Brian Jeffrey
On October 16, Ho Chi Minh City woke up to a thick fog that concealed iconic sites like Landmark 81, with this image taken at 7 a.m.
Le Thi Xuan Lan, a former deputy head of the Southern Regional Hydrometeorology Station, stated that the fog stemmed from heavy rains the night before. This weather phenomenon was primarily due to a temperature inversion, coupled with total humidity and light winds, resulting in the visibility-impairing fog.
Areas like Quoc Huong Street in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, still displayed puddles from the recent rainfall.
 |
 |
Thick fog enveloped HCMC’s skyscrapers and residential neighborhoods, particularly around waterways.
The fog significantly hindered visibility, fully shrouding the taller buildings.
This dense fog also indicated heightened fine dust pollution levels, which can be harmful to respiratory health with prolonged exposure.
As per the IQAir application, which monitors air quality in over 500,000 global locations, Ho Chi Minh City ranked seventh in air pollution among 120 key cities on the morning of October 16, while Hanoi was in 17th place.
By 10:30 a.m., the fog began to clear up.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting anticipates cloudy conditions in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern region, with scattered showers and thunderstorms on the horizon, particularly during the afternoon and evening. There may be heavy rain in some areas, along with the threat of whirlwinds, lightning, and strong winds. Temperatures are expected to range from a low of 24°C to 27°C and a high of 30°C to 33°C.
