Ho Chi Minh City is making big moves to clean up its air and transform how people move around the city. The local government is pushing a massive campaign to replace old and polluting petrol buses with modern electric ones.
This initiative is moving much faster than expected. Right now, over half of the city's public bus fleet, nearly 57% to be exact, runs on clean energy.
The shift from petrol-powered to electric buses has accelerated in the first months of 2026. Today, out of more than 2,400 active buses in the city, 1,185 are already electric, while another 182 run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
Moreover, by 2030, officials want every single public bus on the road to be 100% green. This shift will drastically cut down carbon emissions in Vietnam's busiest economic hub.
More Charging Stations and Electric Motorbikes
The green plan goes far beyond public transit. Transport experts note that successful cities usually clean up public transit first before moving to commercial and personal vehicles. Following this strategy, local authorities are drawing up plans to help ride-hailing cars, delivery fleets, and government vehicles switch to electric power.
To support millions of new electric vehicles, Ho Chi Minh City is quickly building a massive charging network. Over the past year, the city has identified 4,000 locations for battery-swapping stations. About 1,200 of these spots are already equipped and serving electric motorbike users.
By the end of 2026, the city aims to approve and open 20,000 battery stations. This infrastructure network is crucial because officials expect around 1.2 million electric motorbikes to hit the streets by 2030. To keep up with this demand, the city will eventually need more than 25,000 public charging points integrated deeply into residential areas and daily destinations.
Tougher Rules for Millions of Motorbikes
Right now, Ho Chi Minh City faces a massive challenge with air quality because it has more than 11 million motorbikes clogging its streets. These vehicles are the primary source of smog and air pollution. To fight this growing problem, officials are introducing strict new environmental regulations.
Starting June 30, 2026, the city will enforce a national technical standard that requires all motorcycles to undergo mandatory emission tests. Motorbikes that pollute too much will no longer be allowed on the streets.
Local authorities estimate that controlling these emissions will cut over 56,000 tonnes of carbon and nearly 5,000 tonnes of hydrocarbon every year, significantly improving urban air quality.
Big Incentives for a Cleaner Future
The government knows that switching to green energy requires massive changes in technology, infrastructure, and habits. To help citizens and businesses adjust to these strict new rules, officials are working on several financial perks. The city plans to offer subsidies, preferential loans, and risk-sharing mechanisms so residents can afford to buy electric vehicles.
At the same time, the city will start restricting private vehicles from entering highly crowded roads during specific periods. This restriction will encourage commuters to use public transit instead.
Fortunately, residents will soon have great alternatives. The city is preparing to launch its highly anticipated Metro Line 1, which will work alongside the rapidly growing electric bus network to give commuters a fast, clean, and reliable way to travel.
