The Nhue and Day Rivers in Hanoi are seriously polluted with murky water, foul odor, and parts clogged with mud and litter.

The Day River is a branch of the Red River, traversing a distance of 240 kilometers through Hanoi, as well as the northern provinces of Hoa Binh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, and Nam Dinh, before ultimately emptying into the Gulf of Tonkin. 

The Nhue River is a tributary of the Day River, extending approximately 76 kilometers in a meandering course that largely runs in a north-northwest to south-southeast direction, passing through both Hanoi and Ha Nam Province.

A calf drinks from the Nhue River in Hoai Duc District, Hanoi, October 14, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Residents of Hanoi’s districts situated alongside these two rivers have complained that the long-standing pollution issues have a profound impact on their everyday lives and agricultural activities.

“During hot weather, the odor from the river pervades our residences,” said Nguyen Thi Quy, a 64-year-old resident living near the Nhue River in Hanoi’s Ha Dong District.

Trash blocks the flow of the Day River in Quoc Oai District, Hanoi, October 14, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre

“Around two decades ago, the Day River’s water was unpolluted and was still suitable for daily use,” said Kieu Duy Hoang, a resident of Hanoi’s Hoai Duc District.

“However, the current pollution has escalated to the extent that even watering a tree with this water source can lead to its demise.

“As a result, we now have to extract water from drilled wells for irrigating crops.”

A woman collects garbage from the Nhue River as a means of livelihood, October 14, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The residents had filed complaints with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment regarding the rivers’ pollution issue.

In response, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh on September 28 said that the ministry has overseen and collaborated with relevant departments to execute numerous tasks related to the river basin environmental protection. 

Litter is seen on the bank of the Nhue River in Hanoi, October 14, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre

These tasks include the establishment of an environmental information system and database, the statistical investigations regarding waste sources, and the assessment and mitigation of environmental pollution hot spots that span multiple regions and provinces.

Additionally, the ministry has partnered with the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment to initiate a pilot project aimed at constructing a wastewater treatment facility for the Nhue River. 

Litter is seen on the bank of the Nhue River in Hanoi, October 14, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre

They are also working in conjunction with the People’s Committee of Ha Nam to establish and operate several automatic monitoring stations for tracking water quality trends. 

Furthermore, the ministry has taken the lead in collaborating with localities to organize inspections and address violations related to waste discharge into river basins.

Trash blocks the flow of the Day River in Quoc Oai District, Hanoi, October 14, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre

However, the ministry cites resource limitations as a challenge in preventing and addressing environmental issues in the Nhue River-Day River basin.

To combat pollution, they plan to propose a surface water quality management plan to the Prime Minister, emphasizing pollution prevention. 

Wastewater is discharged into the Nhue River in Hanoi, October 14, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre

They also recommend controlling waste sources, implementing pollution remediation projects, building rainwater and wastewater separation systems, and conducting river water quality monitoring.

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