On the sun-bleached shores of Thanh Hoa province, two of Vietnam’s most popular coastal tourist destinations—Sam Son and Hai Tien—are facing mounting environmental and infrastructural crises. As local authorities scramble to contain the fallout from both chronic pollution and the destructive power of Typhoon Kajiki, residents and visitors alike are left wondering whether these beloved beaches can weather the storm, both literal and figurative.
For years, Sam Son beach has drawn families from across the country, lured by its natural beauty and storied spiritual landmarks. But beneath the surface, a persistent problem has been bubbling up—quite literally. Since 2015, four large sewage discharge gates have been releasing untreated wastewater directly onto the beach from the area around Ho Xuan Huong road. Each outlet, spaced about a kilometer apart, sends a steady flow of black, foul-smelling water cascading onto the sand, especially during the rainy season when the deluge intensifies and carries all sorts of debris with it. The sight and stench have turned what should be a relaxing seaside escape into an environmental headache.
Locals and tourists have not been shy about documenting the pollution. According to reports in Nhan Dan, videos of the murky water gushing from the sewer pipes have been widely shared on social media, attracting millions of views and a wave of negative comments. The impact on tourism is palpable. "This year, my family of eight came to Sam Son for a swim, but when we saw the exposed sewage outlet, we were so scared that we decided to go to Sun World instead," recounted Le Thi P., a visitor from Hanoi, as quoted by Nhan Dan. Another tourist, Nguyen Tien H., echoed the sentiment: "We drive from Hanoi every year for a beach holiday, but after seeing the sewage, none of us wanted to go near the water. Next year, we’ll choose a different destination."
The origins of the problem can be traced back to the completion of Ho Xuan Huong road in 2015. The new road, elevated above the surrounding residential areas, inadvertently created a situation where rainwater and domestic wastewater would overflow onto the beach unless the sewer gates were opened during storms. In an attempt to tackle the issue, Thanh Hoa province invested 190 billion VND in 2017 to build three pumping stations designed to treat rainwater and wastewater before releasing it into the Duong River. Yet, technical glitches have meant that untreated water still finds its way to the sea, especially when the pumps fail or heavy rains overwhelm the system.
Authorities have tried temporary fixes—sandbags and metal barriers to block the sewer mouths—but these measures are no match for a heavy downpour. The pollution persists, and with it, the risk of Sam Son losing its hard-won reputation as a premier tourist spot. Local officials are acutely aware of the stakes. Trinh Tien Dung, chairman of the Sam Son ward’s People’s Committee, admitted that the problem has lingered for years and that the newly restructured local government is still getting up to speed. According to Nhan Dan, Sam Son has plans for a wastewater treatment plant in Quang Chau ward, with an eye-watering price tag of about 86,500 billion VND, as part of a broader infrastructure push for the 2026-2030 period. But as Dung pointed out, “The construction of the wastewater treatment plant is a long-term plan. Before waiting for this project, the Sam Son ward government needs to proactively find solutions to end the direct discharge of wastewater onto the beach.”
Environmental advocates argue that immediate action is essential—not just for the health of local residents, but to preserve Sam Son’s appeal to both domestic and international tourists. “If the environment is polluted, all the potential will not be able to keep tourists coming back,” Nhan Dan warned. The call is for a dual approach: invest in high-standard wastewater treatment for both domestic and industrial sources, and launch community education campaigns to change behaviors and encourage vigilant monitoring of coastal pollution. The hope is to create a “green, smart” beach destination that can thrive sustainably.
But just as Sam Son grapples with long-term pollution, Hai Tien—another jewel of Thanh Hoa’s coastline—has been battered by nature’s fury. On September 12, 2025, local authorities reported that the coastal embankment in Hai Tien commune suffered severe subsidence and cracking after Typhoon Kajiki tore through the region. The affected stretch, running from the boundary near Hai Tien resort to the Queen hotel, saw its foundations and roadways buckled and broken, with the landslide still spreading. The damage is not only a safety hazard, but also a blight on the area’s scenic appeal, threatening both public infrastructure and the livelihoods of residents who depend on tourism.
Hai Tien’s embankment, a 3-kilometer structure completed in 2017 at a cost of over 140 billion VND, was supposed to protect the coastline and support the area’s growing popularity as a holiday spot. With more than 12 kilometers of beach, Hai Tien attracts throngs of visitors each summer. But Typhoon Kajiki, which made landfall on August 25 with winds of level 10-11 and gusts up to level 13, brought over ten hours of torrential rain that inundated North Central Vietnam and much of the north. The resulting floods, compounded by upstream runoff from mountain rivers and streams, pushed the Ma, Chu, Buoi, and Cau Chay rivers past their highest warning levels, leaving tens of thousands in lowland districts under water and paralyzing national highways.
The damage at Hai Tien is just one piece of the broader devastation wrought by Kajiki. The Chairman of Thanh Hoa’s People’s Committee has ordered local leaders and relevant departments to urgently assess the situation and devise both safety measures and funding proposals for swift repairs. The message is clear: the coast cannot afford to wait. As the embankment continues to erode, the risks to residents, tourists, and vital infrastructure only grow.
Both Sam Son and Hai Tien now stand at a crossroads. Their futures hinge not only on the ability to repair what’s broken, but on a willingness to confront the underlying causes—be they aging infrastructure, climate change, or the unintended consequences of rapid development. If Thanh Hoa’s beaches are to remain vibrant destinations, local government, businesses, and communities will need to work hand in hand, balancing growth with stewardship of the natural environment.
For now, the hope is that decisive action—both immediate and long-term—can restore the promise of these coastal gems. The stakes are high, and the world is watching.
