Pollution levels began rising again on January 8 due to unfavourable weather conditions. By January 9, air quality deteriorated further, both in scale and severity, across much of the northern region.

Data from the air quality monitoring application operated by the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shows that several locations in Hanoi reached “poor” air quality levels, including Thanh Xuan Park and Nguyen Van Cu Street, posing health risks to the general public. At the Entrance Gate of the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, air quality deteriorated to the “very poor” category, classified as highly harmful to human health.

Hung Yen province, an area with high population density, rapid urbanization and numerous industrial facilities and craft villages, also recorded severe pollution. At 6:15 a.m. on January 9, the monitoring station at the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment on Nguyen Van Linh street reported “very poor” air quality, exceeding levels recorded in Hanoi. The same site also logged very poor air quality on January 8.

Thai Nguyen emerged as another pollution hotspot. All three monitoring stations in the province recorded “poor” air quality levels on January 9.

Hai Phong city also reported poor air quality, particularly in areas corresponding to the former Hai Duong province. Similar conditions, ranging from “moderate” to “poor,” were recorded in Bac Ninh and Phu Tho provinces.

According to forecasts by the Northern Environmental Monitoring Centre, air pollution is expected to persist into January 10. The Hanoi Air air quality forecasting system warned that elevated pollution levels could continue for several more days across northern Vietnam.

Hoang Duong Tung, chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network, said winter air pollution in Northern Vietnam is a cross-regional and cross-sectoral issue. He stressed that effective mitigation requires coordinated action among provinces within Hanoi and surrounding areas, noting that a similar regional coordination model has been used in Beijing to improve air quality.

Vietnam’s National Action Plan on Air Pollution Mitigation and Air Quality Management for the 2026–2030 period, with a vision to 2045, also outlines measures to establish inter-provincial coordination mechanisms and operate a national air pollution warning, forecasting and control system under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The ministry said it has proposed the establishment of a national steering committee on air pollution control, with a particular focus on the Hanoi Capital Region, in an effort to strengthen coordination and mobilize the entire political system to address what it described as an urgent and pressing environmental challenge.

Party chief requests tougher action against air pollution, online fraud

VOV.VN - Party General Secretary To Lam on December 15 requested stronger action to curb air pollution, tighten controls on online fraud and improve public health care, during a meeting with Hanoi’s voters on December 15.