Skip to content September 2008
A major storm was approaching northern Vietnam, and the advice then was to postpone boat trips and for tourists in Sapa to return to Hanoi, since trains to the north-west could be disrupted. The round-up also pointed to a free PDF guide to Hanoi from Vietnam Travel Notes, handy for anyone stuck there longer than planned. That guide dates from 2008, so use it for atmosphere rather than prices.
The big domestic story was legal action against Vedan, an MSG maker, for dumping untreated waste into the Thi Vai river. It had built a hidden discharge pipe, and fines were reported at up to $5.5 million (Vietnam Investment Review). The government also said it would consider closing industrial parks without waste treatment.
What happened next
Vedan was sanctioned, and the river has since been described as gradually recovering, with fish and shrimp back (Viet Water JSC). Read the full original story in Thi Vai river pollution in 2008.
For storms, check the national forecast before a trip; for Saigon’s own wet season, see Ho Chi Minh City.