Tho Quang fishing port and boat dock, both located in the central city of Da Nang, are riddled with severe pollution, with plastic waste, food containers, and nylon bags covering the water’s surface, creating foul odors and a persistent eyesore.

When fishing boats docked at the port for seafood to be unloaded, waste such as bottles and wastewater was dumped directly into the water. 

Meanwhile, runoff from seafood trading and processing activities worsened the pollution.

The Tho Quang boat dock has experienced the same situation, where fishing gear, styrofoam boxes, plastic bottles, and other trash bobbed on the water’s surface, with most of the trash discarded by docked boats.

Many fishermen were found to have thrown garbage overboard rather than disposing of it properly.

Large numbers of fishing vessels being moored to the boat dock made it increasingly difficult to reduce pollution.

The Tho Quang boat dock in Da Nang City, central Vietnam is plagued with garbage. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre

Garbage also plagued the sidewalks around the facilities.

Along Chu Huy Man Street, discarded mattresses, beds, and construction debris were seen scattered across the sidewalks.

These unauthorized dumping sites caused pollution and made the neighborhood an eyesore.

Local inhabitants including Hong expressed frustration at the situation.

She said that sanitation workers often came to clean up the place, but items like broken furniture or construction debris were not collected.

At night, people sneaked out to dump trash on the sidewalks, creating illegal dumpsites. 

“I tried to stop them, but they just ignored me—or worse, cursed at me,” Hong recalled.

Garbage is discarded directly into the Tho Quang boat dock, causing severe water pollution. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre

Sanitation workers like 55-year-old Dang Thi Xuan expressed their displeasure at the situation.

“We collect trash every day, but it never stops. 

“Today, we’ve already cleaned the boat lock twice, and the trash keeps drifting in.”

Garbage is discarded directly into the Tho Quang boat dock, causing severe water pollution. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre

Xuan and her co-workers took photos after each cleanup to prove they had finished their job, but the problem persisted, she added.

Tran Van Be, 63, who works nearby, echoed similar concerns.

Sanitation workers clean up the area every day, but the locals’ poor awareness keeps the trash coming. 

During rainy and windy days, even more garbage washed ashore, Be elaborated.

Illegal dumping sites are spotted near the Thuan Phuoc Bridge in Son Tra District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre

Illegal dumping sites are spotted near the Thuan Phuoc Bridge in Son Tra District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre

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