Mekong Delta Bolsters Defences Against Erosion Crisis

Photo courtesy of Vietnam News

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta, a crucial agricultural hub in Vietnam, is taking decisive action against accelerating erosion that threatens its riverbanks and coastlines. This region, responsible for the nation's largest production of rice, fruit, and seafood, finds itself grappling with the compounded effects of climate change, declining sediment flows in the Mekong River, and increasingly severe tidal patterns. Adding to this environmental predicament are human activities like illegal sand mining, which have significantly worsened the erosion issues in recent years.

Cần Thơ city has recorded 41 significant erosion incidents thus far this year, covering nearly 1,200 metres along its rivers and canals. This destruction has impacted 39 households and resulted in financial losses pegged at approximately 8.6 million Thai Baht. Notably, a vital 46-metre stretch of road along the Bằng Tăng River was completely obliterated in May. This event highlighted the fragility of local infrastructure in the face of natural onslaughts.

Further south in An Giang Province, the erosion problem is similarly alarming. Coastal areas in Bình Giang Commune have seen the sea penetrate over 100 metres inland, particularly affecting regions like Bình Giang 2 and Kinh 4 Hamlet. Residents, such as Nguyễn Mạnh Lâu, have watched as thousands of square metres of critical protective forests vanished, putting nearby shrimp farms in peril. An Giang has over 101 kilometres of its coastline besieged by erosion, severely disrupting the lives of local residents and their economic activities.

In Cà Mau, the southernmost tip of Vietnam, more than 200 kilometres of its 310-kilometre coastline have been eroded. The province's western sea dyke, which historically served as a frontline defence against sea encroachment, now faces direct wave impact due to the loss of interceding mangrove forests. Bùi Quốc Nam, Deputy Head of the Western Sea Dyke Management Station, noted that the areas stripped of forest cover are particularly vulnerable to erosion, especially from August onwards when southwesterly winds intensify.

Alarmingly, since 1990, Cà Mau has lost over 8,800 hectares of land and protective forests. For residents like Nguyễn Văn Tẻo in Tân Ân Commune, the consequences have been harsh. Once a landowner of three hectares, Tẻo and his family have been reduced to living in a small hut by the water’s edge, constantly wary of the next big wave, especially during the northeast wind season.

In response to the severe erosion, both Cà Mau and An Giang provinces have ramped up efforts to reinforce their sea defences. An Giang is currently upgrading its 134-kilometre western sea dyke, integrating it with a coastal road to be completed by 2027. This ambitious project is part of a larger initiative that includes 12 embankment projects along its western coast, totalling 69 kilometres at a cost exceeding 2.1 billion Thai Baht. These efforts aim to protect more than 166 hectares of forests and substantial areas of rice and aquaculture farmlands.

Cà Mau has fortified nearly 52 kilometres of its western sea dyke and erected 80 kilometres of breakwaters along its length. These breakwaters are instrumental in restoring mangrove ecosystems, forming a protective forest belt up to 200 metres wide. Additionally, a 19-kilometre section of the dyke, from Cái Đôi Vàm to Kênh Năm, is set for upgrades. The province has also sanctioned the creation of a 4.2-kilometre breakwater running from Vĩnh Trạch Đông to Nhà Mát to bolster the eastern sea dyke, with a projected cost of 703 million Thai Baht.

Another vital infrastructure venture is the two-kilometre Gành Hào sea embankment, budgeted at 389 million Thai Baht. This project underscores the ongoing governmental commitment to halt the sea's relentless advance and sustain local communities.

Back in Cần Thơ, remedial projects have been prioritised to tackle the most severe erosion sites. A principal initiative is the construction of an emergency embankment along the left bank of the Ô Môn River in Thới Thạnh Commune. Planned for completion by April next year, this 490-metre structure carries an estimated cost of 98 million Thai Baht, aimed at providing immediate stability and relief to the affected areas.

Cần Thơ's proactive governance is further evidenced by the allocation of nearly 63 million Thai Baht in financial aid for households distressed by erosion and natural disasters this year. Local authorities are under strict instructions to surveil disaster-prone zones meticulously, ensuring rapid response and alleviation.

In Vĩnh Long, erosion has inflicted significant damage on dykes, riverbanks, and irrigation systems. Châu Văn Hòa, Deputy Chairman of the Vĩnh Long People’s Committee, has directed dedicated surveys and rapid repairs to mitigate further degradation. The Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment has put forth a request for approximately 109 million Thai Baht to refurbish five critical embankments along the Hàm Luông and Vàm Nước Trong rivers, where erosion depths have reached alarming levels of 20–30 metres.

Construction has commenced on the Láng Thé River embankment in Bình Phú Commune. Besides its role in flood prevention, the project, valued at 450 million Thai Baht, includes a 4,000-seat grandstand designed to host the Ngo boat race. This dual-purpose infrastructure aims to foster not just environmental resilience but also cultural and socio-economic development.

The 650-metre embankment is poised to be a critical asset, anticipated to conclude by September 2026. Nguyễn Quỳnh Thiện, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee, emphasised the venture's significance in securing riverbank stability, enhancing the living environment, and preventing future erosion.

As these projects unfold, the Cửu Long Delta is at the forefront of Vietnam’s fight against the impacts of climate change and destructive human activities. The combined efforts of governmental bodies and local communities are crucial to safeguarding this agriculturally rich and economically significant region.

Through such initiatives, the delta is not just responding to immediate threats but is also laying the groundwork for a sustainable future. The multifaceted approach includes infrastructure reinforcement, ecosystem restoration, and community engagement, crafting strategies that seek to protect livelihoods and promote resilience in one of Vietnam’s most vital areas.

In conclusion, the concerted actions being taken by the Mekong Delta provinces highlight a critical, decisive shift towards combating erosion. These measures aim to protect the delta's environmental integrity and ensure it continues to serve as a cornerstone of Vietnam’s economy and culture for generations to come.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Vietnam News 2025-09-04