The impact of climate change and a rise in sea levels has accelerated the erosion of sea dykes in the Mekong Delta, with the southernmost province of Ca Mau being the most vulnerable.
Landslide at a dyke in Tran Van Thoi district in Ca Mau province (Photo: VNA)
Ca Mau (VNA) – The impact of climate change and a rise in sea levels has accelerated the erosion of sea dykes in the Mekong D🐈elta, with the southernmost province of Ca Mau being the most vulnerable.
In Ca Mau, the sea is washing away land at the rate of 15m a year, though in some places it has been as much as 50m for several years now.
Local government statistics show that 80 percent of the province’s eastern and western coasts are losing 450ha a year.
Tran Van Thoi and U Minh districts have been the worst hit, with more than 32,100m of coastline eroded.
More than 40km face the threat of eroding dykes, threatening a large area of coastal protective forests. The coast between Tieu Dua and Huong Mai in U Minh District’s Khanh Tien Commune has 2,000m of eroded dykes.
To Quoc Nam, Deputy Director of the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said with weather conditions becoming more complex, erosion could become a growing threat to dykes.
Studies by his department have found eight vulnerable locations in the eastern sea and four in the western sea.
Ca Mau, with 254km of coast, has an ecological system with both saline and fresh water and when a dyke breaks, saltwater seeps into farmlands, badly affecting agricultural production, Nam said.
The Government has approved a proposal by Ca Mau to build an eastern sea dyke at a cost of 1.3 trillion VND (58 million USD).
The erosion, which causes severe landslides and saline intrusion and pollutes the environment, also makes living conditions unsafe.
It is estimated that more than 10,000 households in the province are directly affected by saltwater intrusion.
Pham Thanh Lam, a farmer who lives in Tran Van Thoi District, hopes the Government will spend more to build and upgrade sea dykes.
The province’s coast is home to 260,000 households and 130,000ha of farming land. A dyke was constructed along the western seashore in the 1990s, while the eastern sea dyke has yet to be built.
The Mekong Delta, which supplies most of Vietnam’s rice exports, is the most vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise.-VNA
The southernmost province of Ca Mau has devised five-year measures to manage, protect and develop coastal protective forests as part of efforts to adapt to climate change.
The Government has approved a project on constructing sea dikes worth 1.3 trillion VND (58.5 million USD) to tackle climate change in the southernmost province of Ca Mau.
Solutions to the integrated management of water, energy and land resources to help the Mekong Delta adapt to climate change was the centre of discussion at a workshop in Can Tho city on June 13.
Nearly 840 household living along banks of Vam Co River in Tan Tru district, in the Mekong Delta province of Long An have been suffering from severe riverside erosion.
HCM City will relocate 1,210 households in areas prone to land erosion by rivers and canals under a larger resettlement plan that will be carried out until 2020.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
In 2005, Nghe An had 570 captive bears, the largest number in Vietnam. Thanks to efforts by local authorities, forest rangers, and rescue forces, the number has fallen to just 15.
A national plan sets clear goals to be achieved by 2030, including the completion of climate-resilient infrastructure and improved capacity for disaster prevention and adaptation.
Landslide at a dyke in Tran Van Thoi district in Ca Mau province (Photo: VNA)
