VietNamNet Bridge – An increasing number of people are now suffering from cancer, acute and chronic respiratory diseases and allergic reactions in big cities in Vietnam as a result of air pollution.

One man from the northern province of Ha Nam was hospitalized for a long lasting chronic cough and breathing problems. Doctors discovered that he was actually suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to polluted air.

The quality of the environment in Vietnam has steadily dropped compared to other nations in the world, according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which is compiled by prestigious global environmental centers.

The survey is coordinated by scientists from the environmental studies centers of Yale University and Columbia University in the US and in the European Union, who have carried out the research for years in 132 nations.

It's getting harder to breathe in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Here's the proof.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the beloved tourist destination Ha Long are being plagued by severe air pollution, according to a new study released Thursday.

The environment ministry’s study between 2011 and 2015 found the air quality has become worse in many urban areas, especially the two largest cities and Ha Long.

People in Hanoi and throughout the Southeast Asian country of Vietnam are starting to wake up and realize the gravity of the country’s air pollution problem, Nguy Thi Khanh told an air quality panel this past May.

Ms Khanh, who is the founder of GreenID, a Vietnamese non-profit organization that works to promote sustainable environmental and economic development, noted that people in cities such as Hanoi regularly wear surgical masks.

Every year, Vietnam loses 5 percent of GDP due to pollution. Last year, Hanoi topped the list of the most polluted cities in South East Asia.