HANOI, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's southern hub Ho Chi Minh City has proposed establishing a low-emission zone (LEZ) in its central area starting in 2027 to reduce air pollution and promote greener transport, local media VnExpress reported Wednesday.
According to the draft plan, the LEZ would cover the city's most crowded districts, with vehicles failing to meet emission standards facing restricted access.
By 2028, all gasoline and diesel-powered motorcycles would be prohibited from operating in the zone, except those used by people with disabilities. The LEZ is expected to expand to the Ring Road 1 area by 2030.
The proposal also includes incentives to encourage residents to switch to electric vehicles, with ride-hailing motorbike drivers eligible for subsidies of up to 5 million Vietnamese dong (about 190 U.S. dollars) per vehicle and exemptions from initial fees and taxes until the end of 2028.
Ho Chi Minh City has more than 14 million residents and over 11 million registered vehicles, while road transport accounts for nearly 88 percent of fine particulate emissions from traffic, according to the report. ■