Layers of plastic waste drifted along with water hyacinth to Vung Tau beach

biển Vũng Tàu - Ảnh 1. — Scene of water hyacinth and plastic waste washing up on Vung Tau beach at noon on May 31 - Photo: DONG HA

After water hyacinth washed up on Bai Sau, Vung Tau beach, from the afternoon of May 30 until now, following the tide and water level, water hyacinth has continued to "attack" Bai Truoc. This is an annual phenomenon that occurs when there is heavy rain in the rivers flowing into the sea.

On the morning of May 31, when the tide was low, Vung Tau Urban Works and Environmental Services Joint Stock Company (Vesco) mobilized nearly 100 workers and many vehicles to collect garbage.

Union members and volunteers also joined in. But because there was so much water hyacinth and trash, it was impossible to clean up when the tide came in.

Vesco Company said that on the morning of May 31 alone, it collected and salvaged about 40 tons of water hyacinth along with plastic waste.

Lớp lớp rác thải nhựa theo lục bình dạt vào biển Vũng Tàu - Ảnh 2. — People and vehicles participating in collecting and removing water hyacinth and garbage at Bai Truoc - Photo: DONG HA

By the evening of May 31 and the morning of June 1, there was still a large amount of water hyacinth left. Collection will continue in the coming days.

According to records, clinging to the water hyacinth, floating on the surface of this layer of duckweed is a lot of hard-to-decompose waste stretching nearly 1km.

There are disposable plastic cups and bowls. There are plastic bottles for water and soy sauce. There are styrofoam boxes and plastic sandals. There are also torn nets rolled into piles, clumps of steel wool, and plastic barrels covered with barnacles.

biển Vũng Tàu - Ảnh 3. — On the water hyacinth is a dense layer of plastic waste, streaked along the waves to the shore - Photo: DONG HA

To swim here, Vung Tau residents or tourists have to part and wade through this layer of water hyacinth. People who regularly swim in the sea say that to go swimming when water hyacinth comes to Bai Truoc, they have to be careful with each step, because it is easy to step on sharp objects such as wooden bars, iron bars mixed in with the water hyacinth. And there have been people who have stepped on these objects and had to go to the hospital immediately.

biển Vũng Tàu - Ảnh 4. — Styrofoam boxes, plastic jars, and broken sandals floating on water hyacinth - Photo: DONG HA

"Looking at clumps and layers of water hyacinths washing up on the beach, I think it's normal because they are plants and duckweeds, so they're fine. But if you look closely, you'll see that the layers of duckweed are full of garbage, a lot of toxic waste for the environment and the sea. That's horrifying," said a tourist walking along the beach in Vung Tau.