On the afternoon of January 8, at the regular Government press conference in December 2025, the press questioned the air pollution situation in our country and especially in some major cities, which is still extremely serious.
Answering this content, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien said that the air quality situation in recent times in major cities, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has a very high level of pollution.
PM2.5 fine dust pollution continues to be a key issue to be addressed, focusing on Hanoi and the key economic region of the North.
In which, in the first 9 months of 2025, air quality basically maintained an average/good level. From October - December 2025, pollution increased sharply according to the law. The peak on December 12, 2025 had an average daily AQI index of 264.
Through monitoring, the law of pollution during the day changes, in addition to focusing on the night and early morning (the time when heat reversal occurs most strongly), air pollution is still high at peak hours such as 9-11h and 15-17h (high traffic and production hours).
There are 2 reasons: The objective reason is that the weather pattern (at the end of November and the beginning of December) is more disadvantageous than the average of many years (fog, prolonged heat reversal).
Subjective causes are emissions from traffic activities and increased traffic density at the end of the year; construction works, road expansion, and sidewalk paving at the end of the year without shielding; spontaneous burning of garbage/accessories; and waste from craft villages and industries.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment proposes two immediate solutions.
First, establish a monitoring mechanism and send weekly reports. Periodically before 11 am every Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will summarize data from localities, assess progress and report to the Prime Minister. Currently, the 10th weekly report on these contents has been prepared.
Second, strengthen the monitoring network to have a basis for handling.
In the long term, propose urgent measures to control waste sources. The Ministry has issued 2 documents to the People's Committees of provinces/cities, requesting to immediately activate urgent measures such as: Strengthening road washing; controlling 100% of construction works and strictly prohibiting open burning. Reviewing activities, encouraging capacity reduction during peak days.
In the period 2026-2030, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien said that he will focus on 4 groups of solutions:
Group one, complete mechanisms and policies and organize implementation: Develop a plan of the Ministry to implement the national action plan on pollution remediation and air quality management for the period 2026-2030, vision to 2045 (Decision No. 2530/QD-TTg dated November 19, 2025), concretizing 9 groups of solutions in the spirit of "6 clear".
Implement the activities and tasks of the National Steering Committee for Remediation of Air Pollution after being approved and approved by the Prime Minister.
Research and implement the amendment of regulations on air environmental protection in the Law on Environmental Protection.
Complete the draft and submit it to competent authorities for promulgation of the roadmap and national technical regulations on emissions for motorbikes and motorcycles participating in traffic.
The second group on infrastructure investment and application of science and technology to solve general environmental pollution as well as air pollution is being planned by the Ministry for implementation.
The third group on controlling waste sources (waste from cars, motorbikes...)
The fourth group is on local support, communication and international cooperation.
