Experts Weigh Local Weather and Indonesian Smoke Behind HCMC Morning Haze
Unusual haze lingered over Ho Chi Minh City from Thursday morning until noon on October 15 after clear skies the previous day, prompting meteorologists to assess local weather conditions and the unconfirmed possibility of transboundary smoke from Indonesia.
- Thick haze blanketed Ho Chi Minh City from Thursday morning until noon on October 15 following clear skies a day earlier, as early-morning humidity reached 91–96% with low clouds covering 60–80% of the sky.
- Meteorologist Le Thi Xuan Lan described the phenomenon as a mix of dry haze and fog trapped near the ground by weak southeasterly winds, noting that while southerly winds can carry Indonesian wildfire smoke northward, measurements are needed and evidence remains insufficient to confirm it.
- Southern Hydro-Meteorological Center forecasting head Le Dinh Quyet said local conditions—overnight rain raising lower-air humidity, weak winds, low cloud cover, and dense high-rise buildings blocking airflow—can explain the reduced visibility.
Unusual haze blanketed Ho Chi Minh City from Thursday morning until noon on October 15, a day after clear skies. Meteorologist Le Thi Xuan Lan said the murky conditions mixed dry haze and fog as weak southeasterly winds trapped dust and pollutants near the ground.
Local Weather Factors and Unconfirmed Wildfire Smoke
Lan noted that southerly-component winds (southwesterly or southeasterly) can carry transboundary haze from Indonesia northward to southern Vietnam, but measurements are needed to tell if it contributed this time, and evidence is still insufficient to confirm Indonesian smoke as the cause. Indonesia is facing one of its worst forest fire seasons in years under prolonged dry conditions from a strong El Nino, especially in Sumatra and Borneo, with over 283,000 respiratory cases reported, nearly 300 homes destroyed in Bangka Belitung Province, and smoke drifting into Singapore and Malaysia.
Conversely, Le Dinh Quyet, forecasting head at the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, said the haze was not unusual and could be explained locally: overnight rain left high moisture in the lower atmosphere, early-morning humidity ranged from 91 to 96%, weak winds and low clouds covering 60–80% of the sky hindered dispersion, and dense high-rise buildings blocked air circulation, lowering visibility.
For foreign residents, both experts pointed to weak winds holding pollutants and moisture near the ground, while any contribution from Indonesian fire smoke remains unconfirmed.
Source: Tuoi Tre News.
Tuoi Tre News · Published Oct 15, 2026
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