Air quality in Vietnam

For people living in the largest cities of Vietnam, air quality is unfortunately something to worry about. The air quality in cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is worsening. This is not only affecting people’s health, but it is also creating a medical burden and decreasing the quality of life. Fortunately, the Vietnamese Government has recently taken several steps to create a greener environment, and to improve the air quality for its citizens. In this blog post, we are having a look at the air quality in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. We are also looking at some short- and long term solutions.

Air quality in Hanoi

According to the latest data, Hanoi has frequently appeared in the list of the most polluted cities in the world. This is a list that obviously no city wants to be on. Some days, fine particulate matters levels have exceeded 200, marking the air as hazardous according to the Air Quality Index (AQI). On 5 March 2025 at 07h00 in the morning, Hanoi was even officially the most air polluted city in the world (AQI 241). This has been a clear warning of the serious air pollution problem in Vietnam’s capital. In the past decade, air pollution in Hanoi has worsened significantly. The percentage of days in 2019 with poor or hazardous AQI levels was 30.5%. In recent years, the pollution levels have continued to rise, with some months in 2023 and 2024 reporting up to 40% of days that had poor or worse AQI levels.

Air quality in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic powerhouse, is also experiencing air pollution. The air quality in this city has occasionally fallen into hazardous levels. The city emits the highest levels of pollutants in the country, especially from traffic and industrial activities. However, the city has different geographical and climatic characteristics, compared with Hanoi. Therefore, the pollution in Ho Chi Minh City is more diffuse, resulting in slightly lower pollution levels when compared with Vietnam’s capital. Very recent numbers are not readily available. But looking at 2019, Ho Chi Minh City also recorded air quality levels exceeding safety thresholds, particularly during peak hours. Having said this, the pollution in Ho Chi Minh City is typically less persistent, and it disperses more quickly.

Main reasons for air pollution in Vietnam

There are five main reasons for air pollution in Vietnam:

• Road traffic: this is the main source of fine dust and harmful emissions. In Hanoi, the total PM2.5 emissions from all sources in 2019 were over 30,000 tons. 56% of these emissions originated from road traffic, especially motorbikes, which are the largest contributor to harmful emissions.
• Industry: industrial activities release pollutants, including CO2, NOx, and volatile organic compounds. Hanoi has over 10 industrial zones and thousands of manufacturing facilities located near the city center, directly impacting air quality.
• Household activities: activities such as burning coal, incense, and using low-quality fuels are also significant factors. These practices not only increase fine particulate matter but also create numerous harmful chemicals.
• Biomass burning: this includes the burning of rice straw after harvest, particularly in the winter and spring. This issue worsens during the rice harvest periods, producing large amounts of smoke and emissions.
• Agriculture: agricultural activities also contribute to air pollution, especially in suburban areas where large-scale farming takes place.

Immediate measures to mitigate poor air quality

During periods when air quality drops to poor levels, or worse, it is advised to:

• Keep doors closed and limit outdoor activities.
• Wear P2.5 facemasks when going outside to filter fine dust.
• Special attention should be given to the elderly, children, and those with respiratory issues to avoid exposure to polluted air.
• Install air purifiers in homes, if possible.

Long-term solutions for improving the air quality

To effectively improve the air quality, here are some suggested approaches:

• Traffic: developing public transportation systems, especially emission-free vehicles like electric buses and metro systems, to reduce reliance on personal vehicles. The Government may encourage the use of electric cars and other environmentally friendly transportation.
• Industry: properly planning industrial zones and strictly controlling pollutant emissions from factories. Air filtration systems and emissions treatment should be implemented before pollutants are released into the environment. Industrial zones should also be surrounded by green spaces to reduce the impact on nearby communities. Furthermore, responsible business conduct (RBC) may also play a role here.
• Household activities: strong public awareness campaigns on the dangers of air pollution and the benefits of protecting clean air for the community. People should change their habits of burning low-quality coal, incense, and using private vehicles.
• Biomass burning and agriculture: the Government may research further and implement better ways of managing rice straw and other agricultural by-products. By doing so, they may replace burning practices with more environmentally friendly methods.

Conclusion

Securing good air quality is a significant challenge for Vietnam, especially for large cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Government is playing a role in addressing the issue. However, there are also things that each of us may do to either mitigate or improve the air quality. Because together we can contribute to purify our air. For example by using less fossil fuels, and by increasing awareness about protecting our environment. With proper policies, responsible business conduct, and public cooperation, we can improve air quality and provide a healthier environment for future generations.

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