Hanoi scooter riders fight ban on petrol‑powered bikes.
Hanoi’s Motorbike Ban Sparks Debate Over Costs and Climate Goals
Vietnam’s capital is set to strip its congested centre of fossil‑fuel scooters by next July in a bid to curb smog that claims at least 70,000 lives a year, according to the World Health Organization. Yet residents in the 12‑square‑mile zone fear the transition will impose a heavy financial toll.
Living with the Last Hum of Two‑Wheelers
- Dang Thuy Hanh – housewife, 52, worries that replacing four gas‑powered scooters with electric models will cost her 80 million dong ($3,000).
- She questions why Hanoi is collecting a “first burden” for residents before the city has the charging points she needs.
- Hanh is one of the 600,000 people inside the forthcoming embargo zone.
Why Moto‑Cycles Are a Vicious Cycle
Nearly seven million scooters thrash around Hanoi’s nine‑million‑person city. Their exhaust fumes routinely propel Vietnam into the world’s top smog rankings, driving an estimated 70,000 deaths annually.
Government’s Phased Plan
- Motorbikes ban in Hanoi centre by July.
- Expansion to exclude all gas vehicles across the city over five years.
- Authorities offer subsidies of at least three million dong ($114) per e‑bike switch and promise a boost in public bus services.
Working‑Class Workers Fear the “Green Tax” Beast
Many families own at least two motorcycles for daily commutes and leisure. The reform sparks allegations that the working class bears the heaviest change burden.
- London’s 2023 toll for pollution‑heavy vehicles illustrates a similar approach.
- France’s 2018 “Yellow Vest” protests were partly triggered by accusations that President Macron’s green fuel tax unfairly hit the masses.
Delivery Driver’s Real‑World Outlook
Food delivery rider Tran Van Tan, 45, travels 40 kilometres (25 miles) daily from Hung Yen province to downtown Hanoi. He argues the e‑bike cost is simply too high and doubts battery life will meet long‑distance needs.
Deputy Mayor’s Call for “Drastic Measures”
Deputy mayor Duong Duc Tuan just this week said the ban is a “necessary step.” The environment and agriculture ministry report that over half of Hanoi’s poisonous smog originates from petrol and diesel vehicles.
European Cities as a Benchmark
- Barcelona, Paris, and Amsterdam have limited internal‑combustion engines on their streets.
- Other major Vietnamese cities are poised to look to them.
Ho Chi Minh City at a Crossroads
Ho Chi Minh City aims to gradually transition delivery and service motorbikes to electric over the next few years. Yet office worker Nguyen My Hoa, 42, doubts the ban will succeed: “Authorities won’t stop the huge number of gasoline bikes from entering inner districts. It simply does not work.”
Final Takeaways
- Hanoi’s motorbike ban promises cleaner air but faces real‑world cost and infrastructure hurdles.
- Working‑class residents and long‑distance commuters worry about the affordability of e‑bikes.
- Vietnam’s green future may depend on balancing environmental goals with practical support for its citizens.
