Air quality in Nha Trang

What is the current air quality in Nha Trang?

Towards the end of 2020, the air quality in Nha Trang varied between “good” and “moderate” according to the values suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The “moderate” figures ranged between 54 and 86 US AQI and the “Good” figures were in the 17 to 31 US AQI range. These figures reflect the fact that it is currently the rainy season in Nha Trang and the rain acts as an air cleaner.

How does poor air quality affect our health?

According to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 60,000 people died in 2016 from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia in Vietnam. The most sensitive and affected groups of PM2.5 and PM10 fine dust pollution are children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with heart disease or respiratory problems. Young children living in areas with heavy air pollution do not attain their full height and are 19-25% more likely to develop respiratory diseases than normal. Asthma is becoming increasingly more common throughout these polluted cities.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) outdoor air quality database currently includes data from more than 4,300 cities in 108 countries, including Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. It is the world's most comprehensive database on outdoor air pollution.

How bad is the air pollution in Nha Trang?

According to the measurement index introduced by the Vietnam Centre for Environmental Monitoring Portal which took measurements on 21^st December 2019, Ho Chi Minh City had an index of air quality harmful to health (152), Hanoi's air quality index continues to become even more hazardous to health, with a measured index of 191. As predicted, the air quality in Nha Trang is extremely good with a recorded value of 25.

Previously, on 1^st November 2019, the air quality measured in Nha Trang reached a very good index 34, higher than that in Duong Dong town which is the main town on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, which was 51. This proves that not all areas near the ocean have an equally good air quality index.

It is said that activities such as deforestation, oil spills, human waste disposal, factory discharge, industrial zones and tourism contribute for up to 85% of marine environmental pollution and ruin of the ecosystem. This, in turn, affects the quality of the air through chemicals emitted from their degradation.

What are the sources of air pollution in Nha Trang?

As with large cities throughout the world, the main source of pollution in Nha Trang come from the transportation section. Because of its coastal location, Nha Trang is home to an extremely busy port, situated in Van Phong Bay. As a deep-water port, it can accommodate some very large vessels. These diesel-burning engines produce a large amount of air pollution. There is also a very busy airport just 28 kilometres from the city. It is thought to be the fourth busiest airport in Vietnam.

Nha Trang is also adjacent to the main north/south highway in Vietnam which carries a large volume of traffic throughout the day and night, and the main rail line also passes through the city and disgorges passengers at the main station.

Towards the south of the city, several industrial zones have been established in the Cam Ranh area. These factories contribute to the air pollution through their emissions.

Like other large cities, Nha Trang is continuing to grow and modernise some of its old, antiquated buildings. The demolition of these old buildings and construction of their replacements generates a huge amount of dust, particularly the PM2.5 and PM 10 particulates.

The area surrounding the city of Nha Trang is agricultural and the main source of rice production. Once the rice has been harvested the resultant waste is burnt which can produce a huge amount of polluted air which can blow in the direction of Nha Trang.

The main type of fuel used in the cooking stoves is either charcoal or honeycomb charcoal. It is very cheap and readily available but produces a large number of deadly pollutants directly into the home’s interior where it is breathed in.

There are many craft villages in the area around Nha Trang which produce a surprisingly large amount of air pollution. They use charcoal and other solid fuels in their manufacturing processes. Some of the machines they use can be extremely old and inefficient. Filtration systems are seldom cleaned and possibly malfunction.

During the long dry season when the sun is at its strongest, the atmosphere in the residential area along the Cam Ranh Bay area carries a strong odour which rises from the seashore. This strong synthetic stench stems from garbage floating on the surface and from the residents' toilets. Houses that are built on the water’s edge have their toilets built over the water. Any waste matter is deposited directly into the sea. It is also common practice to put the bagged rubbish at the waters’ edge and wait for the tide to wash it out to sea.

How can the air quality in Nha Trang be improved?

Older vehicles which do not have the latest filtration systems are to be banned from the city centre, as are large commercial vehicles between certain hours of the day.

Vessels using the port facilities are only permitted to use “clean” fuel whilst in the dock. Other marine vessels are encouraged to use clean fuel and not to use fuel that has been adulterated by the addition of cheap hydrocarbons. But the latter is extremely difficult to enforce.

Stubble burning is discouraged but the alternative to it costs money which many of the poor peasant farmers are reluctant to do. It is made worse because other unwanted garbage is often thrown onto the burning fields as a way of disposal.

The use of charcoal and other organic fuels in the household could be discouraged but the replacement stove is likely to be expensive, both for the initial purchase and subsequent use. Electricity and/or LNG cost a lot more than charcoal so would be very unpopular. In some of the more remote areas in the countryside, electricity is not readily available.