Ho Chi Minh City is proposing to gradually restrict petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles from parts of its downtown area from July 2027 as part of plans to establish a low-emission zone (LEZ), according to state-run Thanh Nien newspaper, citing city authorities.
Under the proposal, the LEZ would initially be introduced on a pilot basis in the city’s central downtown area and the new Thu Thiem urban area. The proposed zone would cover about 930 hectares, or 3.59 square miles.
The pilot phase is expected to run for two years before the low-emission zone is expanded. From early 2029, the restrictions could extend to areas within Ring Road 2, where heavy trucks and sleeper buses are already subject to restrictions during certain hours.
The latest timeline represents a delay from an earlier proposal that had targeted the start of the LEZ in early 2026. City authorities have now adjusted the implementation schedule and scope to coincide with the development of green transport infrastructure.
The revised approach is also intended to give residents and businesses more time to move away from conventional petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles. The transition is expected to take place gradually, with different vehicle groups facing different deadlines.
Buses would be the first category required to switch to electric or other clean-energy alternatives when entering the LEZ from 2027. Motorcycle taxi riders and delivery workers would follow, while other groups, including conventional taxis, would be given later deadlines.
However, the proposal has yet to receive final approval and remains subject to further review by the relevant authorities.
Ho Chi Minh City’s proposed restrictions form part of a wider push towards cleaner urban transport in Vietnam. Hanoi announced in June that it also planned to phase out petrol-powered ride-hailing motorcycles from designated low-emission zones, starting with voluntary restrictions before moving towards a ban from January 2027.
