End of the Road? Hanoi’s 7 Million Motorbikes Face the Axe as Petrol Ban Looms
In the electric-blue haze of Hanoi’s rush hour, the air hums with the symphony of revving scooters and rattling mopeds. This is a city where the motorbike isn't just transportation — it’s lifeblood. With nearly 7 million petrol-powered bikes—roughly one per resident—Hanoi has long been Asia’s two-wheeled capital. But a new government crackdown could soon silence that roar.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, has signed off on a bold order: all petrol-powered motorcycles will be banned from Hanoi’s inner city starting next year. The move is designed to tackle the capital’s choking air pollution and bring Vietnam closer to its 2050 net-zero emissions goal. But the plan is igniting controversy as fast as it hopes to clean the skies.
Pollution vs. People
There’s no question that Hanoi’s smog levels are dire. Between street food smoke, dense alleys, and the unrelenting plume of exhaust from millions of aging bikes, the air in Hanoi routinely ranks among the world’s most hazardous. Public frustration with the smog is growing — but so is concern about what this ban means for the everyday Hanoian.
Critics say the government is pulling the plug on petrol bikes without offering a realistic lifeline. The city’s public transport network is famously underdeveloped, with only 2,000 buses and two metro lines trying to serve a population of over 8.5 million. In practical terms, that makes the motorbike not just the most popular form of transport — but often the only viable one.
Pham Thi Huong Giang, an environmental campaigner in Vietnam, supports the environmental goal but warns the rollout is flawed. “We need more than just a ban,” she says. “We need a clear, supportive roadmap — especially for the working class who rely on these bikes to survive.”
“I Deliver Ducks – Can an E-Bike Do That?”
For many, switching to electric isn’t just inconvenient — it’s impossible.
Nguyen Vu Hoai Nam is 17, from Thanh Hoa, and now works full-time delivering goods around Hanoi on a second-hand petrol scooter gifted by his uncle. His monthly earnings barely cover rent and food, let alone an electric upgrade.
“A good e-bike costs 30 million dong — that’s more than I make in months,” Nam says, laughing as he points to a smoke-belching scooter stuffed with live chickens. “How’s an electric bike going to handle that?”
The government has promised to subsidise electric bike purchases, offering 5 million dong (about £140) per rider. But with the average electric two-wheeler still priced well above the second-hand petrol market, the maths doesn’t add up for most.
Not Just a Vehicle — A Way of Life
For Le Hong Viet, the bond with his bike runs deep. “I’ve had this bike for 20 years. It’s carried my kids to school, my wife to the hospital when she gave birth, and taken us home to the countryside every New Year,” he says proudly. “It’s more than a machine — it’s part of the family.”
Like many residents, Viet doesn’t buy the promise that public transport will step in to fill the void. With major hospitals, offices, and schools all located in the soon-to-be-banned city centre, the fear is that the working poor will be the first left stranded.
The internet hasn’t missed a beat. Memes are flying, with suggestions to ditch petrol bikes for propellers, wings, or even broomsticks. But beneath the humour lies real anxiety — not just about money, but about identity, tradition, and survival.
Green Future, Rocky Road
Authorities insist this is the beginning of a cleaner, more modern Hanoi. Plans are underway to build electric charging infrastructure, improve the bus system, and help residents transition to green alternatives.
But it’s a race against time — and trust. In a VnExpress online poll, nearly 60% of respondents said the plan is unfeasible, while fewer than 1 in 5 believe it can work.
And as Le Hong Viet kicks his faithful old petrol bike into life to pick up his wife from the market, he shakes his head at the whole idea: “If they want to clean the air, why not start with the cars?”