Brian Jeffrey
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The air quality in major Vietnamese cities, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has deteriorated to critical levels, posing a significant health risk to the population. This is particularly concerning for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic health conditions.
During the recent National Scientific Conference on Air Quality Control and Improvement, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong highlighted that urban air pollution in Vietnam adversely affects public health, economic growth, and daily living, particularly among vulnerable populations, including outdoor workers.
Research indicates that air pollution is linked to a rise in respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and allergic responses. It also increases the prevalence of cardiovascular issues like hypertension, angina, and heart failure, along with skin and mucosal disorders.
The burden of air pollution adds to healthcare challenges, leading to more hospital admissions, increased medical expenses, and extended recovery periods, ultimately straining the healthcare system and compromising care quality.
Deputy Minister Huong stressed the importance of a collaborative approach across various sectors and regions, involving the entire political framework, businesses, and communities to enhance air quality.
Dr. Hoang Duong Tung, Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network, noted that Vietnam has initiated actions like urban greening and enhancing public transport, as well as transitioning from traditional to electric buses. However, the results have been minimal so far.
He pointed out that ineffective coordination among agencies, lax enforcement, and the lack of a robust monitoring system to ensure compliance are major barriers to progress.
Dr. Tung emphasized the necessity of a unified, cross-sector strategy, as air pollution knows no city limits, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and neighboring provinces also impact urban air quality.
On issues like construction, traffic, and waste burning, Dr. Tung remarked that, while these problems are often acknowledged, actionable measures are lacking.
“Other countries use surveillance cameras and particulate monitoring systems to oversee construction activities. Violations are promptly addressed. In contrast, enforcement here is weak, with inadequate penalties,” he observed.
He also criticized the insufficiency of Hanoi’s air monitoring network, which consists of only two main stations and 12 government-operated ones, indicating a need for additional sensors to effectively identify pollution hotspots in real-time.
Dr. Tung referenced Beijing as a model for effective air quality management, where proactive and synchronized policies, advanced technology, and big data are harnessed for pollution monitoring and response.
China has established a central command unit with defined accountability, combining policy with decisive action and investing heavily in initiatives like shutting down polluting factories, enhancing electric bus infrastructure, and supporting the shift from traditional to electric vehicles. These comprehensive efforts have led to significant improvements.
Dr. Tung asserted that improving air quality in Vietnam demands cohesive leadership, accountability, rigorous inspections, and the active participation of local authorities, various sectors, and the public.
“We need to regularly measure and publicly share air quality data to enable public monitoring. Only through transparency and collective oversight can we foster meaningful change,” he concluded.
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