Viet Nam

Viet Nam is facing increasing air pollution challenges as rapid industrialization and growing energy demand—primarily met by traditional fuels—have led to deteriorating air quality. Urban centers and craft villages have seen a rise in pollution levels, with significant contributions from industrial emissions, coal combustion, and vehicle exhaust. In 2019, the country recorded an annual mean PM2.5 exposure of 20 µg/m³, which is four times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. The health impact is severe, with 37,457 deaths linked to air pollution that year, equivalent to 39 deaths per 100,000 people. Despite a decline in PM10, PM2.5, NO₂, and CO levels in Hanoi between 2010 and 2018, SO₂ concentrations have continued to rise. An assessment of hourly concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, SO₂, NO₂, O₃, and CO in the period of 2010–2018 in Hanoi showed an overall decrease in annual average concentrations, except for SO₂ (Nghiem et al., 2021). In 2023, the number of days rated as "good" AQI levels in Hanoi was only around 15 per cent.  

The largest contributors to air pollution in Viet Nam are transportation (responsible for 70% of total air pollution), coal-fired power plants, and forest fires. The energy sector is the primary source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while coal usage continues to increase, worsening the pollution burden. Estimates suggest that by 2030, poor air quality could lead to 188 excess deaths per million people. Forest fires, particularly in the northwestern region, are also a major source of particulate pollution and carbon monoxide.

Surface monitoring of criteria air pollutants is carried out through automated and manual monitoring setups operated by the Center for Environmental Monitoring (CEM), the Viet Nam Environment Administration (VEA), and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE). Most of the monitors are located in cities and six large cities/provinces including Hanoi, Quangninh, and Phutho (northern area) and Hue, Danang, and Nhatrang (middle area) have automatic continuous monitoring systems installed at roadside locations. Ground monitoring of PM2.5 is also conducted by other agencies such as the US AirNow network in Hanoi and the GIZ in Ho Chi Minh. The Hanoi Environmental Protection Agency and GIZ recently started using the low-cost monitors to expand the ground monitoring network. As of 2021, over 90 ground monitoring stations existed in Viet Nam, with the highest concentration in the Red River Delta region. The Environmental Monitoring Portal (Centre for Environment Monitoring, Air Quality Index Database), of the Department of Environmental Pollution Control provides hourly air quality index (AQI) values over a 48-hour range for PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂, O₃ and CO for 55 stations across the country. Similar data is archived in the OpenDevelopmentMekong database and the aqicn website (Air Pollution in Viet Nam: Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map) which combines data from the Environmental Monitoring Portal, Ho Chi Minh City Air Quality Monitor. The Hanoi air quality network provides AQI values from stations in Hanoi city.

The government has implemented several key policies to reduce air pollution, including the National Plan on Air Quality Management (2021-2025), the National Action Plan on Air Quality Management (2016), and the Environmental Law (2014). These focus on emission reductions in industries, agriculture, and transport, stricter vehicle emission standards, and a ban on charcoal stoves. The National Climate Change Strategy and Renewable Energy Program aim to expand renewable energy to 10% of the energy mix by 2030. By October 2020, in the energy sector, the proportion of renewable energy (RE) had reached about 11.2 per cent of the total primary commercial energy. Similarly in the transport sector, tax policies based on engine capacity and fuel type have been applied, while the tax amount has been lowered for electric vehicles by 5-15 per cent. All new cars comply with applicable emission standards. Additionally, city-level plans like the Da Nang Air Pollution Action Plan, supported by international partnerships, focus on urban air quality improvement.