Photography contest “Portray Air, Expose Pollution” (CHANGE Vietnam)

Photos from the photography contest “Portray Air, Expose Pollution” organised by Change Vietnam to raise everyone's awareness of air pollution to suggest some possible solutions and call for action of ministries, departments, businesses and people to reduce air pollution in Vietnam.

The pictures have portrayed an alarming reality of air pollution in Vietnam. Exhaust fume from factories being released to the Uong Bi sky, the Hanoi roads full of dust and smoke, black smoke from burning garbage on rice fields … many people may not be familiar with those scenes. Especially people who do not have to live with thermal power plants just around the corner. The photos show us the incredible growth rate of Vietnam economy, bringing with it an increase in air pollution from transportation, factories, …

Air pollution has become more difficult to address, not only in our country but also worldwide. Air quality indicators show that we have had some alarming-rate day, particularly in large populous cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. Photos from the photography contest “Portray Air, Expose Pollution” organised by Change Vietnam to raise everyone's awareness of air pollution to suggest some possible solutions and call for action of ministries, departments, businesses and people to reduce air pollution in Vietnam.

Perhaps a picture is more than a thousand words, let’s listen to their stories, shall we?

The photo demonstrates Uong Bi Thermal Power Plant - one of the eight active thermal power plants in Quang Ninh, the chimney column is a highlight in the red sunset sky. Quang Ninh is the thermal power centre of the North with a total capacity of 5,640MW connected to the national electricity network. In order to have electricity for the whole country, despite the application of modern technologies in the construction of factories, Quang Ninh cannot avoid pollution due to the exploitation and operation of power plants. Author: Nguyen Thanh Chung

People make ends meet by collecting trash at the landfill in the smouldering fire all year round. Author: Pham Huy Dang

In November, Bao Loc city area is polluted with dust and smoke because right after the coffee harvest season, people have to dry the coffee beans into the size of the dried skins of coffee cherries. Author: Le Van Cuong

Dust and smoke from the factory are destroying the lives of people and nature. Author: Tran Van Tuy

Going between the vehicles releasing dust and smoke, the girl sitting behind tried to cover her mouth and her friend's who was driving the motorbike in the effort to avoid inhaling too much dust. Author: Nguyen Minh Tan

When taking this picture, the sky was gloomy, Pha Lai thermal power plant was operating with two exhaust pipes the background is the scene of Ha Long Bay, the world natural wonder. Author: Tran Ngoc Nam

A man burning straw in the field and the smoke from straw creates a scene of heavy air pollution. Author: Nong Thanh Toan

The Pham Van Dong street is being described by people as "The road of suffering". High traffic volume and construction at the same time cause frequent traffic congestion. This is one source of smoke and dust causing serious air pollution for people. Author: Pham Van Hoc

The photo describes Hanoi's afternoons in an alarmingly polluted state. Author: Nguyen Viet Cuong

Phuc Tan is a neighbourhood located along the romantic Long Bien Bridge, but the people here have long been familiar with the overwhelming odour every time the waste is burned, making everything become more and more polluted. The picture was taken while crossing the bridge and this terrible situation is still happening despite the intervention of the local government, and the people of Phuc Tan village still have to brace themselves to suffer from their polluted life. Author: Nguyen Thi Phuong Hong

Saigon in the last months of the year rarely saw the dawn and sunset properly. The whole city is covered by a thick layer of smog. When the sun rises, we cannot see the first rays of sunlight on the horizon. Instead, there is a layer of blind dust rising higher and higher under the heat of the sun. Millions of people in Ho Chi Minh City have to inhale every day the smoky, polluted dust but still thinking they are living in a "foggy kingdom". Author: Phan Thi Khanh

Source: CHANGE Vietnam