Trash piles up on Nha Trang Beach as heavy rains disrupt city life

Nha Trang’s iconic beaches have been overwhelmed by trash brought ashore by waves following prolonged rains. Workers and locals are racing to clean up the shoreline as thousands of tons of debris continue to wash in.

After prolonged heavy rains, Nha Trang's beaches in Khanh Hoa Province have become inundated with trash, including tree branches, plastic waste, and debris from various sources. The affected stretch spans several kilometers, creating a challenging cleanup effort for workers and residents.

Trash overwhelms the iconic beach

The Tran Phu Beach in Nha Trang has been transformed into a messy scene following days of rain, as waves carried massive amounts of trash ashore.

“The beach, extending several kilometers, is in disarray with trash piling up. Environmental workers have been cleaning it for days, but the sheer volume remains overwhelming,” said Tran Thi Quang, a 62-year-old local resident.

The waste includes everything from branches and seaweed to plastic bottles. Among the chaos, some individuals have been scavenging for recyclable materials to sell, as piles of trash have become an unwelcome part of the shoreline.

Massive cleanup efforts

According to local residents, heavy rains, rising tides, and water discharged from dams often bring debris from upstream rivers and streams to the area. Logs, broken furniture, and other large items have also been spotted among the trash.

Despite the mess, some foreign tourists continue to visit the beach for relaxation or exercise, sharing the sand with piles of debris. However, many locals have joined cleanup crews to assist in restoring the beach to its usual state.

“The trash is overwhelming, so I’m helping the workers clean up. Hopefully, the beach will soon look beautiful again,” said a local volunteer.

Environmental workers, equipped with gloves, protective boots, rakes, and shovels, have been tirelessly collecting trash from the sand. Each day, they gather more than 620 tons of waste, which is transported to designated collection points for removal by municipal vehicles.

Ha, a long-time worker with the Nha Trang Urban Environment Company, shared the risks involved in the cleanup: “Sometimes, I get cut by broken glass or sharp objects while cleaning. Injuries like this require me to take time off for treatment and vaccinations.”

A persistent problem

The head of the Nha Trang Urban Environment Company stated that the trash washing ashore primarily comes from upstream rivers and streams, exacerbated by dam discharges during recent rains. The volume of debris over the past three days has been especially severe. Over 50 workers have been deployed in three shifts, from 5 a.m. to late evening, but the effort has been insufficient to fully address the problem.

In addition to the beach pollution, heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in areas like Vinh Thanh and Vinh Hiep in Nha Trang City, disrupting residents’ lives.

Meanwhile, landslides on National Highway 27C through the Khanh Le Pass in Khanh Vinh District have severed the Nha Trang-Da Lat route. A massive 100-ton rock now blocks part of the highway, prompting authorities to plan controlled explosions to clear the road.