Describe a place you have visited that is affected by air pollution You should say: • where this place is • when you visited it • what kind of air pollution affects it • and explain why the air pollution problem is serious in this place.

One place I have visited that is quite badly affected by air pollution is Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. I went there last winter for a short trip, mainly to visit the Old Quarter, try the local food, and see some historical sites like Hoan Kiem Lake and the Temple of Literature. What struck me was that the air often looked grey and hazy, especially in the morning. The pollution seemed to come from a mixture of motorbike exhaust, construction dust, factory emissions, and smoke from people burning waste in some areas. On a few days, I could actually feel the air irritating my throat, and the skyline was partly hidden by smog. I think the problem is serious because Hanoi is extremely crowded, and millions of people travel by motorbike every day. On top of that, new buildings are going up all the time, so dust is constantly being released into the air. This is not just unpleasant for visitors; it can have long-term effects on local people’s health, especially children, elderly people, and anyone with asthma or other breathing problems. So although Hanoi is a fascinating and lively city, its air pollution is definitely one of the biggest challenges it faces.