We have been aware for several decades that besides the positive contributions chemicals also pose negative effects on the environment and human health. Among these chemicals Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) have been a primary concern. For example, chemicals such as DDT and PCB were great scientific achievements. However, these substances are now seen as hazardous chemical stockpiles, which need to be strictly controlled and eliminated. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was signed in 2002 with the objective of mobilizing global efforts in order to manage and eliminate these chemicals and reduce emissions from them. In the past, the environment and human health in Vietnam has suffered from negative impacts of hazardous pesticides, typically in areas contaminated by pesticide stockpiles or in “hot spots” with a high concentration of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin. Nowadays, in the period of innovation and economic development, environmental pollution, including pollution caused by pesticide release, continues to be one of the most significant socio-economic issues that concerns the Government of Vietnam. The Government of Vietnam has ratified the Stockholm Convention on POPs. The Government has also developed and promulgated Vietnam’s implementation plan on the Stockholm Convention. The plan clearly indicates Vietnam’s viewpoints and commitments to the international community on joint effort to safely manage POPs in order to protect the environment and community health. With the effort of the Government, organizations, experts and related individuals in Vietnam, as well as international cooperation, many programmes, projects and activities on management and remediation of POP contamination have been developed and implemented over the past 10 years.

This report is the result of activities implemented over the past 10 years (2005-2015), which has contributed to protecting the environment and human health from the dangerous impacts of POPs.

This report present general information on all projects implemented in Vietnam during the past time for sound management and treatment of POPs, which ultilized national resources as well as were supported by interntaional comminuties.