A household in Tuan Viet commune (Kim Thanh) raises cows in a residential area.

This cow barn is at the end of the village road, surrounded by more than a dozen households from Cam Dong and Cam Thuong villages (both in Tuan Viet commune) and more than 300 meters from a school. The barn is built in an open style, with the wastewater pipe discharged directly into a nearby canal. The cow manure is not treated but is collected in the open on the ground. Whenever the wind blows from the north, the stench rushes straight into the houses of many surrounding households.

The cow dung is collected into piles, then the cow owners burn it and sell it to those who want to buy it. “At that time, the smoke rises and blows into our house, making it hard to eat a bowl of rice,” said an indignant resident of Cam Dong village.

Many people have complained to the owner of the barn, but the owner has only delayed it. Some households have also reported the pollution from this cow barn to the authorities of Tuan Viet commune.

At 4:30 p.m. on September 30, people counted 14 cows in this barn. According to point c, clause 2, article 21 of Decree 13/2020/ND-CP dated January 21, 2020 of the Government, the number of cattle at the same time as mentioned above is classified as "small-scale farm livestock".

According to Decree 46/2022/ND-CP dated July 13, 2022 of the Government amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 13, small and medium-sized livestock farms must have environmental protection measures in accordance with the provisions of the law on environmental protection; there must be a safe distance from the livestock farm area to the objects affected by livestock activities and from the source of pollution to the livestock farm area. Livestock organizations and individuals must treat livestock waste in accordance with the provisions of the law on environmental protection...

Even if the owner of the above-mentioned barn reduces the number of livestock raised, he must comply with regulations related to environmental protection, especially not affecting surrounding households.