To combat the mind-numbingly horrible gridlock and worsening pollution in the city, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transportation is seeking the government’s approval to limit the flow of personal vehicles in the city.

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This plan includes consumption fees and tariffs as well an environmental fee to mitigate the air and noise pollution, according to Thanh Nien.

To limit the number of vehicles in HCMC, an annual quota will be introduced on newly licensed vehicles. This would require individuals wanting to purchase a new car or motorbike to bid for ownership. Upon approval, an additional fee would be levied in order to drive the vehicle.

Additionally, restrictions on what times certain vehicles can be on certain streets would be introduced and car owners must prove they have a parking space available prior to registration.

According to the latest statistics, there are over 6 million motorbikes and 500,000 cars in Saigon comprising a third of all vehicles in Vietnam.

[Thanh Nien // Photo via Galen Stolee]