On 10 March 2026, VNUHCM–University of Science (HCMUS) held a ceremony to launch the CASA-VN sub-project and hand over the automated air quality monitoring station (AQMS). This initiative forms part of the ‘Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN’ (CASA) project, a regional collaboration designed to bolster air quality monitoring and management capabilities across Southeast Asian nations.

The CASA project is funded by the ASEAN–Korea Cooperation Fund and led by Seoul National University. In Viet Nam, the CASA-VN sub-project is implemented in coordination with Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City, with HCMUS being the unit directly implementing and operating the monitoring system.

Within the framework of the programme, the automated air quality monitoring station (AQMS) was handed over and installed at HCMUS. In Viet Nam, the CASA project supports the deployment of two monitoring stations in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to strengthen the air quality tracking system and serve environmental research. The station located at HCMUS is one of the stations belonging to the CASA project monitoring network in the ASEAN region, which has been deployed in many countries across the area.

The AQMS is an automated monitoring system capable of continuous tracking of air quality parameters such as fine particulate matter PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and several common pollutants. Data from the system is updated in real-time, serving research on urban environments, analysis of air pollution trends, and providing a scientific basis for developing air quality management solutions. This data source will also be integrated into the University’s training and research activities.

Representing the University, Assoc.Prof. Trần Lê Quan – President of HCMUS – stated that air pollution is becoming one of the notable environmental and public health challenges in many large cities. The implementation of the CASA-VN sub-project not only contributes to improving environmental monitoring capacity but also creates a foundation for scientific research activities and academic cooperation in the field of air quality management.

In the context of ASEAN countries strengthening research cooperation on the environment and climate change, regional cooperation initiatives such as the CASA project play an important role in connecting scientific resources and sharing monitoring data between countries.

Speaking at the event, GS. Kiyoung Lee – CASA Project Manager, Seoul National University – expressed expectation that the CASA-VN sub-project will promote cooperation in training and research between Seoul National University and HCMUS, while contributing to expanding the air quality research network in the region.

In the coming time, monitoring data from the AQMS system will be shared within the CASA project research network in the ASEAN region, contributing to supporting interdisciplinary research and providing a scientific basis for building air quality improvement policies. The project also opens opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Vietnamese and South Korean scientists in the field of environmental science, thereby promoting research and the training of high-quality human resources serving the sustainable development of the region.