Many "black spots
Along the coastal route of Ha Long Bay, the former Ha Long city area, from Bai Chay ward to Hong Gai, Ha Long, it is not difficult to encounter black, foul-smelling water flows, through the drainage system, discharged directly into the sea.
From a sewer in the billion-dollar Ben Doan urban area, Hong Gai ward - a place to watch the sunset and check-in with international tourist cruise ships for tourists, people can easily see black, rotten water continuously pouring into Ha Long Bay.
The water surface of Ha Long Bay is probably the most heavily polluted on Tran Quoc Nghien street. This route is about 8km long, from the foot of Bai Chay bridge, passing through famous tourist attractions and the most enchanting Ha Long Bay viewing locations, to Hon Gai beach. Standing anywhere on this route, you can smell the stench and fishy smell. Passing through points such as Ha Long 1 fish market area, or locations with sewer drains located on the bay bank, many people have to cover their noses.
Areas that regularly have tourists and people checking in and sightseeing near 30/10 Square and Quang Ninh Museum are always in a state of strong stench. According to people, water from inside polluted and untreated residential areas has flowed directly into Ha Long Bay.
Lao Dong Newspaper has had many articles reflecting on the pollution situation causing white fish deaths in lakes and canals in Monbay urban area, Ha Long ward nearby. The entire water source has been discharged directly into Ha Long Bay day and night for many years and still continues to be so. Not only affecting the aesthetics, this situation also causes a psychological fear for tourists when approaching coastal areas, especially those near beaches and service areas.
Who is responsible?
Statistics show that the total amount of domestic wastewater to be treated in concentrated urban areas in the old Ha Long City is about 40,403m3/day and night. However, the total amount of domestic wastewater collected and treated in the area is 25,624m3/day and night, reaching 63.42%.
In many areas, domestic wastewater has not been collected, such as Ha Lam, Ha Tu wards and part of areas belonging to Hong Gai, Cao Xanh, Ha Long wards...
In early 2025, the old Ha Long City People's Committee reported to the Provincial People's Committee and was approved to adjust the scope of domestic wastewater collection to centralized wastewater treatment plants that are receiving and operating treatment that have not reached the licensed capacity. When completed and put into operation, the rate of wastewater collection and treatment in concentrated urban areas will reach 69.85%. However, by July 2025, there will be no more district-level authorities while the above plan has not been implemented.
According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Son - Director of Quang Ninh Department of Agriculture and Environment - after implementing the 2-level government, many functions and tasks are transferred to the commune-level government. The handling of some environmental pollution issues is also undertaken by the commune-level government.
Mr. Luu Manh Tuan - Chairman of Ha Long Ward People's Committee - said that currently the handling of wastewater pollution discharged into Ha Long Bay is under the authority of Ha Long Ward. According to many people, the handling of water pollution in Ha Long Bay is very slow, if the wastewater source from inside cannot be resolved, Ha Long Bay will continue to be polluted.
Environmental experts once warned that the coastal area - which directly receives wastewater from the mainland - if not well controlled, will become a "dispersion point", spreading pollution to a wider area of Ha Long Bay.
This will affect the marine ecosystem and water quality throughout the bay and will be very poor, taking a long time to fix. When garbage still floats everywhere and stench still exists, the development of coastal services will be difficult to achieve expectations.
