The city Department of Construction has sent to relevant agencies for feedback plans to trial from July 2027 low emission zones on over 16.6 sq.km covering the central core and Thu Thiem, where vehicles that fall below emissions standards cannot enter.

Beginning in early 2029, the LEZ will expand to Ring Road 2 and cover approximately 280 sq.km.

The project outlines a vehicle control roadmap structured by category, with emissions and clean energy standards progressively tightening. The goal is that, by 2035, nearly all vehicles within the LEZ will run on electricity or green energy before a citywide transition is mandated by 2040.

The low-emission zones in Ho Chi Minh City where gasoline diesel vehicles will be restricted in two phases. Graphics by Hoang Thanh

But experts said at a conference held earlier this month by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of HCMC that the plan should be reconsidered.

Tran Van, former vice chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee, said this road map "is too aggressive and unrealistic for practical application."

After an 18-month trial in the central area and Thu Thiem, expanding the LEZ to Ring Road 2 would impact over 6.1 million residents and roughly 11.5 million daily trips, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the planned infrastructure required for the makeover -- of 33,000 battery swapping stations, 19,000 charging posts, and the electrical grid -- could struggle to meet demand, he said.

He also warned that requiring all ride-hailing motorbikes to switch to electric vehicles by 2028 and banning personal gasoline vehicles by 2040 would place immense pressure, especially on low-income people.

The proposal exclusively calls for pure electric vehicles, entirely excluding hybrid vehicles, even though hybrids require no charging infrastructure, place less stress on the power grid, but also contribute to reducing pollution, he pointed out.

"Most people currently living in apartment complexes will want to charge their vehicles where they live, but many buildings do not meet the necessary conditions. This could cause the transition goal to fall apart right at the infrastructure phase."

He wanted the city to redraw the road map and convert only when conditions are fully ready.

A heavy traffic jam on Truong Chinh Street in HCMC, September 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Ung Thi Xuan Huong, president of the HCMC Lawyers Association, agreed, pointing out that motorbikes now make up about 90% of all vehicles in the city and serve as the primary livelihood for millions.

She too feared the conversion timeline is too "tight" and would affect vulnerable people.

She expressed concern also about the capacity of charging stations and emissions testing systems.

Plans to invest in 88 inspection stations and buying over 1,600 measuring devices in 2027 to test tens of millions of vehicles present a massive challenge in terms of both operations and funds, she said.

Tomoki Yanagawa of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association said the emissions control timeline "is overly rushed and demands a thorough impact assessment, especially regarding the automotive industry."

Saying the sector plays a critical role in the supply chain and job creation, he said mandating 100% electric vehicles by 2035 could prematurely disrupt the market, causing consumers to delay purchasing cars and impacting the auto and supporting industries.

An 18-month LEZ trial before full expansion is too short and the city could instead run small-scale pilots from 2027 to 2030, gradually expanding based on infrastructure and market readiness, he said.

VAMA suggested that the city should manage vehicles based on emission standards rather than fuel type, and include transitional electrified solutions like hybrid vehicles, which cut fuel consumption and emissions by over 57% in congested conditions and without requiring charging stations.

This suggestion got broad support at the forum.

Ta Long Hy, vice president of the HCMC Transport Association, called for treating self-charging hybrid vehicles as a green transition option. Enterprises that have already invested in thousands of hybrid vehicles require a transition mechanism that allows them two or three more years beyond the draft's timeline, he said.

He also advocated for including hybrid vehicles in a transitional phase from 2026 to 2035 that would serve as a stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of transitioning entirely to green energy.

He proposed extending the LEZ trial for several years before expanding to Ring Road 2, and pushing back the transition road map for light trucks and ride-hailing motorbikes by two or three years to allow people more time to prepare.

Deputy director of the city Department of Construction, Vo Khanh Hung, said the emissions control plan is being studied carefully and cautiously since it is a new issue with a broad impact on the public and businesses.

He said the city's approach is not to introduce bans or restrictions targeting vehicles, but to address in a coordinated manner infrastructure, inspection capacity, management systems, and appropriate support policies.

He said the drafting agency would review and consolidate the comments to finalize the plan before submitting it to the competent authorities for consideration.