Business model assessment in faecal sludge management in selected Vietnamese cities

An assessment of business models in faecal sludge management (FSM) in 3 largest Vietnamese cities of Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh has been conducted through interview of 1,000 households and survey at 20 FS emptying operators. The public enterprises keep a significant market share for FSM. However, these enterprises run FSM business as a ‘‘must do” activity, which is subsidized by the city’s budget. In order to reduce operation costs and to make benefit, most of private enterprises are practicing illegal FS dumping. Financial status of private enterprises looks less optimistic in scenarios where FS is required to be brought to landfill or composting plant. A number of enterprises would not find capital recovery within 5 years, and some others would face loss. For sustainable FSM business, costs for adequate FSM should be recovered, while regulatory support and coordination role of local authorities are needed.