“At present, 100 percent of industrial zones have carried out environmental impact assessments and plans for environment protection," the report said. "Some 12,200 firms operate in industrial zones nationwide, generating over 4.20 million tonnes of solid waste annually, and over 61 percent are in the southeastern region. Firms in the northern mountainous region discharged 45 percent of the 550,000 tonnes of toxic waste annually."

To deal with violations, the ministry has intensified inspections since 2019, particularly at some major projects and firms including the Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company, Lee & Man Vietnam Paper Company, and Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, etc.

Vietnam currently has 418 industrial zones including 298 in operation and 120 others under construction, which are located on a total land area of 130,000 hectares.