Ministry of Construction of Vietnam
Administration of Technical Infrastructure

For 4th Asia Pacific Water Summit, Parallel thematic session

Policy and future challenges in the field ofSewerage in Vietnam
Assoc. Professor/Dr. Mai Thị Liên Hương
Director General,
Administration of Technical Infrastructure
Ministry of Construction
April 23, 2022
1

Overview of legal framework in drainage/sewerage in Vietnam
The Government of Vietnam is prioritizing drainage/sewerage andurban flood control by establishing a legal framework, technicalstandards and national orientation.
1. Law on Planning
2. Law on Construction3. Law on Environmental Protection
4. Law on Urban Planning
5. Law on water resources
Decree 80/2014/ND-CP on drainage andwastewater treatment
1. Circular No.04/2015/TT-BXD guiding the implementation ofDecree 80
2. Circular No.13/2018/TT-BXD guiding methodology fordrainage service pricing
3. Circular No.15/2021/TT-BXD Guiding the implementation of
Law on Environmental Protection relating wastewatercollection and drainage works
Local regulations on drainage andsewerage management➢ Technical standards and regulations, technical-economic cost norms➢ Adjusted Orientation for drainage development in Vietnam urban and industrial
areas to 2025 with the vision towards 2050.

2

Objectives of the Orientation for Urban Drainage Development inVietnam••

Adjusted Orientation for Drainage Development in Vietnam urban andindustrial areas to 2025 with the vision towards 2050 (approved by thePrime Minister at the Decision No. 589/QD-TTg dated 06 April 2016)
More investment is necessary to achieve this national orientation.

Targets

2020

2025

2050

Coverage rate of urban
drainage system service

over 70%

Over 80%100%

Rate of wastewater collectedand treated in urban areas

15-20%

20-50%

100%

Rate of wastewater collected
and treated in hospitals andurban areas

100%

100%

100%

Rate of wastewater collected
and treated in craft villages

30-50%

Over 80%100%

3Overview of Drainage systems in Vietnam-

The average rate of wastewater connection andcollection of drainage systems covers 64%. The rateof pipelines per capita is still low compared to other
cities in the world (average less than 0.5m/personcompared to 2m/person in the world).

-Up to now, the rate of wastewater collection andtreatment has only reached about 15%. Across thecountry, there are about 71 centralized wastewater
treatment plants under operation with a total
designed capacity of about 1.38 m3/day.

-The drainage systems in large urban cities and river
basins are still mainly combined.

-Combined drainage system

Promoting separate drainage system

The Ministry of Construction has issued the CircularNo.15/2021/TT-BXD, requiring new urban centersand residential areas to build separate wastewatercollection and treatment systems for connection,collection and transport wastewater to meet therequirements of environmental protection, to improve
the operating efficiency of the drainage systems andto reduce wastewater pollution.
4

Finance• In order to develop sustainable sewerage works in Vietnam, it is essential to set
appropriate service price in each local government.
• “Drainage Service Price” which is stipulated in Decree 80 (2014) is graduallyreplacing “Environmental protection fee” to realizing “Polluters pay principle” and“Full cost recovery.”• For example, drainage service price in Ho Chi Minh City will increase up to 30%
of drinking water price in 2025.
• Application of Drainage Service Price is expected to improve financial conditionsof sewerage management in local governments.
Example: Drainage Service Price in Ho Chi Minh City
Item
2022
2023
2024
Average Drinking Water Price
9,590
10,165
10,775
Vietnamese Dong/m3(0.42)(0.44)(0.47)(USD/m3)
Drainage Service Price/Drinking
15%
20%
25%
Water Price
Average Drainage Service Price
1,439
2,033
2,694
Vietnamese Dong/m3(0.06)(0.09)(0.12)(USD/m3)

2025

11,422(0.50)
30%

3,426(0.15)

5

Study on construction and application of pilot drainage model in Mekong
Delta Region of VietnamCÀ MAU CITY

LONG XUYÊN CITYRẠCH GIÁ CITY

-Built 03 pilot models of sustainable water systems (SUDS) in 03 cities: CaMau, Long Xuyen, Rach Gia and the roadmap of sewerage service tariff.
The set targets have been achieved with practical results.

-Prioritizing the investment in construction of urban drainage and wastewater
treatment projects towards the sustainable development in the context ofclimate change and sea level rise.

-Studying and proposing the development of the Law on Water Supply andSewerage under the legislative program; reviewing, revising andsupplementing legal documents on sewerage sector.

6

Science and Technology- Installing new technology through the international cooperation• Pipe jacking is a trenchless technology of new pipe installation, and effective
method for heavy traffic area, deep underground and so on.
• To utilize pipe jacking technology in Vietnam, Japan and Vietnam have been jointly
working to make the technical standards of pipe jacking, as well as conducting
training course for many years.
• As a result of continuous work of both countries, now pipe jacking is utilized in
sewerage construction projects in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City etc.

Making technical standards (2018)

Yen Xa Sewerage construction projectin Hanoi (2021)
7

Training course for engineers