On Thursday morning, a dense haze covered parts of Hanoi as air‑quality monitors recorded red‑level readings. The situation is serious enough to affect everyday activities.

Air‑quality stations on Thang Long Boulevard, Pham Hung Street, Nguyen Trai Street and Nguyen Chi Thanh Street all reported an AQI in the red zone, which indicates unhealthy conditions for the general public. These readings signal that the concentration of pollutants, especially fine particles, has exceeded safe limits.

Mai Uyen, an 18‑year‑old student at the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said the haze was clearly visible on the streets. She usually takes the bus to campus and wears a face mask while walking from the bus stop to protect herself from dust.

Vu Xuan Dinh, an 85‑year‑old resident, complained that the city’s air feels stuffy and dusty, a problem that especially troubles older people. Environmental expert Hoang Duong Tung, chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network, warned that the red AQI poses health risks and that lowering the index from red to a better level within a single day is very difficult.

According to Hoang Duong Tung, Hanoi’s pollution typically peaks from October through March or April because the weather prevents dust from rising, while ongoing construction and heavy traffic release large amounts of PM2.5. These fine particles remain close to the ground, making the air feel heavy and hazardous. Even if emissions drop or it rains, the improvement is usually modest and short‑lived.

The red‑level air quality in Hanoi therefore forces residents of all ages to change their daily routines and exposes them to health hazards. Because the index cannot be lowered quickly, long‑term collective actions are needed to protect public health.