Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City rank among the world’s most polluted cities. The millions of petrol motorbikes are huge contributors to the pollution. Vietnam’s government now says it has the answer: electric bikes.

Vietnam is betting on one of the boldest electric mobility plans, pushing more than 70 million riders to switch from petrol motorbikes to e-bikes, starting in the capital. The aim is to clear the air - but the transition raises big questions about cost, charging, and whether riders are ready to give up the machines that power their daily lives and define their identities.

In this Asia Specific podcast, host Mariko Oi speak to the BBC's Asia Business Reporter Nick Marsh, who had spent some time covering the EV industry in China. Also on the podcast is BBC's Senior Journalist Sen Nguyen who grew up in Vietnam.

The conversation explores why motorbikes are so central to Vietnamese culture and whether e-bikes can work in crowded cities and rural areas alike. We also look at the fierce competition in the e-bike market in which Chinese manufacturers dominate, and ask whether Vietnam’s VinFast can become the BYD of two-wheelers.

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Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

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Can electric bikes save Vietnam's most polluted cities?

Asia Specific