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Hanoi hits the brakes on July petrol motorbike ban following public backlash

The proposed ban has already been scaled back, as riders demand better infrastructure and government support before making the switch to electric.

Published: 9:04pm, 19 May 2026

Plans to ban petrol motorbikes on the streets of Hanoi are up in the air following strong opposition from the Vietnamese capital’s residents. Officials were forced to dramatically scale back a June proposal to bar the vehicles from entering a 26 sq km area in the city’s historic centre. Riders complained about the cost and the lack of infrastructure to support the switch to electric models.

Hanoi hits the brakes on July petrol motorbike ban following public backlash

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The proposed ban has already been scaled back, as riders demand better infrastructure and government support before making the switch to electric.

The proposed ban has already been scaled back, as riders demand better infrastructure and government support before making the switch to electric.