Strong stench from the paper factory complex
Along the Hue bypass road, passing through Thanh Thuy ward, about 500m south of 3 Sao gas station, paper production workshops are located close together. Inside are continuous production lines, emitting unpleasant odors, causing people and workers working in Thuy Phuong Industrial Cluster to be upset and complain to Lao Dong Newspaper.
In the industrial cluster, three enterprises including Truong Thang Phat Group Co., Ltd., Huy Tien Paper Production One Member Co., Ltd. and Trong Vuong Co., Ltd. are operating paper production.
Using a rotating device to follow the black smoke column above the factory of Truong Thang Phat Group Co., Ltd., to the back of a furnace that appeared before their eyes. Around were many sacks containing excess fabric gathered in large piles. When the furnace was operating, the sacks of fabric were put into the furnace mouth, and a worker used his hand to hug both the fabric and the sack and threw them into the furnace as fuel for combustion.
When the fabric was just brought into the kiln, the fire flared up even larger, smoke on the exhaust pipe also billowed, at times the smoke turned black. The stench spread by the wind to the surrounding area. Many workers working near this area said that the stench appeared frequently and caused severe headaches.
Mr. Hoang Xuan Hai (25 years old, name changed), a worker working at the industrial cluster for about a year, said that every time the factory burns fabric, a strange smell spreads around, this smell is pungent and harsh, just inhaling it makes me feel tired. "On the first day of working, the smell was already heavy and unpleasant. Inhaling for a long time makes me feel tired, sometimes dizzy. Recently, after each working day, I often have a headache," Mr. Hai said.
Not only burning lychees, the stench also spreads from the soil ditch system running along the production area of the factory cluster. In some sections, stagnant water is dark black, the surface appears with a scum layer. When the leaves and mud covering the top are removed, the water below shows signs of stagnation and emits a strong odor.
In front of the factories, many types of materials such as scrap paper, cardboard, sacks, and scrap are gathered close to the service road of the Hue bypass. Some locations of materials spill out of the factory area, posing a potential risk of traffic unsafety and fire prevention and fighting.
Incomplete environmental records, production activities continue
In the area between the service road and the Hue bypass, there is a solid concrete construction project, with a roof and fixed items, with the name Huy Tien Paper Production Co., Ltd. hanging in front.
Inside, there are many household items, showing signs of being used as a place to live. Around, there are still piles of materials located close to the edge of the bypass road. Both causing shabbiness and potential danger when the traffic volume through the area is very large.
I propose that functional agencies soon inspect and rectify, there is no such thing as building houses and gathering materials by the bypass road like this" - Mr. Hoang Linh - a truck driver angrily said.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, a representative of the Sub-Department of Environmental Protection (Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City) said that the paper factory complex in Thuy Phuong Industrial Cluster that Lao Dong Newspaper reflected has existed for many years, and in the process of operation, many issues related to environment, land, investment and construction have arisen.
According to the Sub-Department of Environmental Protection, Trong Vuong Co., Ltd. and Huy Tien Paper Production One Member Co., Ltd. are using land in Thuy Phuong Industrial Cluster to produce paper but do not have legal land use right documents, and have not been leased land by competent State agencies. Truong Thang Phat Group Co., Ltd. was leased land for operation, but the term is also nearing.
Previously, in 2019, the General Department of Environment inspected the compliance with environmental protection laws at all 3 enterprises. The results showed that the establishments did not have environmental records as prescribed during the investment and production process. The inspection agency requested that businesses only operate after completing environmental records. However, to date, production in the area continues to take place.
In 2020, functional agencies continued to inspect contents related to land, construction, environment, investment, fire prevention and fighting. Some shortcomings were pointed out but have not been thoroughly handled.
By 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City will organize inspections, take unscheduled samples and identify two enterprises with discharge behavior exceeding regulations.
On January 14, 2026, Huy Tien Paper Production Co., Ltd. was fined and applied remedial measures with a total amount of more than 434.5 million VND. Truong Thang Phat Group Co., Ltd. was also fined and requested to remedy the consequences with a total amount of more than 358.9 million VND.
However, according to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City, to date, these two enterprises have not fully complied with the sanctioning decisions.
Representatives of the Sub-Department of Environmental Protection said that accurate emission assessment from the incinerator needs to be carried out by taking samples in stable operating conditions. In some previous inspections, when functional teams were present, the facility did not operate the incinerator or did not put fuel in as at normal production times, so taking samples was difficult.
Meanwhile, according to current regulations, establishments subject to environmental registration must be registered at Thanh Thuy Ward People's Committee. However, registration has not yet been completed.
