On 12/7, the Prime Minister urged Hanoi to implement a roadmap to ban fossil fuel-powered motorcycles in the city center from mid-2026, and expand the low-emission zone citywide by 2030.
Following Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City also plans to transition a large number of gasoline-powered motorcycles used for services to electric ones. This will be accompanied by restrictions on cars and gasoline-powered motorcycles in areas like downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio (old), and the Con Dao special zone.
These policy announcements in Vietnam's two largest cities, which also have the highest motorcycle consumption, have heightened public interest in electric scooters. Manufacturers are capitalizing on this by stimulating demand through various initiatives.
VinFast, currently Vietnam's leading electric scooter brand, is offering to cover all registration fees and a 10% discount for customers residing in Hanoi from 24/7 to 24/10. For a VinFast model priced around 30 million VND, the support amounts to about 3.6 million VND.
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A customer trades in their gasoline scooter for an electric one at a VinFast event in Ho Chi Minh City, July 2025. Photo: The Anh |
A customer trades in their gasoline scooter for an electric one at a VinFast event in Ho Chi Minh City, July 2025. Photo: The Anh
VinFast's gasoline scooter trade-in program, launched in QII/2024, has expanded in 2025 to cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hung Yen, and Long An.
Beyond promotions, VinFast recently launched the new Evo electric scooter on 24/7, available in Grand and Grand Lite versions. With one fixed battery and an optional secondary battery, the scooter can travel up to 262 km, according to the company. The launch coincided with rising interest in electric scooters.
Other brands are also actively pursuing sales campaigns. Honda is offering discounts of up to 2.1 million VND on the ICON e: at select dealerships. Yamaha has reduced the price of its Neo's electric scooter by 15 million VND. Dat Bike, another domestic brand, launched a trade-in program after the announcement of the 2026 gasoline motorcycle ban. In July, customers in Hanoi purchasing the Quantum S (34.9-49.9 million VND) receive up to 500,000 VND in support.
A Dat Bike representative reported a four-fold increase in July sales following these initiatives. The trade-in program is available at all dealerships nationwide.
Chinese brand Yadea also launched a trade-in program on 23/7. Customers trading in their old scooters and buying a new Yadea model priced from 9.9 million VND upwards receive a 2 million VND discount.
Selex Motor has also offered trade-ins since late 2024. The company is expanding its network of public battery swapping stations, currently unique in the Vietnamese market, to encourage the shift to electric scooters.
These trade-in programs typically involve third-party companies that appraise and purchase used motorcycles. Customers then use the proceeds to buy new electric models. Some official Yadea stores directly handle trade-ins without intermediaries.
According to a VinFast dealer in Ho Chi Minh City, traded-in scooters are refurbished and resold, often in smaller provinces and rural areas where demand for affordable used vehicles is high.
Nguyen Huu Phuoc Nguyen, CEO of Selex Motors, believes the Vietnamese motorcycle market is undergoing significant changes. Consumers are more receptive to electric scooters due to improved quality and charging infrastructure.
"The government's decision is accelerating the shift from gasoline to electric scooters," Nguyen said. "Manufacturers must adapt their product strategies to capitalize on this transition."
Thanh Nhan
