Hungary Seeks to Introduce Water Technologies in Vietnam and Expand into Southeast Asia
Hungary is exploring opportunities to introduce water-treatment technologies in Vietnam, combining technology transfer with research, training and pilot projects before expanding cooperation into other Southeast Asian markets.
Vietnamese and European experts discussed a wide range of water-related issues and water technologies at the workshop. Photo: Trọng Nhân
On 14 September, the Connecting Continents 2026 workshop on water, food and sustainable solutions was held at Hung Vuong University of Ho Chi Minh City, in cooperation with the Hungarian Water Partnership (HWP) and the Consulate General of Hungary in Ho Chi Minh City.
Mr Gábor Lehőcz, Consul General of Hungary in Ho Chi Minh City, said that water is an area in which Hungary possesses considerable technological expertise and where cooperation with Vietnam could be further expanded. Hungarian companies currently offer solutions ranging from drinking-water, wastewater and groundwater treatment to the removal of specific pollutants, decentralised water treatment and water-system management.
According to Mr Lehőcz, one approach of particular interest to the Hungarian side is to work with Vietnamese partners to identify specific challenges, test technologies under real-life conditions, and subsequently assess their potential for transfer and wider deployment. Companies, universities, researchers and water-sector organisations could all participate in this process.
Recent cooperation programmes between the Hungarian Water Partnership and several Vietnamese universities have likewise been designed to combine technology with research and education. Students, lecturers and researchers may participate in pilot projects, professional exchanges and internships, while gaining direct exposure to Hungarian technologies.
Hungary also views Vietnam as a potential gateway for developing partnerships in other Southeast Asian markets, provided that the cooperation models implemented in Vietnam deliver suitable results.
Mr Róbert Forintos, Co-President of HWP, said that the organisation currently connects more than 40 members and strategic partners across the water sector. In Vietnam, HWP has identified clear needs in areas including arsenic removal, decentralised water treatment, wastewater reuse, flood and drainage management, saline-water treatment, and safeguarding water supplies against the impacts of climate change.
Mr Róbert Forintos, Co-President of HWP. Photo: Trọng Nhân
One of the Hungarian technologies presented at the workshop was AsMET, an adsorbent material used to remove arsenic in both its As(III) and As(V) forms. The material can be regenerated for continued use and is integrated into the PurAID system.
A single PurAID unit can treat approximately 6,000–10,000 litres of water per day. It can operate using either grid electricity or solar power, making it suitable for locations without fully developed centralised water-supply systems. Multiple units can also be connected into clusters and monitored centrally.
According to HWP, AsMET and PurAID were tested in Hanoi in 2024 at a capacity of approximately 10 m³ per day over a six-month period. The system achieved an arsenic-removal efficiency of more than 95%, with treated-water arsenic levels remaining below 10 micrograms per litre.
Previously, a company belonging to the HWP network also participated in the development of a 10,000 m³-per-day water-treatment plant in Quang Binh, using river water as its source.
Urban water demand could rise to 22 million m³ per day
Professor Trần Đức Hạ, Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering Technology at East Asia University of Technology, said that Vietnam currently has more than 1,000 water-treatment plants and supply stations, with a combined capacity of approximately 13.2 million m³ per day. Urban water demand alone is forecast to increase from approximately 12 million m³ per day in 2025 to 20–22 million m³ per day by 2030.
Professor Hạ noted that the pressures facing the water sector are not limited to increasing capacity. The quality of water resources requires the treatment of many different pollutant groups, including arsenic, manganese, ammonium, salinity, microorganisms and organic compounds, as well as emerging contaminants such as antibiotics, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and PFAS.
Water-treatment plants will therefore need to strengthen advanced treatment capabilities and improve water-quality control throughout the entire system—from the water source to the distribution network.
Many companies have already begun implementing SCADA systems, GIS, smart meters and sensors. Technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, digital twins, remote sensing and early-warning systems are expected to become increasingly widespread in the coming years.
According to Professor Hạ, Vietnam must also develop solutions for treating saline water, reusing wastewater and reducing water losses, while introducing water-supply models whose scale is appropriate for the needs of each region. These measures will be essential to meet the country’s rapidly growing water demand through 2030.
Source: Tuổi Trẻ Online