For many consecutive days, Hanoi as well as the northern provinces have been in a state of serious air pollution. According to the IQAir air quality index measuring application, at 9am this morning, this application ranked Hanoi as the most polluted city in the world with a brown AQI index of 305.
Many measuring points around the West Lake area recorded air quality index at hazardous levels such as West Lake Compound AQI 437, Ciputra AQI 388, Quang Ba AQI 350, 26 Quang Khanh AQI 338, Dang Thai Mai AQI 340...
In particular, the Quang Khanh measuring point (West Lake) has an AQI index of up to 557 - exceeding the maximum threshold of 500 in the air quality index table.
Many measuring points in other areas also recorded brown threshold pollution index levels such as Cu Khoi (Long Bien) AQI 320, Hoang Quoc Viet AQI 316...
Hanoi is regularly listed among the world's most polluted cities, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at red alert levels for many days. In 2024, Hanoi recorded four periods of severe air pollution, three from January to April and one in early October. Pollution peaked from October to March of the following year.
Recently, the Hanoi People's Council passed a resolution regulating the implementation of low emission zones, effective from January 1, 2025, to specify the amended Law on the Capital City. Low emission zones (LEZ) are areas designated to restrict polluting vehicles in order to improve air quality.
According to the resolution, from 2025 to 2030, the city will pilot the establishment of LEZ zones in some areas of Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts; at the same time, it will encourage other districts to establish these zones. From 2031 onwards, areas that meet one of the following criteria will have to implement LEZ zones.
The AQI is an air quality index that ranges from 0-500, with higher numbers indicating higher levels of pollution and health impacts. Readings above 300 are considered unhealthy, while 0-50 indicate good air quality.
