Illegal dumping continues to plague coastal reclamation region in Vietnam’s An Giang

In recent months, many people have brazenly dumped trash near the intersection of Hoang Van Thu and Ton Duc Thang Streets at the reclamation site, according to D.T.H., a resident temporarily living in the ward.

H. said the garbage has been piled onto vacant lots, producing a strong stench and disrupting the daily lives of nearby households.

He added that his family recently purchased a house in the area with plans to settle down and work there.

However, dumping on empty plots has continued for months without a lasting solution, he added.

“This is a coastal reclamation area with well-built houses, yet garbage is scattered everywhere, causing foul smells and frustration for residents and passers-by,” H. said.

“The situation has dragged on, polluting the environment and spoiling the urban landscape, but it keeps recurring without being effectively handled.”

Recently, an informal dumping site has emerged on a vacant lot at the junction of the two streets, where heaps of rubbish have accumulated, affecting sanitation and the appearance of the residential area.

A representative of Kien Giang Urban Development Joint Stock Company acknowledged that the intersection has frequently been targeted for illegal dumping.

The company’s name reflects former Kien Giang Province, which was merged into An Giang following a national administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1, 2025.

The firm has repeatedly dispatched workers to clear the site, but the problem persists, the representative said.

Warning signs prohibiting dumping were previously installed but were later removed.

Metal barriers were also erected in an attempt to deter violators, yet construction debris and rubble continued to be discarded there.

“Whenever we discover garbage, we clean it up completely,” said the representative.

“However, just a few days later, it reappears. This is waste illegally discarded by residents, not a failure of the company’s regular household waste collection.”

Duong Hong Tuan, deputy chairman of the Rach Gia Ward administration, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that vacant lots in the reclamation area have frequently been misused as dumping sites despite repeated enforcement efforts.

“Whenever violations are detected, fines are imposed immediately, and vehicles can even be impounded,” Tuan said.

“However, violators are not always caught in the act. In some cases, prohibition signs have proven ineffective, and sometimes the more signs we install, the more waste is dumped.”

He said the ward is considering installing additional surveillance cameras to help detect and handle violations more promptly.

Local authorities are also stepping up public awareness campaigns in an effort to improve residents’ sense of responsibility and curb the recurrence of the problem.