Vietnamese struggle with severe pollution in cities

Nguyen Phuong Linh, living in Hanoi, has taken extreme measures to protect her family from the worsening air quality, which has recently been classified as "very unhealthy." To cope, she vacuums her home twice a day, uses a clothes dryer to filter dust, and regularly cleans household items like mattresses and pillows. Despite these efforts, her family suffers from persistent nasal and throat inflammation, even with the use of two layers of masks when outdoors. Linh’s family relocated from the city center to the suburbs in an attempt to escape the pollution, and one of her friends moved to Lang Son due to health issues, feeling relief from the cleaner, fresh air.

In Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), residents like Phan Han and her family are similarly struggling with air pollution, which fluctuates between "poor" and "moderate." Han's family keeps their windows shut, runs air purifiers, and minimizes outdoor exposure to avoid dust from nearby construction sites. Her daughter has suffered repeated bouts of nasal and throat infections, while Han and her husband also deal with recurring symptoms such as coughing and headaches, leading to frequent hospital visits and mounting medical costs.

The air quality in both Hanoi and HCMC has been deteriorating over the past decade, with traffic and industrial activities being major contributors. Despite the government's efforts to improve air quality, such as phasing out coal stoves and reducing straw burning, pollution levels remain high, especially in rural areas. In response to the ongoing crisis, Dr. Bach Thi Chinh from the VNVC Vaccination Center advises people to wear masks, clean their living environments regularly, and avoid opening windows during high pollution periods. Vulnerable groups are urged to seek medical attention if they experience acute symptoms, and vaccinations for respiratory illnesses are recommended to reduce health risks.

While these measures can help alleviate the effects of air pollution, residents like Linh and Han emphasize that the real solution lies in improving air quality, a challenge that may take years to resolve.