14 craft villages, 68 large-scale construction projects, and nearly 30 straw burning areas have been identified by the National Remote Sensing Agency as Hanoi's air pollution hotspots.
Hanoi's air quality index (AQI) has shifted from poor to good, a trend forecast to continue for the next one to two days due to the arrival of the northeasterly monsoon.
Air quality in Hanoi sharply declined on the morning of 27/1, as a weakening cold front created unfavorable meteorological conditions for dust dispersion.
As night temperatures plunge below 0 degrees Celsius, Liu Ming, like many others, hesitates to turn on his gas heater, facing winter heating costs that could triple his entire annual pension.
Young children, the elderly, individuals with underlying medical conditions, or those who frequently work outdoors should enhance their preventive measures during periods of air pollution to avoid illness and complications.
Beyond the affluent, many young families are taking on debt to buy homes in rural areas or rent suburban homestays, "migrating" every weekend when air pollution levels rise in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Dry, sunny weather causes temperature inversions, preventing dust from dispersing and leading to a significant increase in air pollution, reaching very unhealthy levels.
