Vietnam Requires Green Transport Plans to Avoid Mandatory Shift to Fully Electric Vehicles

On November 5, 2026, Vietnam’s Government Office issued a document conveying Standing Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Túc’s instructions on the Transport Services Development Strategy and the action program for a green energy transition in transport. The draft plans must clearly encourage people and businesses to choose green vehicles based on economic conditions, social circumstances and infrastructure. They must neither require nor create the impression of a mandatory timetable for switching to fully electric vehicles or other green vehicles.

Hưng, who works in marketing in Hanoi, said he often rides long distances. There is no battery-swapping station near his apartment building, and charging at home is inconvenient. His current gasoline-powered motorcycle still meets his daily needs, so he does not want to incur the cost of replacing it for now. If he changes vehicles in the near future, he would still prefer a gasoline-powered motorcycle that meets new emissions standards; his choice could change if charging becomes more convenient.

For Hưng, who lives in an apartment building, access to a convenient place to charge affects his decision on whether to switch to an electric motorcycle.（VietVance）

Việt Anh, who lives in Mộc Châu, Sơn La Province, said that when he previously rented accommodation in Hanoi, he encountered places that did not allow electric vehicles to be parked or charged indoors. His work now involves carrying goods and traveling through mountainous areas. He considers gasoline-powered motorcycles better suited to his current needs because refueling is quick and gas stations are easier to find. He is also willing to consider electric or hybrid models in the future, but wants to keep a gasoline-powered motorcycle for work.

Việt Anh, who lives in a mountainous area and needs to carry goods for work, currently prefers gasoline-powered motorcycles.（VietVance）

A wider choice of vehicles does not mean emissions requirements have been removed. Under the Vietnamese prime minister’s Decision No. 13/2026/QĐ-TTg, emissions inspections for motorcycles used on roads in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will begin on July 1, 2027. From January 1, 2028, motorcycles used on roads in the two cities must meet Level 2 or higher emissions standards. Motorcycles entering Hanoi’s low-emission zones must also meet the emissions requirements set out in a resolution of the Hanoi People’s Council.

Source: VietVance