Japan's Strong Protest Against the Ban on Gasoline Motorcycles in Vietnam

KatadataOTO – The Vietnamese government is finalizing a new policy. Gasoline-powered motorcycles will later be banned from passing through Hanoi.

However, the proposal has drawn various reactions. One of them comes from Japan.

Reporting from Reuters on Wednesday (22/10), the ban on conventional motorcycles in the Vietnamese capital is believed to have a negative impact.

For example, it could potentially trigger job losses. It will also disrupt the 4.6 billion US dollar two-wheeled vehicle market, equivalent to Rp 76.3 trillion, which is dominated by Honda.

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"It is known that in July 2025, Pham Minh Chinh, the Prime Minister of Vietnam, issued an instruction banning gasoline motorcycles from passing through the city center by mid-2026," wrote Reuters.

It was explained that the ban on conventional motorcycles in Hanoi is an effort by the Vietnamese government to control air pollution.

Moreover, the air pollution level there is considered high. Therefore, the government must address this issue.

Then, broader restrictions will apply starting in 2028, where similar rules will be implemented in several regions.

Based on the facts above, the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi reacted. They are said to have sent a letter to the Vietnamese government.