The alarming indifference as Hanoi ranked world's 5th most polluted city

As someone who has lived in Hanoi for many years, I have never felt the city’s air as suffocating as it was in late November this year. On the morning of Nov. 28, air quality monitoring stations across the capital turned purple and red, which are signals for "very unhealthy" air conditions.

In some areas, the levels approached "hazardous." Overnight, the AQI reading at Hanoi University of Science and Technology jumped from 150 to 210. At 5 a.m., the Nguyen Van Cu station recorded 201, while the Khuat Duy Tien area recorded 160.

The poor air quality has persisted for days after that. On Nov. 30, global aggregator IQAir briefly ranked Hanoi the world's fifth most polluted city, comparable to Delhi, Kolkata, Tashkent and Baghdad.

These numbers are serious warnings about public health, especially for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory or cardiovascular issues. This is no longer just a hazy winter morning. It is a sign that an environmental crisis is knocking on every household’s door.

Hanoi shrouded in air pollution on Dec. 1, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Hai

In my opinion, businesses hold the greatest responsibility for this alarming situation. They release massive amounts of emissions and waste. Many still treat environmental standards as an afterthought, a box to check for permits, not a long-term commitment to reduce pollution.

Industrial zones continue to dump waste at night. Monitoring stations function in name only. Countless small-scale facilities operate without any proper exhaust treatment systems. Annual reports may mention "environmental management efforts," but in reality, lax inspections and soft penalties give businesses little reason to change.

Residents are also part of the problem. A large number of the population still views pollution as a "macro issue," something for the government and companies to handle. People still burn trash in residential areas, use coal stoves, burn votive paper during festivals, and drive smoke-belching motorbikes every day.

When individuals treat polluting behaviors as "no big deal," their combined impact becomes a massive burden for the city. Everyone wants cleaner air, but not everyone is willing to change their habits to help make that happen.

What is more worrying is that air pollution does not just cause temporary discomfort. It leaves long-term health consequences. Prolonged PM2.5 exposure increases the risk of respiratory illness, pneumonia, weakened immunity, strokes, even cancer. A child born into this toxic air in Hanoi could lose years of life expectancy. Multiply that by millions, and the toll is staggering.

To tackle this crisis, government, businesses, and individuals must act together and immediately. First, regulators must tighten inspections and impose tougher penalties on violators. A clear, strict, and transparent legal system would force companies to invest in proper emission treatment technology, improve production processes, and adopt modern environmental standards. Those who repeatedly break the rules should face suspensions or revoked licenses, not just token fines. Only when the economic costs are real will companies understand that profit cannot come at the expense of public health.

At the individual level, we must also change. We cannot expect a cleaner Hanoi if we keep burning trash, using charcoal, or letting old motorbikes smoke up the streets. A single can recycled properly, a bag of waste sorted correctly, or walking instead of riding for short distances. These are all small actions, but if added up, they can make a real difference. Protecting the environment is not a slogan but a civic responsibility.

Air pollution will not go away overnight. But if we continue to ignore it, Hanoi risks becoming one of the most polluted cities in the region. When that happens, we will lose more than just blue skies. We will lose our health, our quality of life, and the future of our children. I believe that if businesses act more responsibly, if the government enforces rules more strictly, and if each citizen changes their habits just a little, Hanoi still has a chance to reclaim the clean air it once had.