Moving into a new apartment complex on Minh Khai Street (Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi) was exciting for Ms. Thuy Nga and her family, but their enthusiasm was short-lived. Just a few months after settling in, their home became infested with tiny cockroaches, scurrying across every surface.
Ms. Nga sadly recounts: “We thought living in an apartment building would mean no pests, but just a few months later, we’re dealing with these tiny cockroaches, only slightly bigger than flies. As soon as we turn off the lights at night, they come out in droves, invading our kitchen cabinets, dishes, rice cooker, and even our rice container.”
Ms. Hong Nhung, a resident of a different apartment complex in Cau Giay District, shares a similar experience: “Lately, we’ve been seeing a lot of small cockroaches with thin wings. They don’t fly, but they run incredibly fast, and they’re not the usual cockroaches we’ve seen before. Strangely, these cockroaches are afraid of light; they only come out at night when the lights are off, crawling onto our sinks and leftover food on the table. We’ve tried three different Japanese cockroach baits, and I’ve sprayed them multiple times, but they just won’t die.”
Ms. Nguyen Cam Lien, Director of Phu Gia Investment and Trading Company Ltd., specializing in pest control services, has noticed a significant increase in requests for cockroach extermination in Hanoi over the past two months, with a 2-3 fold rise compared to pre-Tet (Lunar New Year) periods. Her company receives 20-30 calls daily from concerned residents seeking advice and professional help. According to Ms. Lien, the cockroach causing all this chaos is known as the German cockroach. This foreign species was previously prevalent in restaurants and hotels but has now made its way into apartment buildings, particularly new complexes in areas like Linh Dam, Minh Khai (Hoang Mai District), Ha Dong District, and Thanh Xuan District.
Explaining the prevalence of German cockroaches in new apartment buildings, Ms. Lien says: “Families moving into new homes often purchase new household items, especially those imported from abroad. These items may carry cockroach eggs in cardboard boxes or packaging. Once they’re inside homes and find a favorable, humid environment, they reproduce rapidly.”
A Stubborn and Resilient Pest
What makes this foreign invader particularly challenging to eradicate is its resistance to pesticides. Ms. Nguyen Thi My, Deputy Head of the Biochemistry and Termite Control Laboratory (Institute of Ecology and Engineering Protection), explains: “The German cockroach is a resilient species that entered Vietnam through air or sea cargo; even abroad, they are challenging to eliminate. Apartment buildings have interconnected water pipes, sewage systems, and kitchen sinks, so when pesticides are used, the cockroaches can simply escape to a neighboring unit. Once the chemicals lose their potency, the cockroaches return. As for the spray pesticides available on the market, they may work initially, but with repeated use, the cockroaches develop resistance. Therefore, standard pesticides won’t suffice; a combination of hygiene practices and alternative methods is necessary.”
Ms. My also mentions that these cockroaches congregate in large numbers and emit a strong, unpleasant odor. As they crawl through sewage pipes and drainage systems in search of food, they can inadvertently carry pathogens and spread diseases to humans. According to scientific research, cockroach feces contain bacteria that cause gastrointestinal illnesses, hepatitis, and respiratory disorders.
PGS-TS Truong Xuan Lam, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, adds that in addition to the German cockroach, Hanoi’s apartment buildings are also home to the brown-banded cockroach, native to Africa. This species favors higher locations, especially in high-rise apartments. “Cockroaches are detrimental to human health,” emphasizes Dr. Lam. “They can contaminate food and transmit diseases. For children with asthma, cockroaches are a significant allergen, often leading to hospitalizations.”
Prevention and Control Measures
According to Dr. Lam, cockroaches need water to survive, so the first step is to locate and fix any water leaks in the home. Seal up small openings, cracks, and crevices along walls and baseboards. When storing pots, pans, and dishes, place them upside down to prevent them from becoming receptacles for cockroach droppings or eggs. Keep fruits off tables and counters, regularly take out the trash, and use bins with tight-fitting lids.
To eradicate cockroaches, you can use baits and lures available at veterinary pharmacies. Mix the bait with foods that cockroaches find irresistible (cake flour, cooking oil, fat, sugar, etc.) and place them near their hiding spots. Cockroaches detest light, so consider installing fluorescent lights in your kitchen cabinets. Additionally, you can use natural cockroach repellents like peppermint essential oil, cucumber peels, citrus fruits, garlic, or clove oil.
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