Taiwan’s Formosa Disaster: 10 Years On, Accountability Still Elusive in Vietnam

Ten years after one of Southeast Asia’s worst environmental disasters, questions of accountability remain unresolved.

In April 2016, a toxic waste discharge from Formosa Ha Tinh Steel, a Taiwanese-owned plant in Vietnam, contaminated more than 250 kilometers of coastline. The spill devastated marine life and disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen and coastal communities.

A decade later, the environmental damage has faded from headlines, but for affected communities, the economic and social impact continues.

Compensation Without Closure

The disaster hit four central provinces—Hà Tĩnh, Nghệ An, Quảng Trị, and Quảng Bình—where fishing is a primary source of income. The sudden collapse of marine ecosystems left many families without stable work.

Formosa agreed to pay $500 million in compensation. However, critics argue that distribution has been uneven and lacked transparency. Many victims say they received