Improving environmental sanitation in coastal cities in Vietnam

Over 800,000 citizens now enjoy improved solid waste management service, 66,500 students have better schools sanitation facilities, and 8,452 poor families have benefited from the received revolving fund for upgrading their toilets.

The project was funded by the World Bank’s IDA (US$190 million), the Japanese government (US$4.6 million) and a Global Environment Fund (GEF) (US$5 million).

Nguyen Huu Hoai, chairman of Quang Binh People's Committee said the project has changed the landscape of Dong Hoi and added more points to its score as a 2nd tier city, which in more specific term means that 75% population and visitors can benefit from sewage and waste water treatment service. Trees have been planted on sewage canals; lighting system has also been erected; ship anchor ports have been upgraded, etc. This has made Dong Hoi a modern and environment-friendly and sustainable city”.

The project used an integrated and innovative approach to address the challenges that include the following:

•    Take an investment-phased approach and select appropriate technologies.

•    Mark household connections and collection systems as crucial elements.

•    Enhance project/contractual management.

•    Conduct compensation and resettlement processes in a timely and consistent manner.

•   Promote efficient institutional and regulatory arrangements at the local level. Financial commitment and address cost recovery issues.

•   Place Information-Education-Communication (IEC) program for WW/SWM tariffs increase and behavior change as a top priority, to include community participation and the establishment of environmental learning centres in the participating cities.