply — except to vehicles managed by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security.

What is already in force?

Hanoi officially launched its low-emission zone pilot on July 1, 2026, under a plan approved by the municipal People's Council. All road vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and mopeds, are currently banned from the first zone between 7:00 pm and midnight every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The active restricted area is bounded by 12 streets around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter: 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, and Ngo Quyen.

If the People's Committee approves the second phase, fleet operators serving central Hanoi will face roughly a year to replace or retrofit sub-two-tonne trucks to Level 4 standards, and app-based platforms will need routing systems capable of enforcing two-wheeler exclusions before the January 1, 2027 start date.