Substantial capital: Motorists go about their daily routines in Hanoi. An expert notes that the week’s gains reflect a technical rebound yet lack the foundation to affirm that a mid-term bottom has been established. — AFP
HO CHI MINH CITY: Amid rapid urbanisation and a growing number of vehicles, Ho Chi Minh City (HCM City) has identified transport as a key source of air pollution and is accelerating a shift towards greener and cleaner transport to reduce emissions, improve air quality and protect public health.
In recent years, the city has implemented a comprehensive roadmap to promote low and zero-emission vehicles, viewing green transport as a critical pillar of its sustainable urban development strategy.
Bui Minh Thanh, vice-chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said scientific analysis shows that diesel-powered vehicles are among the main sources of fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides, which directly affect public health and urban environmental quality.
To curb pollution, the city is focusing on several priority initiatives. These include reviewing and updating emission standards, strengthening vehicle inspection and supervision, and improving environmental discipline in transport activity.
Enterprises are encouraged to upgrade engines, install exhaust treatment systems, adopt cleaner fuels and apply internationally recognised emission-reduction technologies.
At the same time, the city is restructuring transport infrastructure by prioritising low-emission vehicles, optimising traffic routes and applying smart management technologies.
Social resources are being mobilised, alongside stronger regional cooperation with neighbouring south-eastern provinces, to implement inter-provincial emission control programmes and promote public-private partnerships in environmental technology investment.
The transition towards green vehicles has already yielded positive results.
The city’s bus network currently consists of 176 routes with 2,386 buses, including 627 electric buses (26.3%) and 451 buses using compressed natural gas, accounting for 17.9%.
In the taxi sector, the city has 18,613 taxis, of which 13,124 are electric, representing around 71% of the total fleet.
There are nearly 89,000 ride-hailing motorbikes, with about 28% running on electricity.
The number of electric cars has also increased, reaching 39,566 vehicles, including approximately 25,000 used for transport services, alongside 86,978 electric motorbikes.
According to the city’s Department of Construction, these figures indicate that the green transition is gaining momentum, delivering clear benefits in reducing emissions and noise pollution.
Many transport companies operating in the city have proactively invested in electric taxis and electric motorbikes for commercial operations.
Alongside vehicle conversion, the city has prioritised the development of charging and battery-swapping infrastructure.
HCM City currently operates five charging stations for electric buses, equipped with 56 ultra-fast chargers.
It also has around 1,000 charging stations for electric cars, 300 fast-charging points for electric motorbikes, and 50 battery-swapping stations.
In the next phase, the city plans to expand battery-swapping systems for electric motorbikes and install at least 1,500 additional fast chargers for electric cars in key areas to shorten charging times and further support the green transition.
Developing high-capacity public transport, particularly urban railways, is seen as a strategic solution to reducing transport-related pollution.
Since the beginning of this year, Metro Line No 1 between Ben Thanh Market and Suoi Tien Theme Park has served more than 15 million passengers, helping ease congestion and improve air quality in central areas and the eastern gateway of the city.
Under the urban railway development plan, the city aims to complete the basic construction of six metro lines by 2030, creating a significant shift in travel behaviour and reducing reliance on private vehicles.
The city is also expanding electric and green-energy bus networks and improving connectivity with metro stations, with the goal of increasing the share of public transport to between 15% and 20% of total travel demand. — Viet Nam News/ANN
