pollution? (Hanoi)

Hello everyone,

The day of my departure is drawing near, and I am trying to put the finishing touches on my planning and preparation. I've read a lot online about how bad the air pollution can be at times, even causing some people to get sick.

What has your eperience been with coping with pollution, and what have you heard from non-locals? And, is it really worse than any other large city? Specifically, do you think wearing face masks while riding around town is a good idea? (I plan on buying a motorbike right away.) What about an air filter to have in the apartment.

Finally, do many people in Hanoi run for exercise? I know it's never a good idea to run downtown in any city, but perhaps around west lake, or some of the other parks in the area?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Lee