Vietnamese tile maker caught dumping waste into river

The company reportedly directed coal sludge into the Thi Vai River in Dong Nai Province.

Police in southern Vietnam recently caught a ceramic tile factory dumping industrial waste into the Thi Vai River, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Pak Vietnam, a local company that manufactures and sells construction materials, was caught pumping black putrid sewage into a storm drain.

According to reports from VNA, the untreated waste flowed through a drainage ditch into a nearby industrial park before settling in a segment of the Thi Vai River in Dong Nai Province.

A company representative said the sludge came from a coal gasification boiler that broke down several days before police made their discovery.

Investigators have collected samples of the sludge and ordered the factory to halt its dumping at once.

The Thi Vai River became the subject of Vietnam's first major environmental investigation in 2009 when Taiwanese MSG manufacturer Vedan Viet Nam confessed to having piped untreated wastewater into the river for years.

The company's intransigence led to a national boycott of its products.

Even after being forced to pay a US$6 million fine, Vedan was caught again in 2015.

Industrial waste discharges became a serious problem for Vietnam after the country witnessed massive fish deaths along more than 200 kilometers of the central coastline in early April.

Taiwanese steel plant Formosa was held responsible for the disaster as authorities found the firm had discharged a cocktail of toxic chemicals into the sea through an illegal drainage pipe.

Authorities say it's now safe to swim off the coast of the four provinces affected by the disaster, but the integrity of seafood caught within 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) off the coast remains unclear.

Vnexpress

Other News

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

The International Day of Older Persons 2026, themed “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” highlights the need to develop healthcare, social security, labour-market and social-service systems in response to increasing life expectancy. For Vietnam, rapid population ageing is not only a demographic issue but also a development challenge.

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Both sides agreed to keep educating officials, Party members, youth union groups and the broader public, especially young people in both provinces, on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

The captain discovered water entering ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side, causing the vessel to list slightly. Initial assessments indicated that the vessel may have struck an underwater rock formation while underway.

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright is entering an entirely new phase. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating text, summarising books, mimicking writing styles and producing content at enormous speed, ensuring copyright protection is becoming more difficult.

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh city's Public Security Department warned individuals, agencies and businesses not to publicly disclose or provide personal information or bank account details on social media, and urged organisations and businesses to strictly comply with regulations on protecting customers’ personal data.

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

The continued recovery of martyrs’ remains provides valuable information and further evidence of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. It also encourages search teams to persist in locating fallen soldiers still lying on former battlefields, contributing to the effective implementation of the 500-day campaign and reflecting Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude.

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam will launch nationwide screening for five groups of school-related diseases and health conditions among students from preschool through high school from 2028, including overweight and obesity, refractive errors, spinal curvature, oral diseases and mental health disorders.