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It's 8:00 AM and your customer is waiting for their package. As low-emission zones are phased in, vehicles that do not meet the standard could face restrictions on where they can travel. Multiply that across a whole fleet, and your on-time delivery rate becomes a compliance question as well as a traffic problem. Here's how to prepare your urban deliveries as more cities develop rules for low-emission vehicles.
To improve air quality, several Vietnamese cities are developing rules for low-emission zones. In Hanoi, Resolution No. 57/2025/NQ-HĐND of 26 November 2025 sets out a roadmap to pilot a low-emission zone in part of Ring Road 1 from 1 July 2026, expanding in later phases. In Ho Chi Minh City, the emissions control scheme is still at proposal stage, led by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, and has not yet been applied.
If your logistics partners depend on older diesel or petrol vans, your operations could be affected in terms of delivery times and running costs once these rules apply. These plans are part of a national strategy to promote a green energy transition in the transport sector, as outlined in the government's Decision No. 876/QD-TTg. This means shippers should prepare for a future in which emissions requirements could affect city access.
Meeting these emerging rules requires significant investment in the fleet itself, well beyond a temporary workaround. Globally, DHL is rolling out 80,000 electric vehicles for last-mile delivery by 2030, aiming for 66% of its fleet to run electric. This global investment supports DHL's ability to adapt as cities introduce low-emission vehicle requirements.
Financial Penalties: Under Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, in force since 1 January 2025, drivers of cars that do not meet the permitted emission standards can be fined. This can affect logistics partners operating vehicles that do not meet the applicable requirements.
Restricted Access: Under the schemes currently proposed or planned, non-compliant vehicles could face access restrictions in some commercial zones.
Customer Experience: Delivery delays can negatively affect the customer experience and potentially contribute to cart abandonment.
The focus on cleaner transport is expanding across major retail regions, and this becomes especially relevant during peak periods like Tet Nguyen Dan, when delivery volumes and the potential for disruption are at their highest. Choosing the right logistics options can help you stay ahead of emissions requirements and operating costs.
Clean delivery vehicles need to be matched to the road networks, power grids, and traffic patterns of each city, not just the emissions rules. A vehicle designed for a wide, planned city grid can quickly become impractical in a narrow, historic city centre, which is why a diverse fleet matters more than a single 'green' vehicle type.
Globally, DHL Express matches vehicle type to the infrastructure and traffic conditions of each area. This approach can help optimise routing and limit the impact of congestion, while reducing the energy consumed for each delivery.
Low-emission delivery vehicles are generally deployed according to operating conditions. Availability of each type varies by market:
Vehicle Type | Ideal Operating Environment | Primary Operational Benefit |
|---|---|---|
Electric Cargo Bikes | High-density business districts with narrow lanes | Can offer greater flexibility in areas with narrow lanes or heavy traffic |
Electric Vans | Suburban residential zones and planned industrial parks | Offers high payload capacity with zero tailpipe emissions |
Electric Scooters | Highly congested metros with tight gridlock | Provides fast, nimble routing for small parcels |
Your choice of transport mix shapes your delivery speed and carbon efficiency. In dense, congested markets like Vietnam, where two-wheelers make up the vast majority of traffic, smaller electric vehicles and scooters can offer greater agility in some traffic conditions. In areas with more structured road layouts, larger electric van fleets can provide greater capacity.
Some shoppers are increasingly interested in the environmental impact of delivery and in sustainable shipping options. They want real proof that a business manages its environmental impact. Making green shipping choices clear during the purchase journey helps build trust with these customers.
GoGreen Plus gives you a clear, auditable way to share verified emissions reduction information. DHL Vietnam provides GoGreen Plus certificates and CO2e and GHG emissions reports that you can pass on to your customers. That visibility helps turn eco-conscious browsers into repeat customers.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
DHL Express research supports this trend: nearly 80% of global consumers say they're interested in an eco-friendly delivery option, and 66% factor a company's environmental actions into where they choose to shop. These figures reflect global research rather than Vietnamese consumers specifically. Integrating these features into your store does more than build goodwill: it secures your market share as buyer preferences shift.
Green last-mile delivery helps you prepare for urban access changes and meet the growing demand for clean transport, keeping your e-commerce business well positioned as emissions requirements develop. DHL Express supports your business with GoGreen Plus for verified emissions reduction certificates and reporting, and On Demand Delivery, which can help reduce unnecessary delivery attempts.
Speak to a DHL Express specialist today to build sustainable options into your international shipping.
Green last-mile delivery is the use of sustainable transport, like electric vans and cargo bikes, to move goods from local hubs to the customer's door. This approach helps reduce transit emissions and minimises traffic congestion in busy city centres.
Hanoi is piloting a low-emission zone in part of Ring Road 1 from 1 July 2026 under Resolution No. 57/2025/NQ-HĐND, while Ho Chi Minh City's scheme is still at proposal stage. Working with a logistics partner whose vehicles meet the applicable emissions requirements could help you plan urban deliveries with more certainty.
GoGreen Plus allows you to reduce the carbon emissions associated with your shipments by investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel through a book-and-claim model. The fuel is used within the wider air network rather than necessarily in the aircraft carrying your shipment, and the reduction is allocated to you through verified certificates and emissions reports.
Depending on the vehicle type, the route, and operational requirements, alternative vehicles can be used to support deliveries in urban areas. During peak seasons like Tet Nguyen Dan, planning routes and delivery windows early helps reduce pressure on the final leg.
You can book GoGreen Plus for your shipments and share the verified emissions reduction certificates and reports with your customers. Providing digital tracking through DHL digital tracking tools also helps demonstrate your commitment to reducing paper waste.
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