From early 2026, Decision 01/2026 by the Hanoi People's Committee (UBND) will regulate vehicle operations in the city. This decision restricts trucks from entering the inner city during varying time frames, based on their total weight. A specific clause states that "trucks with a total weight under 2 tons are only permitted to operate outside of rush hours." These rush hours are defined as 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

This regulation raised concerns among many pickup truck owners about whether their vehicles would be subject to the rush hour ban. This is because pickup trucks are legally defined as "trucks" in various legal documents.

However, Hanoi traffic police have clarified that they do not issue fines for pickup trucks under this rule. The regulation specifically bans "trucks," while pickup trucks are considered passenger cars when traveling on the road.

A Ford Ranger on a Hanoi street, on 17/3. Photo: Minh Quan.

Specifically, Circular 53/2024 from the Ministry of Transport outlines the classification of road vehicles. Most common pickup truck models are categorized as "double-cab pickup trucks." These vehicles feature a cabin and amenities similar to passenger cars, with two rows of seats accommodating a maximum of five people (including the driver). They also have a cargo bed (either open or closed) at the rear, measuring at least 1 square meter, and must meet the cargo-to-passenger weight ratio specified in technical regulations.

However, this classification is based solely on technical specifications. For traffic management purposes, pickup trucks are categorized according to Regulation 41/2019, the National Technical Regulation on Road Traffic Signs. Under this regulation, pickup trucks and van trucks with a permissible payload capacity under 950 kg are considered passenger cars.

Currently, the majority of popular pickup truck models, including the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara, and Isuzu D-Max, have a payload capacity below 950 kg. Consequently, these models are classified as passenger cars and are exempt from truck restriction regulations, including the rush hour ban in Hanoi's inner city.

Ho Tan