Hanoi chokes on fog and polluted air

According to information given by AirVisual, a Swiss-based air quality monitoring facility that specialises in generating data from public, ground-based, and real-time monitoring stations, the AQI in Tay Ho district of Hanoi was recorded at 179, with this level verging on being very unhealthy. Poor-quality air at this level has the potential to do harm to people’s health, with sensitive groups potentially experiencing more serious health problems.

Moreover, Vietnamese environment monitoring app PAM Air measured the AQI in the capital at "very unhealthy" levels, ranging between 184 and 200 in various areas, such as Chua Lang, Kim Ma, Dich Vong Hau, and Times City.

According to details provided by the air monitoring system of Hanoi’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the capital city's air quality in the morning was at orange level, with a registered AQI of between 101 and 150, being 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups'.

In line with this, Hanoi’s AQI level saw it take third place among the most polluted city in the world with an average level of 164.

According to experts, periods of showers last night have left a large amount of moisture in the air that has served to create a layer of fog. Air pollution combined with fog has the potential to limit visibility, thereby affecting people’s health, especially sensitive groups.