Traffic Ho Chi Minh City Chokes as Vehicle Pollution Reaches Critical Levels

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Photo courtesy of VN Express

 

Ho Chi Minh City is grappling with alarming air pollution as dust and exhaust from a surging number of vehicles cloud the skies, a recent report reveals.

 

The city's municipal People’s Committee disclosed that air quality monitoring over the years indicates a consistent breach of national safety limits in PM2.5, PM10, and other suspended particles. Locations with high traffic such as Phu Lam, the Huynh Tan Phat–Nguyen Van Linh intersection, and Cat Lai are particularly affected, especially during the dry season when dust lingers in the air.

 

With over 9.6 million registered vehicles—over a million of which are cars and 8.6 million motorbikes—traffic congestion has significantly worsened since 2024. Car registrations have increased by 9% and motorbikes by 2% over this period, further stressing the city's air quality.

 

Efforts to reduce emissions have faced challenges, including staff shortages and outdated equipment. However, the city is advancing with an emissions-control roadmap aiming for all buses to switch to clean energy by 2030. This initiative will include incentives for converting taxis, ride-hailing fleets, and private vehicles to electric power. Plans also suggest replacing over 400,000 petrol-powered motorbikes currently used by ride-hailing drivers.

 

These developments in Ho Chi Minh City mirror issues faced by Hanoi. A 2023 study from the Vietnam National University in Hanoi indicated that motorbikes and cars are significant contributors to the capital's smog. Nonetheless, Nguyen Hoang Anh, acting head of Environmental Quality Management at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, noted that only 15% of Hanoi's air pollution is attributed to vehicles.

 

Interestingly, a World Bank report from 2023 highlighted that only a third of Hanoi’s PM2.5 emissions originate within the city limits, with the remainder drifting from nearby regions.

 

Starting July 2026, Hanoi plans to curb pollution by banning gasoline and diesel motorbikes within its central Ring Road 1, with restrictions gradually extending to Ring Roads 2 and 3.

 

While tackling immediate air quality concerns, these measures represent long-term commitments to improve urban living conditions. As Vietnam's cities navigate these environmental challenges, the focus on sustainable and clean energy solutions becomes increasingly crucial.

 

For Ho Chi Minh City, the push towards electric vehicles and clean energy is not just an environmental imperative but a necessity for a healthier urban future. The path ahead will require concerted efforts, innovative policies, and community cooperation to breathe life back into the city's air.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-29