Mui Ne beach buried under trash for months

Bai Rang Beach in Residential Area 8 of Mui Ne Ward is inundated with trash. From the sandy beach to the seawall, a one-kilometer stretch of the shoreline is almost completely covered in waste, including discarded fishing nets, gear, footwear, bottles, and clothing. The worst-hit area is the beach behind the coconut garden of Rang Church. Trash has piled up to nearly half a meter thick across the sand, emitting foul odor. The massive accumulation of waste has made it impossible for local residents and tourists to access the beach. Residents said most of the garbage originated from other areas. During the southern monsoon season from June to October, household waste from river mouths washes out to sea, while ocean currents sweep waste from fishing vessels directly into Mui Ne Bay. “This year, the trash has accumulated for more than two months without any trucks coming to clear it, so it has piled up like this,” said Nguyen Van Ne, 78. He added that local residents no longer dare to swim in the sea "because they are afraid of getting rashes." Garbage also covers the access paths to hospitality facilities along Bai Rang, impacting tourism business. Bao Thu, a homestay manager, said tourists often complain during this period because they can neither swim nor walk along the shoreline. Some visitors leave shortly after arriving because the beach is covered in trash. She noted that staff from local accommodation facilities have attempted to clean the area, but their efforts have been insufficient against the sheer volume of garbage. "Only if the local authorities mobilize a large workforce, along with excavators and dump trucks to haul the waste away, can this beach be cleaned," she said. A female tourist walks over trash near a luxury resort on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street. Prompted by the severe pollution, a group of tourists and foreign residents in Mui Ne took to social media on Sept. 19 to organize a volunteer beach cleanup. The volunteers brought gloves and collected the waste by hand. "It's horrifying. We need to protect Mui Ne beach immediately," said Alex, a Russian man (right photo). Due to the massive volume of garbage, the Mui Ne beach cleanup is being carried out over two days on Sept. 19 and 20, with hundreds of people participating. "We will mobilize additional machinery to clean up this beach," said Le Thanh Son, chairman of the Mui Ne Ward People's Committee.