The municipal Department of Construction said the plan includes traffic restrictions, designated parking areas, public bus services and public bicycle stations to help residents adjust their travel routes and access alternative transport options.
The first phase, running from July 1 to Dec. 31, will be piloted in zones 1 and 2 of Hoan Kiem Ward.
Zone 1, encompassing the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area, Hanoi Old Quarter and weekend night market, will continues operating as a pedestrian zone. Motorcycles, motorbikes and all cars, except those operated by the Ministries of National Defense and Public Security, will be prohibited from entering between 7 p.m. and midnight every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Zone 2, covering the Old Quarter and surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake area within the Ring Road 1 boundary, will impose restrictions on fossil fuel-powered passenger vehicles with more than 16 seats, excluding buses and school buses. These vehicles will be banned during morning and evening peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, while stopping and parking along surrounding roads will also be prohibited during the same periods.
To facilitate passenger transfers, the city will establish four designated pick-up and drop-off points for large passenger vehicles during restricted hours, Ba Trieu, Tran Nhat Duat, Tran Quang Khai and Tran Khanh Du streets.
