AQI readings surpass 240 across northern Vietnam, pushing Hanoi into the world’s top 10 most polluted cities. Authorities activate emergency measures as a week-long smog episode peaks.
Northern Vietnam woke up to hazardous air on December 9, with multiple monitoring stations in Hanoi and Hung Yen reporting “very unhealthy” air quality levels — some exceeding AQI 240, a threshold that poses serious health risks even to healthy individuals.
At 7 a.m., the national environmental monitoring station at Hanoi University of Science and Technology recorded an AQI of 204, after pollution levels surged again from the early morning hours. Other hotspots included Nguyen Van Cu (AQI ~190) and Khuat Duy Tien (above 150). In Hung Yen’s Thai Binh Ward, AQI readings climbed to 246, among the worst in the region. Nearby provinces such as Ninh Binh and Thai Nguyen also fell into the “unhealthy” category.
According to global tracker IQAir, Hanoi ranked 9th among the world’s most polluted cities this morning with an AQI of 199 — far above safe limits. Several districts registered “very unhealthy” air, including Tay Ho (227), Tran Vu (204), and Hoang Quoc Viet (203).
A pollution episode expected to last a week
Researchers at Vietnam National University forecast a prolonged smog event from December 8–14, with the pollution peak likely around December 11–12 before improving as stronger cold air arrives.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued urgent directives on November 27, requiring multiple sectors to activate emergency pollution controls:
Heavy industries — including thermal power, steel, chemical, and fertilizer plants — must strictly operate emission-treatment systems and reduce output when AQI exceeds 200.
Construction sites are mandated to install dust screens, wash vehicles, use misting systems, and temporarily halt dust-heavy activities.
Traffic authorities must reroute vehicles and strictly police trucks carrying materials without covers.
Police are instructed to crack down on black-smoke vehicles, expired engines, and illegal waste burning.
Health authorities urge vulnerable groups to limit exposure and wear masks, while schools are told to restrict outdoor activities whenever AQI deteriorates.
The latest smog emergency underscores a growing environmental and public-health challenge for northern Vietnam. With Hanoi repeatedly appearing in global pollution rankings, policymakers face mounting pressure to accelerate emission-reduction initiatives, enforce industrial compliance, and modernize urban transport before winter air-quality episodes become the region’s new normal.
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Source: Vietnam Insider