The city government said rapid urbanisation, along with emissions from transport, construction and industrial activities, have heavily deteriorated air quality. To address the situation, departments and local authorities have been assigned a series of immediate tasks.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment has been instructed to inspect all solid-waste treatment sites and ensure they operate without dust or odour leakage, with weekly reporting through December 2025.
Hanoi is struggling with the severe air pollution
Sanitation units must step up street cleaning, dust suppression and water spraying, while media outlets are asked to provide regular updates on air quality and pollution-reduction measures.
The Construction Department is required to tighten oversight at all construction sites, enforce full dust-control measures such as shielding, wheel-washing and mist-spraying, and ensure loose construction waste is fully covered during storage and transport.
Projects over one hectare must install dust-monitoring sensors and cameras by December 2025, while inspectors will conduct joint patrols with police and local authorities to tackle high-risk construction and transport activities.
Notably, the city has halted all road- and pavement-digging permits during periods of serious pollution, except for emergency repairs.
Hanoi has halted all road- and pavement-digging permits during periods of serious pollution
City police will intensify inspections of uncovered construction-material trucks and illegal waste burning, especially in craft villages. The city also plans to expand the use of AI-enabled security and traffic-monitoring cameras to detect and penalise violations more effectively.
The Education Department will require schools to limit outdoor activities during periods of poor air quality and adjust timetables when severe pollution alerts are issued.
Meanwhile, religious and cultural institutions are being urged to curb the burning of joss paper as part of long-term efforts to change public habits.
High-emission industrial facilities must ensure their exhaust-treatment systems operate at full efficiency and are strictly prohibited from releasing untreated emissions, with compliance required by December 31 this year.
