Recently, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have consistently ranked among the most air-polluted cities in the world. The sky is shrouded in fine dust, the air thick with emissions, and the AQI index has reached hazardous levels—this is no longer just a warning but a truly alarming reality.
The Reality of Air Pollution in Major Cities of Vietnam
In recent days, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have consistently ranked among the most polluted cities in the world. The air is thick with fine dust, the sky is hazy, and the Air Quality Index (AQI) frequently reaches hazardous levels. These are not just dry statistics but an urgent warning about public health and the future of the environment.
According to the IQAir monitoring system, on the afternoon of February 22, Hanoi ranked second in the world for air pollution, with an AQI reaching 181. Earlier, on the morning of February 20, the city even topped the rankings with an AQI of 227, a level classified as very harmful to health, especially for the elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory conditions.
Not only Hanoi, but Ho Chi Minh City is also facing a similar situation. At 10 AM on February 22, the PM2.5 concentration was recorded at 72 µg/m³, 14 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation. On the morning of January 14, Ho Chi Minh City's AQI reached 194, ranking it among the four most polluted cities globally.
This situation is no longer a temporary phenomenon but has persisted for many years, reflecting the severe air pollution problem in Vietnam's major cities.
Latest Air Pollution Index Table
Here is a list of the most polluted cities in Vietnam on February 26, 2025, based on data from IQAir:
The air quality index (AQI) in these cities has reached high levels, negatively impacting health, especially for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions.
Causes of Air Pollution in the Present Situation
According to the latest data, Hanoi currently has over 6 million motorcycles and nearly 800,000 cars running on internal combustion engines. This is one of the main causes of air pollution, as these millions of vehicles emit large amounts of CO2, NO2, SO2, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) daily—dangerous pollutants that contribute to severe air pollution. Furthermore, the rapid increase in private vehicles is outpacing urban management capabilities. Despite the expansion of the public transportation system, many people still prefer motorcycles or private cars, leading to heavy air pollution from exhaust fumes and dust.
Additionally, if you live near a construction site, you have likely noticed a thick layer of dust covering every surface. Sand, cement, and debris not only pollute the environment but also release fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), which can severely impact respiratory health. But the problem doesn’t stop there! Many construction sites lack proper dust control measures and adequate coverings, further worsening air pollution.
Looking at the reality, it is impossible not to mention industrial zones and manufacturing plants—major sources of pollution that release millions of tons of CO2, SO2, NOx, and ultrafine dust each year. This is an alarming cause of air pollution, especially as many factories still rely on fossil fuels like coal and diesel, exacerbating environmental degradation. Moreover, some industrial zones lack standardized emission treatment systems, leading to severe air contamination. This not only affects workers within the factories but also impacts millions of residents living near industrial areas.
What Are the Consequences of Air Pollution?
Air pollution is one of the greatest challenges to human health and the environment. Breathing air containing fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and toxic gases (CO, SO₂, NO₂) can have widespread negative effects, impacting multiple organ systems in the body and accelerating ecosystem degradation.
Impact on Human Health
- Respiratory Diseases: Air pollution is a major cause of pneumonia, asthma, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and respiratory infections. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable due to their weaker respiratory systems.
- Impact on the cardiovascular system: Polluted air increases the risk of angina, heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure due to the accumulation of ultrafine particles in blood vessels, leading to blockages and inflammation.
- Risk of cancer: Long-term exposure to harmful air pollutants such as benzene and formaldehyde can lead to lung cancer, oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, and other types of cancer.
- Impact on the nervous system: Many studies have shown that air pollution can cause memory impairment, lack of concentration, and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and depression.
- Impact on the reproductive system: Air pollution is linked to infertility, miscarriage, preterm birth, and birth defects due to the impact of heavy metals and toxic gases on the endocrine system.
- Impaired vision and skin effectsFine dust particles can cause conjunctivitis, dry eyes, cataracts, and also increase the risk of dermatitis, allergies, and premature aging.
Impact on the Environment
- Decline in air quality: Smoke, dust, and emissions reduce visibility, affect traffic, and degrade urban landscapes.
- Water pollution: Air pollutants can dissolve into rainwater, forming acid rain, which contaminates rivers, lakes, and groundwater, affecting aquatic life.
- Soil and ecosystem degradation: Acid rain depletes soil nutrients, reduces fertility, and severely impacts agricultural production.
- Climate change: Air pollution contributes to rising temperatures.
The silent threat to human health is fine dust (PM2.5).
Measures to protect air quality
Air pollution is no longer a distant issue but has become a direct threat to health and the living environment. Industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and daily activities are severely degrading air quality. So, what are the solutions to protect health and improve our environment?
- Reducing emissions at the source: Implement modern air pollution control technologies in industries, limit personal vehicles, promote electric vehicles, and develop renewable energy.
- Improving transportation infrastructure: Invest in public transportation and develop low-emission zones.
- Air quality monitoring and surveillance: Using an ambient air monitoring system like Viet An’s helps to accurately measure pollution indicators in real time. This data helps businesses, industrial zones and management agencies have a basis to effectively control and reduce pollution.
- Protect personal health: Monitor air quality, wear anti-dust masks, plant trees, use air purifiers.
Conclusion
Control air-polluted is urgent. Businesses and governments need to proactively monitor air quality, reduce emissions and apply modern monitoring technology. Viet An Enviro committed to accompanying advanced solutions, contributing to protecting the environment and public health.
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