The Hanoi Department of Construction announced that Decision 01/2026 by the city People's Committee applies to common truck types. This classification aligns with Circular 53/2024 from the Ministry of Transport, which outlines motor vehicle categories.

Circular 53/2026 categorizes pickup trucks into two groups: pickup passenger cars or pickup trucks, with this classification explicitly noted on each vehicle's registration. Currently, popular models like the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, and Nissan Navara are designated as "double-cab pickup trucks," placing them in the common truck category.

Consequently, these pickup models will be subject to Hanoi's Decision 01/2026. Specifically, common trucks with a gross vehicle weight under two tons are permitted to operate only outside of rush hours (6 AM to 9 AM and 4 PM to 7:30 PM). Common trucks with a gross vehicle weight of two tons or more are restricted to operating between 9 PM and 6 AM the following day.

Gross vehicle weight includes the combined weight of the vehicle, its occupants, and cargo. Under this calculation, most popular pickup models exceed two tons in gross vehicle weight. This means they will only be allowed to operate from 9 PM to 6 AM the following day.

A Ranger model drives in Hanoi. Photo: Minh Quan

Only a few models within the pickup segment, such as certain Ford Ranger Raptor variants and the Ram TRX 1500, are classified as pickup passenger cars. These specific vehicles are exempt from the Hanoi People's Committee's decision, meaning they face no time restrictions for operation on central city roads.

A representative from the Hanoi Department of Construction stated that the department is collaborating with Hanoi Police, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA), and various car manufacturers. This collaboration aims to collect data, gather feedback, and further evaluate the impact of Decision 01/2026 on pickup truck traffic within the city. Annually, Hanoi registers approximately 1,000 new pickup trucks, encompassing both single-cab and double-cab variants.

In 2025, the national pickup truck segment recorded sales of 27,093 units, representing approximately 4.5% of the total market. Hanoi alone accounted for 10,642 pickup sales, making up about 40% of the segment's total volume.

Pham Trung