My house is located right next to a railway line. A friend of mine came to visit Hanoi for about 10 days. On the first day, they could clearly remember every train schedule and how many trains passed by during the night. In the following days, the trains seemed to become less frequent. On their last day in Hanoi, my friend no longer heard the familiar chugging sounds. Initially bothersome noises quickly become part of life, blending into the background. Similarly, the sputtering of motorbike exhausts echoing through the alleys and the lingering smell of gasoline on the streets and clothes will soon be gone.

Without gasoline-powered vehicles, the neighborhood will be quieter and cleaner. But, like the sound of the train whistle, many people will surely miss them.

As the old quarter transitions to electric vehicles, the cultural characteristics of a generation of gasoline motorbike users will also disappear. I still have a faint scar on my leg from a childhood accident when I carelessly touched a hot exhaust pipe. This scar has stayed with me for years, a memento of my youth. To this day, every time I get on or off a motorbike, I'm extra cautious and always remind others to "be careful of the exhaust pipe." With electric vehicles, this won't be a concern anymore, but I'm sure I'll still say it out of habit.

I've always admired those who spend their weekend mornings leisurely riding unique vintage bikes or elegant Vespas, enjoying coffee while watching the street life and chatting about their vehicles. It's a classic Hanoi image, a part of the old quarter's identity. There are also those fulfilling youthful dreams by buying a large-displacement motorbike, just to gently rev the engine on weekend outings, especially two-stroke engines with their distinctive gasoline-oil aroma. That, too, is a kind of happiness. I will also miss the sight of large motorbike groups roaring along the Hoan Kiem Lake on New Year's Day, a tradition for many years. All of this will soon be gone.

To keep up with the times, some changes are inevitable. The adoption of electric motorbikes is a trend, an almost mandatory choice for countries aiming to improve air quality. Regardless, gasoline-powered motorbikes have been an integral part of life for the old quarter's residents. One morning, thinking about the future and the increasing number of memories, I realized many people will share my nostalgia.

Vu Vu