Vietnam targets to handle all facilities causing severe environmental pollution from now to 2020, under a government’s newly-approved plan. Under the scheme, the country will deal with 222 firms seriously polluting the environment in the 2016-2020 period, including 104 waste landfills and 108 hospitals in districts. Untreated rubbish and wastewater from industrial production and local households are rampant in Vietnam due to lax control and legal loopholes in handling environmental violations. An increasing number of foreign enterprises have been found discharging toxic waste and wastewater into the environment, experts said, blaming lenient fines and lax control for their repeated infractions. It is estimated that Vietnamese spend $780 million on healthcare services annually because of the rising pollution, particularly polluted air and water resources, according to the World Bank. (Dien Dan Doanh Nghiep – Business Forum Oct 10 p14)
