Vietnam cities low‑emission vehicle programs

In late July 2026, Hanoi’s municipal government approved a subsidy scheme to help low‑income households replace motorcycles that fail to meet the new national emission standards. Eligible families can receive up to 20 million VND (about US $850) toward a cleaner vehicle, and a first‑time emissions test is provided free of charge. The programme is part of broader national efforts, coordinated by the Construction, Finance and Public Security departments, to enforce technical emission standards for motorcycles. At the same time, the Ministry of Construction defended the existing diesel‑exhaust testing method, noting the lack of an alternative system and its alignment with practices in many countries, while pledging continued research into more modern measurement technologies.

A few days later, Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee announced a pilot Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in the city centre. The trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of restricting high‑polluting vehicles and to gather lessons for a possible city‑wide rollout. The directive also calls for rapid conversion of official and public vehicles to electric or other green energy sources, including intra‑city buses and small passenger‑service vehicles. The Department of Construction is tasked with finalising the emission‑control plan, expanding support to priority areas, and studying best practices from developed countries, while also accelerating emission control timelines for Thạnh An island and planning a phased reduction of subsidies as the transition progresses.