Hanoi is experiencing serious air pollution which has been forecasted to worsen in the days to come.

According to a World Bank Vietnam study, urban pollution emitters only account for one-third of the total pollution sources.

People should wear face masks that can help protect users from fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Health experts have raised an alarm as HCMC’s noise and fine dust pollution exceeds safety thresholds and threatens to cause respiratory ailments and hearing loss, as well as worsens background diseases.

Severe air pollution in the capital city is forecast to linger until at least this weekend, leaving much of the city clouded in smog.

There have been consecutive fires caused by people's poor awareness, who were burning garbage and straw in residential areas, causing fires recently in Hanoi.

Hanoi plans to limit motorcycles failing to meet emission standards in certain areas and consider charging vehicles for their emissions.

Hanoi would organize yearly emission evaluation trials for motorbikes that have been used for at least five years starting from 2024 in a bid to protect air quality and restrict motorbikes.

According to the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA), air pollution in large cities is increasing with the harvesting season as straw is left on the field and burnt in the evening.

Though the average PM2.5 concentration improved slightly in 2020, all provinces and cities in Vietnam still had much higher levels than the WHO’s recommendation, according to data revealed at a workshop held virtually on Tuesday.

Regulations on recalling outdated motorbikes took effect on January 1, 2018 under Decision No. 16 of the Prime Minister, but the recalling of outdated vehicles remains a “mission impossible”.

Despite the air quality in many central and southern localities showing signs of improvement, several northern provinces saw elevated levels of air pollution on September 3, that could seriously impact human health.

Hanoi needs to issue more policies and work with nearby provinces to improve its air quality, according to a World Bank official.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has asked 10 northern provinces and cities to strengthen inspections and strictly handle the burning of rice straw during the rice harvest.

A report found that Vinh Phuc province discharges over 800 tons of waste every day, of which 180 tons are from urban areas and 700 tons from rural areas.

The nation’s target of forecasting changes in air quality is mentioned in the plan put forward by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Ministry of Transport has implemented a series of measures to control the emission of pollutants from motor vehicles, Head of the ministry’s Department of Environment, Tran Anh Duong, has said.

Hanoi has set up a list of 90 industrial establishments that have to be moved out of the inner city.

The air quality between March 1 and 6 in north-eastern localities and the Hong (Red) River delta as well as Thanh Hoa Province is forecast to be poor.

Recalling old substandard motorbikes to ensure traffic safety and reduce air pollution is a necessity, but this cannot be done easily because motorbikes are the livelihood of the poor.