The Ho Chi Minh City Public Transportation Management Center (under the Department of Construction) has recently proposed a pilot low-emission zone in the city center by 2026 as part of their plan to control vehicle emissions.
The proposed low-emission zone will cover the city center, enclosed by 15 bridges and 17 roads. Specifically, the bridges include: Dien Bien Phu – Bui Huu Nghia, Bong (Dinh Tien Hoang), Hoang Hoa Tham, Tran Khac Chan, Kieu (Hai Ba Trung), Cong Ly (Nam Ky Khoi Nghia), Le Van Sy, Nguyen Van Cu, Ong Lanh (Nguyen Thai Hoc), Calmette, Khanh Hoi, Nguyen Huu Canh, and Thi Nghe.
The roads within this restricted area are: Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, Cach Mang Thang Tam, Cao Thang, Le Hong Phong, February 3rd, Ly Thai To, Ngo Gia Tu, Ho Thi Ky, Tran Phu, An Duong Vuong, Nguyen Trai, Phan Van Tri, Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Cang Chan, and Tran Dinh Xu.
Map of the proposed low-emission zone in the city center. Source: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction
In the initial phase, commercial vehicles that do not meet Euro 4 standards and motorcycles that fall below the Euro 2 standard will be restricted. Heavy diesel trucks will be banned entirely. Ho Chi Minh City will prioritize zero-emission, environmentally friendly vehicles, those using clean and renewable energy, as well as priority vehicles or those with special permission from authorized agencies.
For effective implementation, the city plans to install a network of automatic license plate recognition cameras at all entry and exit points of the low-emission zone during the 2026-2032 period. There will be 58 cameras in total.
The ANPR system will cross-reference license plates with the national vehicle inspection database to determine emission standards. At the same time, the city will automatically fine violators and send electronic notices to vehicle owners.
Proposed locations for ANPR cameras in the city center. Source: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction
From 2027 to 2032, the restrictions will be expanded to include motorcycles and cars below Euro 2 and Euro 4 standards, respectively, operating in the city center.
Starting in 2032, Ho Chi Minh City plans to raise the emission standards for cars and motorcycles entering the low-emission zone. Simultaneously, the zone will be expanded to include Belt Road 1, with boundaries defined by the following routes:
Section 1: Linh Dong Junction (intersection of Pham Van Dong and Belt Road 2) to Nguyen Thai Son Roundabout, spanning 8.5 km with 12 lanes (60 m in width). This section is already complete and coincides with Pham Van Dong Street.
Section 2: From Kinh Duong Vuong Street to Nguyen Van Linh Street. Only the inner belt section belonging to the old Binh Tan District’s Ten Lua residential area has been completed so far.
Section 2A: Nguyen Thai Son Roundabout to Bay Hien Intersection, covering 4.8 km. This section includes Bach Dang, Hong Ha (two one-way roads running parallel with a 20 m width each), Truong Son (60 m in width), Tran Quoc Hoan (50 m in width), and Hoang Van Thu (32 m in width).
Section 2B: Bay Hien Intersection to Huong Lo 2, spanning 4.7 km. It comprises a new road connecting Bay Hien Intersection to Thoai Ngoc Hau (32 m in width), Thoai Ngoc Hau (40 m in width), and Huong Lo 2 (40 m in width).
Section 3: Huong Lo 2 to Nguyen Van Linh, covering 8.4 km in length (60 m in width). This includes the inner and outer belt roads, with only the inner section belonging to the Ten Lua residential area in the old Binh Tan District completed so far.
By 2032, it is expected that around 200 cameras will be installed across the city.
According to the proposal, the new Ho Chi Minh City (encompassing the merged areas of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces) will have a population of approximately 14 million people, with over 1 million cars and 7.3 million motorcycles. Road transport is the primary source of emissions, contributing to 88% of NOx, 99% of CO, 79% of SO2, and 88% of particulate matter, resulting in estimated economic losses of over 3 trillion VND annually (0.25% of GRDP). Measurements show that the average annual concentration of PM2.5 in Ho Chi Minh City is 31 µg/m³, six times higher than the WHO-recommended level of 5 µg/m³, with transportation accounting for 40% of this figure.
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