The Germany-Vietnam Water Forum held in HCM City on November 9 to discuss ways the two countries could cooperate in water, wastewater and urban resilience projects.
Workers from a waste treatment company in HCM City clean up a pond in central Quang Ngai province’s Binh Thuan commune (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA)𒁃 - The Germany-Vietnam Water Forum held in HCM City on November 9 to discuss ways the two countries could cooperate in water, wastewater and urban resilience projects.
“For economic, social and ecological reasons, it is imperative that we enhance resource efficiency. Interlinked and intelligent infrastructure for water supply and wastewater management, as well as sustainable urban planning, are of the utmost importance,” said Gunther Adler, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.
The forum also introduced the new German Development Corporation (GIZ) and Ministry of Construction publication “Resilient Cities in Vietnam: A Guide for Planning Urban Environment Programs”.
The publication reflects the experiences gained during long years of operating in the urban environment sector in Vietnam.
“I do believe that Germany’s experience in the water sector will help Vietnamese authorities improve their water management capacities,” Phan Thi My Linh, deputy minister of construction, said.
Vietnam has 800 cities nationwide and the urbanisation rate is now at 36.5 percent.
The number of people living in urban areas will reach 44 million in 2020 and 52 million in 2050. Together with a high urbanisation rate, climate change, frequent and serious urban floods and increased pollution pose significant challenges for the water and wastewater sector in Vietnam.
To address these challenges, GIZ through the Wastewater Management Programme and the Flood Proofing and Drainage for Medium-sized Coastal Cities in Vietnam for Adaptation to Climate Change Programme is supporting national and provincial governments to establish a legal and policy framework for the urban drainage/sewage and flood risk management sector.
The aim is to build resilient cities that can withstand the negative impacts of climate change.
In recent years, the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association (VWSA) has focused on human resources development, technology promotion and policy advocacy. It has been strengthening cooperation with GWP, GIZ and other donors and international organizations to fulfil its objectives.
In particular, VWSA is working closely with GWP in fostering cooperation between German and Vietnamese businesses as well as investment promotion, technology transfer, knowledge and experience exchange.
In Vietnam, the national programme to ensure water supply for the 2016 – 2020 period was approved by the Prime Minister, with the target of 90-95 percent having access to fresh and hygienic water by 2020 and 95–100 percent by 2025.
The programme also aims to reduce urban untreated waste water under 70 percent.
All 68 provincial water supply enterprises have taken part in training about water safety supply, according to VWSA.
The forum was sponsored by the VWSA in partnership with GIZ and the German Water Partnership (GWP).-VNA
Authorities of central Ninh Thuan province and the Dutch Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 signed an agreement on building a system of collecting, treating and reusing wastewater.
Construction on the country’s biggest wastewater treatment station with a daily capacity of 270,000 cubic metres started in Thanh Liet commune, Thanh Tri district, Hanoi on October 7.
The JICA and the People’s Committee of southern Dong Nai province have reached consensus on the funding for a drainage and wastewater treatment project in Bien Hoa city after 10 years of negotiations.
Finnish firms specialising in water supply and solid waste treatment shared their experience in providing safe water at a forum in Ho Chi Minh City on November 8.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Workers from a waste treatment company in HCM City clean up a pond in central Quang Ngai province’s Binh Thuan commune (Photo: VNA)
