Hanoi orders urgent action to tackle environmental pollution
Hanoi’s Party chief has called for urgent, comprehensive action to tackle environmental pollution, warning that delays are undermining urban sustainability and the city’s tourism appeal.
THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi must move faster to address environmental pollution and unblock stalled waste treatment and pollution control projects in order to build a green, clean and attractive capital and support tourism development, the city’s top leader said on January 17.
The directive was delivered by Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc while chairing a meeting with the Party Committee of the city’s Department of Agriculture and Environment, amid growing concerns that slow progress in environmental projects is affecting multiple sectors, particularly tourism and urban livability.
Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc (standing) chairs a meeting with leaders of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment on January 17. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times
Ngoc said environmental bottlenecks require fundamental and comprehensive solutions that address both immediate challenges and long-term sustainability.
"Progress on waste treatment projects and pollution control works remains slow, affecting many sectors, particularly tourism," said Ngoc.
Ngoc called on the department to develop clear planning solutions for each waste category, including household waste, construction debris, medical waste and industrial waste.
"Every solution must follow a defined roadmap linked to specific tasks and align with the city’s broader agenda, including institutional reform, urban planning and the development of a new growth model," he added.
He requested the department to accelerate the application of science, technology and digital transformation to build comprehensive databases for agriculture and environmental management.
"The department must complete basic survey data and land records to support administrative reform and the development of the digital and data-driven economy," said Ngoc.
“The department must give special priority to developing land resources for socio-economic growth and firmly prevent waste."
He also called for the completion of a clear legal framework to address overlapping responsibilities and emphasized that each assigned task must have a clearly accountable leader.
Reporting at the meeting, Nguyen Xuan Dai, Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, said the city plans to break ground on expansions of two waste-to-energy plants in Tung Thien Ward and Soc Son Commune before February 28 and complete them Q1/2027.
Together with two existing plants, the projects will enable Hanoi to treat 100% of generated waste through waste-to-energy incineration without landfilling, he said.
For construction waste, the city plans to bring four crushing and treatment facilities into operation in 2026, with a combined capacity of about 2,500 to 3,000 tons.
According to Dai, the department has implemented plans to address air pollution by controlling emission sources, improving monitoring and forecasting systems, preventing further deterioration and handling polluting facilities.
A sanitation worker clean the streets in Dong Da Ward. Photo: Van Nhi/The Hanoi Times
The department has also finalized policies to strengthen coordination in air quality management and apply low-emission zoning measures for specific areas.
In 2026, the department will develop and complete an environmental quality monitoring network for air and surface water, scheduled for completion in 2026, as tasked by the municipal People’s Committee.
Regarding suburban flooding, Dai said the department is upgrading three pumping stations in Da Phuc Commune and continuing comprehensive investment in the dike system.
In agricultural development, Hanoi will continue applying production organization measures and existing policies to maintain annual growth of at least 3.6%. The agricultural sector will also focus on seed development, high-tech and smart agriculture, secure supply chains and food safety.
Dai said the department has completed the citywide cadastral records system and land management database, linked it with the national population database in August 2025 and synchronized it with the National Data Center.
Notably, the department has developed software to manage compensation, support and resettlement for projects across Hanoi. The system fully digitizes all 16 steps of the land clearance process under the Land Law and provides real-time reports on progress, costs and obstacles.
