The Hanoi People’s Committee has released a draft proposal to pilot a "Low Emission Zone" (LEZ) within the city's Ring Road 1 to curb air pollution.
According to the draft plan, the LEZ will span nine wards located within Ring Road 1: Hoan Kiem, Cua Nam, Ba Dinh, Giang Vo, Ngoc Ha, Hai Ba Trung, O Cho Dua, Tay Ho, and Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam.
Hanoi plans to implement the LEZ in three distinct phases:
In phase 1 (July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026), the pilot will begin in Hoan Kiem Ward. The restricted zone will include 11 specific streets: Trang Tien, Hang Khay, Le Thai To, Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, Hang Buom, Ma May, Hang Bac, Hang Mam, Nguyen Huu Huan, and Ly Thai To.
During this phase, gas-powered motorbikes will be prohibited from circulating during specific weekend hours: from 6pm to midnight on Fridays, and from 6am to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. The ban also applies to gas-powered motorbikes and scooters operating via digital ride-hailing platforms.
In phase 2 (January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027), the city will expand the pilot area to include both Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards. This will encompass the core Hoan Kiem zone from Phase 1 plus 14 surrounding streets in Cua Nam ward, such as Nguyen Du, Tran Hung Dao, Tran Quang Khai, Dien Bien Phu, and Le Duan.
In phase 3 (January 1, 2028 – December 31, 2029), the LEZ will be expanded to encompass the entire area within Ring Road 1. This zone covers over 26 sq.km with a perimeter of 25 km and a population of approximately 625,000 people.
The boundaries of Ring Road 1 are defined by several major routes, including Hoang Cau, De La Thanh, Xa Dan, Dai Co Viet, Tran Khat Chan, Yen Phu, and Lac Long Quan, among others.
According to recent statistics, Hanoi currently has approximately 6.9 million motorbikes, with about 450,000 of those operating specifically within the Ring Road 1 area.
