Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), together with Hanoi, is set to play a central role in Vietnam’s long-term strategy for air-pollution control and clean-transport development, as outlined under the National Action Plan on Air Pollution Control and Air Quality Management for 2026-2030, with a vision to 2045. As the country’s largest urban center and transportation hub, HCMC is required to lead the shift toward clean and low-emission mobility, particularly in passenger transport, public transit, and app-based delivery services.
By 2030, HCMC (together with other major urban areas)[1] is expected to demonstrate steady and measurable improvements in air quality, contributing to national PM2.5 reduction targets.The plan mandates that by 2030, 100% of public transport fleets in HCMC (and Hanoi) must operate on clean and environmentally sustainable energy. HCMC, along with Hanoi, will also serve as the core testing ground for low-emission models in urban logistics and digital-platform transportation.
To achieve these goals, strict emission–reduction requirements will be applied toall major industrial sources, namely cement, thermal power, steel, and industrial boilers. All road vehicles will follow the national emissions-control roadmap, while construction sites and waste disposal will be subject to tighter environmental supervision. Vietnam aims to certify 1.200 green buildings by 2030, including 200 in Hanoi and 500 in HCMC, the highest number among all localities nationwide.
After 2030, HCMC will be required to sustain air-quality improvements in line with the national trajectory, contributing to Vietnam’s objective of meeting ambient air-quality standards by 2045. To support this long-term trajectory, the Government will strengthen environmental regulations, promote technological adoption, and further curb industrial emissions. A national system for air-quality monitoring, forecasting, and warning will be established, along with a National Steering Committee on Air Pollution Control. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will guide provincial air-quality planning, develop a national emissions inventory, and modernize the national air-quality monitoring network to ensure consistency, automation, and technological advancement.
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Reference: Vietnamnet, 24 November 2025
[1] While Hanoi targets reducing its annual average PM2.5 concentration to below 40 µg/m³ (a 20% reduction from 2024), with at least 80% of days meeting “good” or “moderate” VN_AQI levels, surrounding provinces are expected to cut PM2.5 by at least 10%.
