Yes, as you read it. In 2026 all combustion motorcycles will be prohibited in the center of the capital of Vietnamese. Without a doubt, a decision that seeks to clean the air … but that threatens to leave millions of people in the air. The Vietnamese government initiative marks a milestone in the fight against climate change in Southeast Asia. But it also highlights a universal dilemma: how to move towards a sustainable future without leaving anyone behind?
With about 7 million motorcycles circulating through its streets. That is, practically one for each inhabitant, Hanói is not only one of the cities with the highest motorcycle density in the world, but also an extreme example of how this vehicle has become an extension of daily life: work, family, leisure, public transport. In Hanói, a motorcycle is not a luxury, it is a vital necessity.
Obviously, this unit has a high environmental cost. For years, the city has endured levels of air pollution among the highest in Southeast Asia. Hanói usually appears among the 15 cities with the worst air quality of the planet, even surpassing giants such as Delhi or Beijing in some critical days. Most pollutants come especially from the old gasoline motorcycles that still dominate the urban mobile park.
With this panorama as a backdrop, the prime minister Pham Minh Chinh It has approved a regulation that prohibits, as of 2026, the circulation of combustion motorcycles in the Central Hall of Hanói. The measure is part of a national strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, in line with the country’s international commitments.
However, although the objective is commendable, the way in which it is intended to be achieved is raising blisters. Numerous voices criticize that the prohibition is precipitated and that it is not accompanied by a solid transition plan, or real alternatives for the vast majority of citizens who depend on their motorcycles to live.
Without a doubt, one of the main pitfalls is the low public transport infrastructure. The bus network is insufficient, outdated and is usually collapsed. The two subway lines that have recently entered into operation (after years of delays) barely cover a fraction of the metropolitan area. Meanwhile, the private car is still a luxury for a few, and taxis are not viable for the day -to -day life of a working family.
In this context, motorcycles remain, for many, the only option. From distributors to rural doctors, through street vendors or provincial students, all depend on it to move, work and, in the end, live with dignity.
Hanói and motorcycles, the social face of climate change
For example, Nguyen Vu Hoai Nam17 years old, distributes merchandise by Hanói in an old scooter who inherited from a relative. He wins just over 4 million Dongs per month (about 150 euros), just enough to pay a room and feed.
A new electric motorcycle costs between 20 and 40 million dongs (over 1,500 euros), more even if a model is sought that supports long distances or high weights. Although the government has promised an aid of 5 million per buyer (180 euros), for the majority it is a symbolic aid against the total cost.
But not only young workers are worried. Le Hong Viet54, he talks with emotion of his faithful motorcycle. “It has accompanied me in all the important stages of my life. It’s not just a machine. It is part of my family. What do I do with her now? Shot my motorcycle in the trash?“
Beyond the functional aspect, motorcycles are part of the collective imaginary of Vietnamese. The streets full of lights, the improvised markets, the TếT (Lunar New Year) celebrations, the transfers to the field … Everything revolves around two wheels. The fear of losing that way of life weighs as much as economic restlessness.
Despite criticism, the government insists that this transformation is necessary. Plans have been announced to improve the public transport system, expand the electric recharge stations and promote the national production of more affordable electric motorcycles.
There has also been talk of creating a program of reconversion of gasoline to electricity through hybrid kits, a measure that could allow many families to conserve their vehicle without breaching the law. However, doubts persist. A recent survey reveals that 59 % of citizens believe that the plan is impracticable in current conditions. Only 18 % are optimistic about their viability.
In Hanói, the motorcycle is not just a mobility symbol. It is freedom, livelihood, identity. And if the transition with social justice, education and a realistic infrastructure is not accompanied, the risk is that clean air is won at the expense of millions of Vietnamese.
