Hanoi prepares charging stations, subsidies before restricting gasoline motorbikes in 2026

Officials say the transition must be carefully staged, as low-emission zones are expected to take effect from July 2026 and could reshape daily mobility across the capital.

At a policy forum on Dec. 9, city leaders said the shift to electric motorbikes is intertwined with Hanoi's biggest urban challenges: chronic traffic congestion and worsening air pollution, which accounts for up to 74% of emissions from road transport. Under a new draft policy, residents may receive a 20% subsidy for new electric motorbikes, up to VND5 million (US$190), with far larger support for low-income households: 100% (up to VND20 million) for poor families and 80% (up to VND15 million) for near-poor families.

The plan also includes a 30% interest subsidy for 12-month installment loans, cuts to registration fees, discounted parking for "green" vehicles and up to five years of free sidewalk space for companies operating public e-bikes and e-motorbikes.

To match rising demand, Hanoi is preparing a citywide charging network. The draft framework includes 30% interest subsidies for investors, 50% support for site clearance and five years of free land rent for public clean-energy charging stations.

By 2030, at least 15% of parking spots inside Ring Road 3 must include EV chargers, while new developments will be required to equip at least 30% of their parking areas with public charging points. The city has already surveyed 110 potential sites for concentrated charging hubs and is studying battery-swap stations for electric two-wheelers.

Transport services will also expand. Hanoi is developing mini electric buses for the Old Quarter and historic districts, while scaling up vehicle-sharing programs. By early December 2025, the city had added 500 electric bicycles to its public bike-share system, with a target of 5,000 by July 2026. Students and industrial-park workers are expected to receive broader free access to public transport.

For apartment buildings, ward-level authorities will work with management boards to designate safe charging areas and separate electric-vehicle parking zones, particularly in high-rise complexes where fire-safety standards are stricter.

Hanoi currently hosts more than eight million vehicles, including 6.9 million motorbikes, and an additional 1.2 million traveling in from other provinces.