Hanoi would organize yearly emission evaluation trials for motorbikes that have been used for at least five years starting from 2024 in a bid to protect air quality and restrict motorbikes.

According to the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA), air pollution in large cities is increasing with the harvesting season as straw is left on the field and burnt in the evening.

Though the average PM2.5 concentration improved slightly in 2020, all provinces and cities in Vietnam still had much higher levels than the WHO’s recommendation, according to data revealed at a workshop held virtually on Tuesday.

Regulations on recalling outdated motorbikes took effect on January 1, 2018 under Decision No. 16 of the Prime Minister, but the recalling of outdated vehicles remains a “mission impossible”.

Despite the air quality in many central and southern localities showing signs of improvement, several northern provinces saw elevated levels of air pollution on September 3, that could seriously impact human health.

Hanoi needs to issue more policies and work with nearby provinces to improve its air quality, according to a World Bank official.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has asked 10 northern provinces and cities to strengthen inspections and strictly handle the burning of rice straw during the rice harvest.

A report found that Vinh Phuc province discharges over 800 tons of waste every day, of which 180 tons are from urban areas and 700 tons from rural areas.

The nation’s target of forecasting changes in air quality is mentioned in the plan put forward by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Ministry of Transport has implemented a series of measures to control the emission of pollutants from motor vehicles, Head of the ministry’s Department of Environment, Tran Anh Duong, has said.

Hanoi has set up a list of 90 industrial establishments that have to be moved out of the inner city.

The air quality between March 1 and 6 in north-eastern localities and the Hong (Red) River delta as well as Thanh Hoa Province is forecast to be poor.

Recalling old substandard motorbikes to ensure traffic safety and reduce air pollution is a necessity, but this cannot be done easily because motorbikes are the livelihood of the poor.

Ministries and sectors should work together and take drastic action to carry out Prime Ministerial Directive No 03/CT-TTg on enhancing air pollution control, 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Ministry of Transport to work with localities to take old motor vehicles that do not meet circulation standards off the roads.

Seeing his skin wounds caused by immersion in black water while removing trash from a canal, many people think the 69-year-old man is crazy. But he turns a deaf ear to their comments.

Air quality in the capital city of Hanoi fell to dangerous levels in the first week of the New Year, particularly in inner city areas, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

The state needs to set up reasonable policies to join forces with manufacturers to recall old polluting vehicles, experts say.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has written to Hanoi and HCMC asking the two cities to get rid of aging motor vehicles such as motorbikes and three-wheel motorcycles to reduce air pollution,

Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment has advised residents to stay indoors as air pollution worsened on January 6.