Experts have raised concerns over Hanoi’s rising air pollution, emphasising the need for comprehensive data and updates on emission sources to identify the causes and extent of the city’s air quality issues.

Vietnam has about 80.6 million vehicles, one of the biggest greenhouse gas emission sources that pollutes the air and contributes to climate change.

Air quality in Hanoi tends to worsen during the winter, experts said based on observations over the past several years.

From morning until noon on October 16, many areas of Ho Chi Minh City were shrouded in thick fog, raising concerns over rising fine dust pollution. Prolonged exposure may lead to respiratory illnesses.

Vietnam is grappling with the challenge of reducing emissions from nearly 6.5 million cars, each acting as a mobile emission station, contributing significantly to the country’s air pollution.

On average, a Vietnamese person dies of a respiratory disease due to exposure to air pollution every 7.5 seconds.

Experts have said that air pollution has had an incalculable impact on public health and the economy, with cases of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses increasing yearly.

Air pollution in Vietnam stems from various sources including an aging vehicle fleet, coal power plants, industrial activities, indoor coal and biomass cooking stoves, ineffective waste management practices and agricultural practices.

On March 16, according to the Air Visual application monitoring air quality, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Hanoi ranged from 196 to 237 in the morning, a very poor level detrimental to human health.

Ninety-eight continuous automatic air quality monitoring stations will be constructed across the country between now and 2030, pushing the total number to 201.

Vietnam will build 98 more air quality monitoring stations in all 63 cities and provinces across the country till 2030.

The air quality in Hanoi reached “very unhealthy” levels in the early morning of March 5, placing the capital at the top of the world’s most air polluted cities list.

The Ministry of Health has recommended that Vietnamese kindergartens and elementary schools consider temporarily closing the door if air pollution in their localities climbs to hazardous levels for three consecutive days.

In the face of the worsening air pollution, Hanoi is rolling out measures to control activities that generate emissions and dust in the locality, especially the burning of rice straw.

Urban residents in Hanoi have endured a dense mist for over a week, a consequence of the concerning air pollution that necessitates the city to implement proactive measures to safeguard public health.

The Vietnamese capital ranked fourth among the top 100 worst air-polluted cities in the world on November 28, according to data released by Switzerland-based air quality monitor IQAir AirVisual.

The air quality in the capital on November 22 exceeded the red-warning level, reaching purple, meaning that the air quality of the local atmosphere has reached a very unhealthy level for local residents.

Dong Nai's Department of Natural Resources and Environment has announced that it will inspect the investor of Long Thanh International Airport - Airports Corporation of Việt Nam in handling the dust pollution during the construction of the project.

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has been fined VND270 million (US$11,250) for causing air pollution around Long Thanh Airport’s construction site.