As of midday of February 6, Hanoi’s air quality in many areas turned bad and very bad, up and down erratically in recent days, local media reported.

AQI recorded at https://airhanoi.hanoi.gov.vn on Feb.6 morning. Photo: Anh Kiet

Hanoi’s air quality on February 6 morning measured at many monitoring stations worsened to mostly at the bad level, according to the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

On February 6 morning, the department’s Agency of Environmental Protection (AEP) informed that Hanoi’s air quality index (AQI) was in the range of from 77 to 137.

The AQI went orange and yellow in many areas, particularly Minh Khai (110), Hang Dau (125), Pham Van Dong (126), Hoan Kiem (102), Tan Mai (85), Kim Lien (66), among others.

Long Bien Bridge in foggy day covering Hanoi. Photo: HNM

In the previous two days, Hanoi's air quality had improved, with AQI was mostly at good and average levels at all ten monitoring stations.

The whole city was covered by thick fog on February 6 morning. Head of Hanoi's Environment Protection Authority Mai Trong Thai explained that this was a form of misty stratosphere.

The thick fog concentrated the fine dust, thus, Hanoi's AQI increased to the bad level.

Data: AEP. Table: Anh Kiet

The AEP recommends sensitive groups including children, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases should limit their time outdoors.

In case of going out, people should use PM2.5 standard dust-proof face masks. In particular, pupils should not participate in outdoor activities.

When travelling on roads, people need to strictly follow traffic laws to reduce traffic congestion.

People should reduce activities that cause air pollution such as burning waste, cooking by charcoal stoves, transporting construction waste without shielding.

Information on the capital city’s air quality is continuously updated at the website: https://moitruongthudo.vn/ and https://airhanoi.hanoi.gov.vn/.