Environmental issues in Vietnam

Between 1961 and 1971, U.S military forces dispersed more than 19 million gallons of herbicidal agents over the Republic of Vietnam, including more than 12 million gallons of the dioxin-contaminant commonly known as Agent Orange. Research that studied subsequent effects of the contamination have been comparatively limited.[3] Data from 2009 totalled the amount of arable land for total land use to be approximately 20 percent, while permanent crops that do not require replanting after harvest total approximately 7 percent of the entire available land.[4]

The people of Vietnam have shown significant growth in development through economic reform plans that were initiated in 1986, known as Doi Moi. The business and agricultural reforms successfully created more than 30,000 private businesses, and poverty declined from about 50 percent to 29 percent of the population from the early 1990s to 2005.[5] However, reports have shown that due to the significant population growth, protected areas within the environmental sector are often overlooked when nearby land is developed, which creates conflict between area conservation plans versus land development and planning.[6]

Freshwater is accessible to 99% of the citizens in the range of one kilometer.[7] In the urban water supply exists a big difference between large and small cities. Tap water is a readily available water supply in large cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, covering nearly the entire population, whereas, in smaller cities, there is a 60% variability.[8]

In rural areas, freshwater within a one-kilometer range is accessible for 75% of the population, but only 51% of rural households have access to hygienic latrines.[9]

Around 60% of the Water Producing Companies (WPCs) are involved in the water market in urban areas. However, the supply so far is in the hands of the Government. The WPCs reduce their activities to the production of water.[8]

In rural areas, hand-dug wells remain the most important source of water as 39%-44% still rely on it. Only 10% of the rural population is supplied with piped water.[10]

Water pollution causes the greatest damage in the Mekong Delta. The delta is considered Vietnam's rice bowl. Water pollution caused by the rapid growing industry results in high rates of diarrhea since most people in this region depend on the surface water of the river.[11]

Common waterborne diseases in Vietnam are cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A.[12] In the case of cholera, even though the number of deaths caused by cholera hasn't been more than 2 since 1996, the number of reported cases of cholera is still significantly high. Caused by drinking water contaminated by bacterium, the number of reported cholera is well above 500, reaching 1900 in 2007, and 600 in 2010.[13] The fatality rate of cholera has been close to 0% since 1999.[13] In 2009, the number of diarrhea diseases reported was 296000 in total.[14] According to WHO, the number of water, sanitation, and hygiene attributable death in 2004 in Vietnam was 5938.[13] A surprising fact was that out of 5938 deaths, 4905 were children under 5 years, which means that children were the main victims of the water, sanitation and hygiene problem.

Air pollution is becoming a big threat to socioeconomic development. Big cities such as Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City are now among the top polluted cites in South East Asia[15] PM2.5 is a key air pollutant. The main causes include transport, poor urban planning, industrial activities, and solid fuel burning.[15]

Development of renewable energy such as solar and wind has potential to reduce air pollution.[16]

The area of mangrove forest in the Mekong Delta has decreased by 80 per cent between 1943 and 2000, to 110,700 hectares in 2000.[17] Wetland biodiversity has also decreased.[17] Ad hoc dyke construction was among the key causes.[18] Development planning needs to take into account costs and benefits to the whole society, including impacts on wetland values.[19] Revising water management governance has contributed to recent wetland improvement.[20]

Hang Sơn Đoòng cave, located in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, is considered the world's largest cave (by volume).[21][22] Plans are being considered to build a cable car through the cave. The proposed system would be 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) long, and cost between $112 and $211 million. The plans are opposed by environmentalists.[23]

The 2016 Vietnam marine life disaster was a water pollution crisis which affected Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên–Huế provinces in central Vietnam.

Fish carcasses were reported to have washed up on the beaches of Hà Tĩnh province from at least 6 April 2016.[24] Later, a large number of dead fish were found on the coast of Hà Tĩnh and three other provinces (Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên–Huế) until 18 April 2016.[25] Formosa Ha Tinh Steel, a steel plant built by the Taiwanese corporation Formosa Plastics, discharged toxic industrial waste illegally into the ocean through drainage pipes.[26] After denying responsibility for months, Formosa accepted responsibility for the fish deaths on June 30, 2016.[27]

EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement commits Vietnam and EU to multilateral environmental agreements, including those on climate change and biodiversity.[28] the EU's high environmental standards require Vietnamese businesses to improve environmental performance substantially. Regulations and enforcement on wildlife illegal trade and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing would need to be strengthened to enable Vietnam to fully reap potential benefits from the free trade.[28]

Vietnam had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.35/10, ranking it 104^th globally out of 172 countries.[29]

• Deforestation in Vietnam
• Environmental impact of war#Vietnam, Rwanda, and the Environment
• Operation Ranch Hand
• 2016 Vietnam marine life disaster

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.