On 29 January 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Department of Construction announced its approval of 91 sidewalk locations for the installation of battery-swapping cabinets. The Department also published on its website a list of 101 locations deemed eligible for such installation, and noted that additional sites are under review. Enterprises interested in operating battery-swapping cabinets are required to submit installation and operation plans to the Department of Construction for approval.
The battery-swapping cabinet must not be located at intersections, entrances and exits, pedestrian crossings, accessibility routes for persons with disabilities, areas with dense existing technical infrastructure. In addition, the remaining sidewalk width must be at least 1.5 meters, and the cabinets must be designed to allow easy relocation.
At the same time, the Department is finalizing the “Plan for the Control of Emissions from Road Transport Vehicles”. Under the proposed plan, from 2029 onward, 100% of motorcycles used for ride-hailing and goods delivery services, estimated at approximately 400,000 vehicles, must be converted to electric or other green-energy vehicles. The report also proposes policy support measures to facilitate households’ transition to electric motorcycles. By 2030, HCMC is projected to have 1.2 million electric motorcycles, which will require the development of more than 25,000 public charging points and battery-swapping cabinets across the city.
BIC in Ho Chi Minh City observes that the HCMC’s initiative to expand infrastructure for electric motorcycles reflects Vietnam’s broader transition toward greener urban transport and energy use, particularly in the ride-hailing and delivery sectors where motorcycle usage is extensive. This development is therefore worth monitoring, as it may shape the future growth of the electric vehicle market, related infrastructure, and transport service models in Vietnam.
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Reference: Tuoi Tre, 29 January 2026
