The 240km-long Day River, one of the major rivers in northern Vietnam, is riddled with untreated wastewater and sediment buildup, particularly several sections in suburban Hanoi.

Being fed by the Red River through the Cam Dinh sluice gate, located in Hanoi’s Phuc Tho District, the Day River faces worsening pollution due to reduced water inflow and rampant discharge of raw sewage.

A recent site visit in late December by Tuoi Tre (Youth) correspondents revealed alarming conditions in the outlying districts of Hoai Duc and Quoc Oai, where open sewers kept releasing untreated wastewater into the waterway and a dearth of heavy rainfall has exacerbated the water pollution.

In Hoai Duc’s Van Con Commune, parts of the river have narrowed to just 4-5m, with black, oily water that emits a foul stench.

A section of the river in Quoc Oai’s Yen Son Commune has turned into a wastewater ditch.

A Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment official told Tuoi Tre that untreated domestic wastewater was identified as the primary source of pollution in the Nhue-Day river basin, contributing to over 65 percent of contamination.

In Hanoi, approximately one million cubic meters of wastewater is discharged into the city’s rivers daily, with only 22 percent of it being treated.

In neighboring areas, Ha Nam Province daily releases some 114,000 cubic meters of wastewater, with 60 percent of urban areas equipped with wastewater treatment systems.

Ninh Binh Province generates 100,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day, but only 11 percent of urban areas have treatment facilities, with just 15 percent of wastewater treated.

These untreated discharges continue to flow directly into the Day River, worsening its condition.

To combat pollution and revive the river, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment urged the implementation of some immediate actions.

The ministry underscored the need to prioritize cleaning urban rivers in Hanoi, such as the To Lich, Lu, Set, and Kim Nguu rivers, which are primary sources of pollution for the Day River.

Authorities need to adopt measures to improve drainage systems and remove sediment to restore the river's flow, and increase wastewater treatment capacity in Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, and Hanoi, especially in industrial and craft village clusters.

The Institute of Water Resources Planning, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported that the significant lowering of the Red River bed is severely impacting the efficiency of irrigation systems, including the Cam Dinh sluice gate in Hanoi’s Phuc Tho District, which channels water into the Day River. A site visit by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondents by end-2024 revealed that the Cam Dinh sluice gate had run completely dry. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to the Institute of Water Resources Planning, the decline in Red River water levels not only hinders water extraction for ecological preservation but also leads to dead river sections like those in the Day River, where consistent flow can no longer be maintained. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Some sections of the Day River running through Hoai Duc District in suburban Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Some sections of the Day River running through Hoai Duc District in suburban Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Some sections of the Day River running through Hoai Duc District in suburban Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The Day River flows beneath Thang Long Boulevard in Yen Son Commune, Quoc Oai District in suburban Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The Day River flows beneath Thang Long Boulevard in Yen Son Commune, Quoc Oai District in suburban Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

In Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province, northern Vietnam, the Day River’s water is less polluted and sediment-free compared to some outlying districts in Hanoi. However, data released by the Ha Nam Department of Natural Resources and Environment showed that ammonia levels at Phu Ly Bridge exceeded the permissible limit by 7.6 times, while dissolved oxygen levels were 2.59 times below the acceptable threshold. Authorities have introduced preventive measures to protect aquatic resources from further harm. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thi Van, a 70-year-old native of Phu Ly City in Ha Nam Province, northern Vietnam, elaborated that the Day River started to show signs of pollution about 15 years ago. During dry days, strong winds blow the foul smell into local homes, making it unbearable. Having grown up near the Day River, Van was saddened to see it deteriorate year after year, hoping that authorities would take action to revive the river. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Despite being polluted, the Day River remains a source of income for many who rely on it for fishing and aquaculture in Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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