Vietnam News Agency recently reported that according to the latest 2024 air quality report released by IQAir, Hanoi, Vietnam ranked seventh in the list of capitals with the most air pollution in the world.
The report said that Vietnam's PM2.5 concentration was relatively stable and slightly decreased; the annual average PM2.5 concentration dropped from 29.6µg/m³ in 2023 to 28.7µg/m³ in 2024; despite some improvement, it still ranked second in Southeast Asia and 23rd in the world.
Hanoi's air pollution index ranked second in the country, and the PM2.5 concentration in the city's Tay Ho District reached 44.7µg/m³. In the past five years, Hanoi's PM2.5 concentration has continued to rise, from 37.9µg/m³ in 2020 to 45.4µg/m³ in 2024, which is 9 times the World Health Organization standard.
Vietnam's highest air pollution index is in Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province in the north, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 50.9µg/m³; Bac Ninh Province in the north is 41.6µg/m³; Hue Province in the center is 11.4µg/m³; Tra Vinh Province in the south is 5.2µg/m³; the air quality of some coastal cities is close to the recommended level.
The report said that common sources of air pollution in Vietnam include biomass burning, coal and heavy fuel oil combustion, vehicle exhaust emissions, industrial activities, construction dust, urban waste incineration, and long-distance aerosol transport. Most of the pollution is seasonal: crop burning leads to higher PM2.5 levels in the dry season, while emissions from traffic and construction dust persist due to atmospheric conditions. In addition, cross-border emissions from power plants in neighboring countries also exacerbate air pollution in cold months.
Air pollution in Vietnam has seriously affected people's daily lives, and disruptions to aviation operations have led to flight diversions at many airports. In addition to logistical challenges, air pollution has dealt a heavy blow to the country's economy and society, causing an estimated 4% loss of Vietnam's GDP and posing serious health risks, especially to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children.
The report also recognized Vietnam's measures to reduce air pollution, such as raising people's awareness of environmental protection and protection, reducing crop burning, and promoting household waste sorting. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam has the fastest setting of pollution index sites, with 15 more cities than in 2023.
