The coal-fired power plants in the region are believed to be a main contributor to the increased pollution in HCM City.

A separate annual world ranking elaborated by IQAir (owner of AirVisual) in partnership with Greenpeace in March showed that Hanoi was not in the world’s top 200 most polluted cities last year.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the governments of Hanoi and HCMC to promptly adopt effective solutions to address the worsening air pollution, the local media reported.

People in Hanoi are buying expensive masks to protect themselves from serious air pollution.

A deluge of rain which hit Hanoi on the morning of October 3 caused disorder for residents whilst also reducing the amount of air pollution in the capital’s atmosphere.

Hanoi is promptly taking actions to improve air quality which has been assessed as very low for the past two weeks, according to municipal authorities.

Air pollution in Hanoi has risen to serious levels over the past two days.

The air quality in large urban areas, especially Hanoi, has been rated poor or even dangerous recently.

Cao Trung Son, director of the Centre for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring (under the HCM Department of Natural Resources and Environment), on Tuesday spoke at a press conference about air pollution in the city. 

Coal and cement dust are upsetting locals in Kinh Mon of the northern province of Hai Duong, the land with romantic rivers and mountains.

The number of Indonesians suffering respiratory problems or ISPA caused by smoke from forest and peatland fires blanketing parts of Borneo and Sumatra in the past few months has reached over 919,000.

A thick layer of fog has blanketed Ho Chi Minh City in recent days, creating low-visibility conditions and leaving residents concerned about worsening air quality.

Transportation, construction and cooking at home are among factors causing pollution both indoors and outdoors in Hanoi.

There are three ‘pillars’ for air quality management, including data from emission sources, air monitoring data, and assessments about the human impact. Vietnam lacks data about all three.

HCM City residents in many areas are complaining about the stench allegedly coming from waste treatment plants and waste collection stations.

An exhibition on air pollution titled “Feel The Air” unfolded in Saigon recently. 

Though air pollution has worsened in Hanoi and HCM City, air quality forecasts are insufficient because of a lack of monitoring stations.

Thirty-four photos chosen in the photography contest "Portray Air, Expose Pollution" are being displayed at universities throughout HCM City until June 14 to improve awareness about air pollution in the country’s large cities.

UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers highlights the importance of raising awareness of the harm air pollution can do to children. Việt Nam News reporter Nguyen Khanh Chi finds out more.

Vietnam lacks comprehensive studies on air pollution and its impacts on health, life and the economy, experts said at a conference in HCM City on Friday (April 19).