Note: This article discusses truck restrictions in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in 2019, not Hanoi. There is currently no official information about a truck ban in inner-city Hanoi in 2019 as suggested by the original title. However, this article provides useful information about truck restrictions in a major city, which may be relevant for traffic management in Hanoi.
Effective August 1, 2019, new regulations regarding operating hours and permits for goods vehicles and trucks in inner-city HCMC officially came into effect. Accordingly, small trucks (under 2,500 kg) are prohibited from entering the inner city from 6 AM to 9 AM and from 4 PM to 8 PM daily.
Image of a small 2.5-ton truck
Truck Ban Regulations: Detailed Hours and Applicable Areas
Heavy trucks are prohibited from entering the inner city from 6 AM to 10 PM daily, except for some designated corridor routes. This regulation aims to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours.
Corridor Routes Permitted for Truck Traffic
The restricted area includes corridor routes for trucks on the periphery of the inner city:
- North and West Directions: National Highway 1, section from Ha Noi Highway to Nguyen Van Linh Street.
- East Direction: Ha Noi Highway, section from National Highway 1 to Cat Lai intersection, Mai Chi Tho Street – section from Dong Van Cong Street to Vo Chi Cong Street.
- South Direction: Vo Chi Cong Street (from Dong Van Cong Street to Phu My Bridge, Phu My Bridge to the elevated road, from Phu My Bridge to the Khu A Nam Sai Gon intersection), Nguyen Van Linh Street (section from Khu A Nam Sai Gon intersection to National Highway 1).
Map of inner-city area and truck corridor routes in HCMC
Reasons for Truck Ban in Inner City
The rapid increase in the number of trucks in HCMC, along with their unrestricted operation within the city, is one of the reasons for traffic congestion on many routes. Therefore, the Department of Transport has restricted the operation of small trucks during the daytime.
Solutions to Reduce Traffic Congestion
Previously, at a meeting reviewing traffic safety in the first 6 months of 2017, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of HCMC, requested the Department of Transport to take the lead and coordinate with departments and sectors to study plans to prohibit small trucks from operating during the day, shifting entirely to nighttime operation on major corridors prone to congestion. The truck ban in the inner city during peak hours is expected to contribute to reducing traffic congestion and improving the traffic situation in HCMC. However, additional synchronized solutions are needed to achieve maximum effectiveness.
