Burning is to Vietnam as baseball is to the US: a national pastime. It’s one of the two primary methods of trash disposal, the other being burying rubbish in a landfill. The AQI on this screenshot was recorded 7.1 km (4.4 miles) from where I took these photos in late December. A woman who sells coconuts started the fire, a common sight at all hours of the day and night in Vietnam, a short distance from her stand. She’s outside inhaling this smoke and polluted air. People who smoke, mostly men, get three strikes or maybe four if they also inhale secondhand smoke. The countdown to a disease, lung-related or otherwise, is ticking.

For the record outdoor burning of any kind of material is illegal in Vietnam but I’ve never seen the law enforced. Why not? It’s a double-win: 1) help the environment; and, 2) collect fine money. It’s a no-brainer but not yet an official priority.

People routinely start fires and then walk away, something I was taught never to do as a child. The photo below, which I took from my side-view mirror, is an example. You can see the fire burning up the hill near a busy highway leading to a bridge over the Red River. (The litter is typical of most highways in Vietnam.)

All we can do is do our best to protect ourselves from dirty air by following the usual recommendations and using air purifiers indoors if we have the means.

Another option is to pull up stakes and relocate to a cleaner environment, which is exactly what some Hanoians have chosen to do. Here is a summary of the current situation and two examples of people who decided to leave:

Hanoi declared world’s most polluted city, authorities seek action (4.1.25) My adopted hometown is #1 in a most unenviable category.

Hanoi’s air quality ‘hazardous‘ (23.12.24) VNExpress International

Woman sells 4 houses, flees Hanoi to escape haze (23.12.24) VNExpress International

Flee or fall ill: For many Hanoi residents pollution makes choices stark (25.11.24) VNExpress International

In case you don’t know or need a refresher, “ecocide” is defined as destruction of the natural environment by deliberate or negligent human action.

P.S.: Between you, me, and whoever else is reading my humble blog, I plan to carry a jug or two of water in my car to put out fires whenever I can, especially when no one is around. Otherwise, I’d risk getting into a fight with some angry firebug and polluter.

Peace, MAA