Ho Chi Minh City plans 157 monitoring stations amid rising air pollution

The proposal is a core component of the 2026 Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring Program, recently submitted by the Department of Agriculture and Environment to the municipal People’s Committee. The initiative comes as the city has been frequently ranked among the most polluted localities in the region.

According to the department, the new monitoring system will provide continuous, reliable scientific data to assess the effectiveness of socio-economic development policies. It will also enhance the city’s capacity to respond to environmental incidents, particularly during high-traffic peak hours.

Following administrative mergers in June, HCMC’s population has grown to approximately 14 million people, who use nearly 12.7 million motorcycles and cars.

Monitoring data from 2021 to 2025 revealed that concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 fine dust, nitrogen dioxide, and noise levels frequently exceeded regulatory limits, especially at traffic intersections and construction zones.

Major emission sources include transport, manufacturing, and construction, alongside pollution drifting in from neighboring provinces such as Dong Nai and Long An (which is now a part of Tay Ninh Province).

Beyond air quality, the department has proposed a massive expansion of water and land monitoring. This includes 254 surface water quality monitoring stations, as well as dozens of sites to track land subsidence, seawater quality, aquatic ecosystems, and sediment.

Current data shows that organic, nutrient, and microbial pollution remain widespread in rivers and canals, primarily due to large volumes of untreated domestic wastewater from urban and industrial areas. Additionally, prolonged groundwater extraction and chemical use in agriculture are contributing to declining groundwater levels and land deformation.

Under Prime Minister’s Directive No. 20, HCMC is required to improve its institutional framework and resolve "bottlenecks" in environmental management. The city is currently moving forward with programs to control traffic emissions, promote a green transition, and establish low-emission zones to address these critical pollution issues.