Vietnam’s capital Hanoi took the top spot for air pollution among global cities on Wednesday, as reported by iQair, a leading air quality monitoring service that tracks and rates pollution levels using the Air Quality Index (AQI).

As the smog persisted, residents and tourists who spoke to Reuters on Thursday voiced their worries and frustrations about the hazardous air quality, which has become a constant companion to the city.

“It will definitely damage my health if I have to live here in Hanoi. There are just way too many vehicles on the street at the same time”, said tourist Tran Tuan Anh, 29, who is visiting Hanoi while wearing a face mask full-time.

With a population of nearly 9 million and over 8 million registered motor vehicles, Hanoi faces significant air pollution challenges, which are exacerbated by the burning of agricultural and household waste, as well as emissions from industrial and construction activities, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to address the city's environmental concerns.

(Production: Minh Nguyen, Daniel Lim)