rtificial sand ground from rocks might be a valid alternative for the over-exploited natural product which is expected to run out in Việt Nam within five years, scientists said.

Nguyễn Thu Hà, 24, a tourist from Hà Nội, is so impressed when going to the Bản Giốc Waterfall in Trùng Khánh District, in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bằng, not only because of its beauty, but also the clean and tidy surrounding environment.

With demand for sand for construction rising even as prices are skyrocketing, Deputy Prime Minister Trương Đình Dũng has recommended the use of other materials in construction in place of natural sand.

Many transport projects in southern localities have been delayed due to the scarcity and surging price of construction sand, Giao Thông (Transport) newspaper reported.

Việt Nam’s total sand resources are an estimated 2.3 billion cubic metres. With the current pace of construction, experts warn that the sand supply will likely be exhausted in less than 15 years. Dr Lê Ái Thụ, chairman of Việt Nam Asociation of Economic Geology, and Dr Thái Duy Sâm, vice chairman of Việt Nam Building Material Association, spoke to the Vietnam News Agency about the necessity of finding alternative materials to replace natural sand.

Poor planning and management of sand mining has led to a stunning but unsurprising warning: Việt Nam is very likely to run out of sand in less than 15 years.