The 14km section of the To Lich River flowing through the inner city of Hanoi has been thick and black for many years. Despite numerous renovation efforts, the river still emits a foul odor daily and is likened to an open sewer.

In recent days, discussions about reviving the To Lich River by building a dam on the Red River and flushing out the pollutants have sparked hopes of transforming it into a scenic river akin to the Seine in Paris. However, past revival efforts have failed, and the To Lich River remains a "dead" river.

Even after various projects, the To Lich River remains heavily polluted, resembling an open sewer receiving hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of wastewater daily. During the early days of July, Water from West Lake was released to flow into the river, temporarily turning the river's water clear. However, the black, polluted water returned the following day.

At the confluence of the To Lich and Nhue rivers, the water is visibly polluted.

The Nhue River, a tribute to the Red River, begins at the Lien Mac sluice (Bac Tu Liem district) and flows to Phu Ly (Ha Nam province), covering 62 kilometers through Hanoi. It passes through Bac Tu Liem, Nam Tu Liem, Ha Dong, and the districts of Thanh Tri, Thanh Oai, Thuong Tin, Phu Xuyen, and Ung Hoa. The river is heavily silted and receives waste from hundreds of drains, making it dark and malodorous.

The Nhue River, flowing through densely populated areas, is heavily polluted.

Many sections of the Nhue Rivers are choked with silt and waste, exacerbating pollution. Local resident Linh from Ha Dong district says: "Despite numerous cleanup projects, people continue to dump household waste along the riverbanks, keeping it polluted year after year."

The Nhue River flows through residential areas in Hoang Mai district.

The Yen So Wastewater Treatment Plant (Hoang Mai district), located near the To Lich and Nhue rivers, uses state-of-the-art technology and is the most advanced wastewater treatment facility in Hanoi. Despite this, the adjacent Taurus River remains heavily polluted.

Waste is collected by a floating barrier on the Kim Nguu River near the Yen So Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Kim Nguu River is perpetually black and foul-smelling, affecting the quality of life for residents along its 7.7km length. Despite numerous petitions and attempts to reduce waste dumping, severe pollution continues.

Thach Thao