The Government of Ho Chi Minh City has introduced a comprehensive plan to transition its public transportation system towards cleaner energy sources. Currently, the city operates 138 bus routes with 2,221 vehicles, of which 160 are electric and 528 run on compressed natural gas, making up about 31 per cent of the fleet. The municipal People’s Committee has tasked the Department of Construction with a two-phase project to control vehicle emissions. Phase 1 involves formulating policies to transition public buses to electric and green energy-powered vehicles starting in 2025. Phase 2 focuses on drafting policies to reduce emissions from other road vehicles citywide, with targets set for 2030 and a long-term vision extending to 2050.
In addition to policy development, the city is considering economic incentives to encourage the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy. A survey of over 400 drivers from platforms like Grab, Be, and Gojek revealed that switching to electric vehicles could save each driver between VND40,000 and VND60,000 daily, amounting to over VND1 million in monthly savings. A draft policy outlining the transition roadmap is expected to be released in June for consultation, with a finalised proposal to be submitted to the municipal People’s Committee in July 2025.