THE COST OF DEVELOPING VIETNAM

From the reform happened in 1986, Vietnam achieved the annual growth rate is about 7%. It was slow a little in the recession in 2008; however, this growth rate is high for a developing country in general. This is an impressive number for many people, but we should look back the real cost we have during this development: our environment. In this article, I concern about two serious problems in environment that happen in Vietnam now are water pollution and air pollution.

The first concern of mine is water pollution. In 1986, income per capita in Vietnam is $100, and was ranked one of the five poorest countries in the world. In 2013, our income per capital increased to nearly $ 2,000 thank to the renovation in 1986, shift Vietnam from an agricultural country to an industrialization and modernization country. However, the industrialization and urbanization rapidly without concerning enough about environment had a bad effect to the environment. Wastewater wasn’t treated before throw out to the rivers from more than 3,000 industrial enterprises had caused water pollution seriously. Typically, Vedan factory has released wastewater into Thi Vai River for 14 years. The authority of Dong Nai province only detected that in 2008, after Thi Vai became a dead river. The cost for building a wastewater treatment system is pretty high, so most of businesses in Vietnam avoid to spending this cost. If businesses were detected to release wastewater into rivers, they were fined a smaller amount of money in comparison with the cost for treatment water. That makes the water pollution in Vietnam become more seriously. The urbanization takes place rapidly is also a reason of water pollution. At big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi capital, Can Tho City, more and more people from other areas come to these cities. However, the trash treatment system and the water treatment system capacity is not enough to solve for more and more immigration. As you can see at trenches, lakes, river near residential areas, there are municipal waste or water released into these sources of water. In 2012, Nhieu Loc trench renovation project was finished after 10 years operated, and it cost 8,600 billions VND (about 43 millions USD), a huge cost. Therefore, industrialization and modernization country besides bring a benefit for citizens is improving their standard living, it produces an enormous cost to the society is water pollution.

The second social cost of the development of Vietnam is air pollution. According to EPI survey (Environmental Performance Index) Vietnam was ranked 10 worst nations in the world about air quality. The main source cause air pollution is traffic. The main vehicle for traveling in Vietnam is motorcycle. Along with the growth of population, the demands for motorcycles are more and more. Especially in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi Capital, the air pollution is more serious. We used to have the law prohibit using motorcycles, which are too old. However, that law can’t be applied because most people use old motorcycles are the poor. Those old motorcycle are the tools help they earn money for living. Thus, even the law is good for environment; we still can apply it in the society.

Industrialization and urbanization are necessary for our development. However, we should control those processes and have better policies to protect our environment. The laws should have stronger effects to firms so that they will expense money to build wastewater treatment systems to improve the water pollution. Another solution is the public transportation in Vietnam should be improved; more people use this kind of transportation will decrease the amount of motorcycles used, and reduce the air pollution.