In its aim to control transport pollution, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved a 5-year plan to control pollution caused by transportation activities by 2030. The environmentally-friendly transport system targets to stop pollution caused by road, railway, inland waterway, marine time and airline transport. According to Environment Department Deputy Director Ngo Kim Dinh, one of the primary objects of the plan is to control and prevent pollution in the transportation sector. The plan also aims to address the environmental issues within the transportation sector in order to build a “sustainable green transport sector.”

Although this ambitious plan is funded by the state, the Vietnam government is also encouraging individuals, organizations and the private sector to get involved and possibly invest in the plan of an environmentally-friendly transportation technology. Especially since the project is still in need of a lot of staff, equipment, and sufficient knowledge, the Vietnam state needs all the help it can get.

Between 2011-2015, 18 projects will be implemented in line with this plan, totaling to about VND700 billion (US$34 million). These projects include a legal framework and legal policies on environmental management, boosting Vietnam’s participation in international law enforcement; managing waste generated by transport activities; raising public awareness; and applying scientific and technological advances.

Raising public awareness and calling on transport businesses are especially important points in the plan, encouraging and even imposing transportation businesses to upgrade their facilities using green technology. This will not only improve their efficiency but benefit the community as well. By 2015, transport enterprises are obliged to utilize environmental and waste management systems into their business.

By that target date too, Vietnam will change at least 25 percent of its train carriages and install equipment to collect and treat waste in at least 80% of its coach stations. By that time, it also aims to point and figure out specific measures to solve the effects of sound in 50% of the country’s airports. Moreover, the plan will address issues on the impact of boats, ports and ferries on the environment.

According to official findings, transportation activities in urban areas contributed to about 70% of Vietnam’s total air pollution. This includes massive traffic, dirt, gases and noise in busy national roads that ultimately affect the lives and health of local residents. Hopefully, this plan of a green transport technology will solve all of these problems and create an environmentally-sound transportation system in the whole of Vietnam.