IELTS Speaking – Sông, hồ & Biển

Yes, there's a fairly large lake about ten minutes' walk from my flat. It isn't famous, but in the early morning it's full of people jogging, doing tai chi or just chatting on the benches. In the evening the lights reflect on the water, and it's a lovely place to unwind after work.

I do, but I'm not a strong swimmer. I only learnt when I was about fifteen, at a crowded public pool during the summer holidays. I can manage a few lengths of breaststroke, but I'd never feel confident swimming in the sea, especially when the waves are big.

I'd go for the mountains, I think. Beach holidays are relaxing, but I get bored lying on the sand after a day or two, and the heat can be exhausting. In the mountains the air is cooler, there are trails to explore and the scenery changes every hour, which keeps me interested.

Quite a range, really. In coastal cities, people love swimming early in the morning before the sun gets too strong, and eating seafood right by the beach. Around lakes, you'll see older people fishing or doing exercises, while young couples go there for evening walks. In the countryside, rivers are still used for boat races during festivals.

I'd like to talk about a stretch of coastline near Quy Nhon, a fairly quiet city in central Vietnam. My aunt lives there, so I usually visit once or twice a year, often in the summer when I can take a week off work. What I love about it is that it's much less developed than the famous beach resorts. There's a long curve of pale sand backed by low hills, and the water is so clear that you can see small fish around your feet. Early in the morning, local fishermen come back in their round basket boats, and there's a lively little market right on the beach where they sell what they've caught. When I'm there, my days are pretty simple. I get up before sunrise to swim while the sea is calm, then have breakfast at a plastic table by the water. In the afternoon I usually read in the shade, and in the evening my cousins and I grill seafood and chat until late. The reason I like being there so much is that it feels like the opposite of my life in the city. There's no traffic noise, and the sound of the waves makes it easy to switch off. I always come back feeling calmer and more creative, as if someone has pressed a reset button in my head.

I'd say there are three main culprits. First, many factories still discharge waste water without treating it properly, especially in industrial zones near big rivers. Second, household sewage in older urban areas often flows straight into canals. And third, farmers use large amounts of fertiliser and pesticides, which get washed into rivers when it rains. Plastic waste is also a growing problem, particularly along beaches and riverbanks after the rainy season.

Historically, water was essential for survival and trade. Rivers provided drinking water and fertile land for farming, and before roads and railways existed, boats were the most efficient way to move goods. Coastal sites allowed ports to develop, connecting cities to international trade. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both good examples, since they grew up along major rivers. Once a city is established there, it tends to keep expanding even after the original reason matters less.

To some extent, yes. Individuals should obviously take their rubbish home and avoid using single-use plastics, and community clean-up days can make a visible difference. But I don't think the main responsibility should fall on ordinary citizens. Most serious pollution comes from industry and poor waste infrastructure, so governments need to enforce environmental laws and invest in proper treatment systems. Personal effort is important, but it can't replace action on a larger scale.

The effects could be devastating. In low-lying areas like the Mekong Delta, saltwater intrusion is already pushing further inland every dry season, which damages rice fields and contaminates drinking water. If sea levels keep rising, some villages may have to be abandoned entirely, forcing people to migrate to overcrowded cities. Coastal tourism and fishing could suffer as well. That's why investment in sea walls, mangrove restoration and climate-resistant crops is becoming so urgent.