Is the air quality good in Ho Chi Minh City?
On January 11, 2025, at 4:00 AM PT, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is experiencing poor air quality due to urban emissions and stagnant weather. The AQI is 166, classified as unhealthy, with PM2.5 concentrations dominating.
These conditions may increase the risk of respiratory issues, worsen heart problems, and impair lung function, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions.
To stay safe during this temporary spike, limit outdoor time, seal windows, wear masks if venturing out, and use air purifiers indoors.
Air quality is dynamic and can change rapidly. Ho Chi Minh City ranked as the 7th most polluted major city in the world on Sunday morning (local time).
Click here for the real-time air quality map of Ho Chi Minh City.
While the air quality conditions today are unusually poor, it is important to keep in mind that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Ho Chi Minh City was 20.9 µg/m³. This corresponds to an AQI of 69, which falls into the “moderate” category and was about 4 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ranked as the 7th most polluted major city on Jan 11, 2026. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Ho Chi Minh City?
Air quality is forecasted to improve by Monday, reaching the moderate range, though pollution may rise again during peak traffic hours and unfavorable weather conditions.
Hourly air quality forecast for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Jan 11, 2026. Source: IQAir.
Over the past 30 days, air quality was mostly in the moderate range, with occasional peaks into Unhealthy for sensitive groups. Today, AQI levels have risen sharply into the unhealthy range.
Daily air quality forecast for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for the last 30 days. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Jan 11, 2026. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Ho Chi Minh City?
Poor air quality in Ho Chi Minh City is caused by a mix of local pollution sources and weather conditions that prevent pollutants from dispersing (1).
Key contributors include:
- Heavy traffic, particularly emissions from millions of fossil fuel-powered motorcycles (2).
- Construction dust from widespread urban and infrastructure development (3).
- Industrial emissions and outdated waste treatment systems (4).
- Residential activities such as cooking smoke and open waste burning.
- Weather conditions like fog and temperature inversions that trap pollution near the ground (5).
Transportation is the single largest source, responsible for about 40 percent of PM2.5 pollution, with motorcycles contributing the majority of these emissions (6).
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
