Thirty-four photos chosen in the photography contest "Portray Air, Expose Pollution" are being displayed at universities throughout HCM City until June 14 to improve awareness about air pollution in the country’s large cities.

UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers highlights the importance of raising awareness of the harm air pollution can do to children. Việt Nam News reporter Nguyen Khanh Chi finds out more.

Vietnam lacks comprehensive studies on air pollution and its impacts on health, life and the economy, experts said at a conference in HCM City on Friday (April 19).

 Air pollution will shorten the life expectancy of children by 20 months on average, with kids in South Asian countries such as India and Pakistan most vulnerable, 

The air pollution in Hanoi is getting more serious, partly due to emissions from coal-fired power and cement plants located in Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.

VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists have rung the alarm bell over the increase in the concentration of benzene, nitrous oxide and other toxic substances in the air in Vietnam.

The HCM City Transport Department has suggested that municipal authorities create a plan to control vehicle emissions and collect pollution fees.

VietNamNet Bridge - Environmental experts say 70 percent of the volume of exhaust gas emitted into the environment comes from transport vehicles. 

VietNamNet Bridge - By mid-2018, Vietnam had more than 184,120 vehicles over 20 years old, of which 2,613 passenger vehicles with over nine seats had expired. 

Of the 10 diseases with highest mortality rates in Vietnam, six are respiratory diseases related to air pollution and air quality, according to a ministry report.

VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi is still struggling to find solutions to curb the development of cars and motorcycles, which is believed to be the major reason behind serious air pollution in the city.

VietNamNet Bridge - The air pollution in Vietnam is increasing in urban areas and industrial zones, mostly due to legal loopholes. 

Scientists have found PM1.0 fine dust and nano dust ≤ 0,1µm in the air in Vietnam. This type of dust can penetrate through all barriers of a human’s respiratory system, blocking the alveolar holes for oxygen exchange, thus affecting DNA structure.

VietNamNet Bridge - Coal-fired thermal power plants which emit huge amounts of dust are still not required to issue reports on the possible impact on people’s health.

Despite great efforts to control air quality, air pollution is still high. Many experts blame legal loopholes and weak enforcement for the problem. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists have repeatedly warned about declining air quality. However, settling the problem is difficult despite an existing legal framework.

VietNamNet Bridge - Acid deposition and photochemical smog have appeared in recent years, mostly in summer months when the weather is dry and hot, especially in large urban areas such as Hanoi and HCMC.

 Air pollution in a key Chinese region surrounding Beijing worsened in the first four months of this year, despite tough new campaigns to enforce green regulations and punish offenders, 

VietNamNet Bridge - Air pollution is getting more serious in large urban areas, with pollution in the north more serious than the south. 

HCM City authorities have asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Finance to allocate an additional VND48.762 trillion of official development assistance (ODA) in the next three years,