Digital transformation – The key driving force of Vietnam’s irrigation sector in the digital era

From Manual Operations to Smart Management

At the forum “Science, Technology, and Digital Transformation in the Management and Operation of Irrigation Works under Resolution No. 57”, Nguyen Manh Hung, Head of the Department of Operation and Irrigation, under the  Department of Water Works Management and Construction, emphasised that digital transformation is the key driving force for sustainable, safe, and climate-adaptive development of the irrigation sector.

According to Mr. Hung, the adoption of information technology has opened new pathways for policy consultation, management, and operation of irrigation systems. Regularly updated forecasts on water resources and water quality, on a weekly, monthly, and seasonal basis, help local authorities proactively plan irrigation and drainage, reduce drought and salinity risks, and improve water-use efficiency. This aligns with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, which identifies science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the top breakthroughs to enhance governance capacity and drive socio-economic development.

The application of IT in managing and operating irrigation infrastructure has already shown tangible results: drought and salinity forecasts are increasingly accurate, enabling more flexible responses to climate variations. Modern digital tools have been established to support real-time operation, reducing disaster risks and minimising water losses.

However, the Department of Water Works Management and Construction notes that most facilities still rely on manual operations. The absence of simulation, early-warning, and decision-support models, coupled with fragmented and non-integrated data systems, limits efficiency. Meanwhile, challenges from climate change, such as flooding, drought, and saline intrusion, are intensifying, making it imperative to implement a comprehensive and interconnected digitalisation framework across the entire system.

VN-WIS – A Shared Data Platform for the Entire Sector

To address these challenges, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued Decision No. 3978/QD-BNNMT on September 26, 2025, approving the development plan for the Vietnam Water Information System (VN-WIS), a unified, shared digital platform for the irrigation sector. The system integrates cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, Big Data, GIS, and Digital Twin to build a digital irrigation ecosystem guided by the principles of “Accurate - Complete - Clean - Living - Unified - Shared.”

VN-WIS is more than a technical tool, it is a comprehensive management platform enabling data sharing and utilisation between central agencies, local authorities, and irrigation enterprises. Its implementation goes hand in hand with specific, practical solutions: adopting professional data services to save investment costs and improve accuracy; standardising and interconnecting databases; and establishing uniform data formats, structures, and access protocols.

Major systems such as Bac Hung Hai, Cau Son - Cam Son, and Cai Lon - Cai Be are now monitored through WebGIS platforms and are transitioning toward real-time monitoring. IoT devices measure water levels, discharge flows, and gate openings, transmitting live data to central control centres. Reservoir and dam databases are being expanded to include camera imagery, meteorological data, flood forecasting for downstream areas, dam safety assessments, and operational dashboards. Technologies like AI, remote sensing, and GIS are applied to generate maps for drought, flooding, and salinity warnings, monitor crop areas, and detect anomalies in operation.

In parallel with technological upgrades, the irrigation sector is promoting public–private partnerships (PPPs) and encouraging the participation of enterprises, startups, and research institutions in building the digital ecosystem. Private-sector involvement is considered vital to ensuring sustainability and optimising resource use. The Department of Water Works Management and Construction is also expanding international cooperation with FAO, the World Bank, and JICA in research, training, and technology application, while improving legal frameworks, technical standards, and digital competencies for technical staff and operators.

According to Nguyen Giang Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, irrigation is one of the most proactive and pioneering fields in digital transformation. However, she noted that to make this process truly effective, local authorities must provide concrete, data-backed reports on implementation progress to help central agencies fine-tune policies in line with real conditions.

Recently, the Government released a Set of Indicators for Evaluating the Impact of Science, Technology, and Digital Transformation on Socio-Economic Development, comprising 46 categories, three of which are specific to the irrigation sector. This serves as an important foundation for ministries and agencies to design sector-specific digital solutions tailored to practical needs.

Ms. Thu also pointed out that a major challenge lies in the absence of standardised technical frameworks, which limits the full value of collected data for operational management. She therefore proposed developing a national standard system for the irrigation sector and urged close coordination between the Digital Transformation Department and the Department of Water Works Management and Construction to unify national databases and ensure interoperability, efficiency, and effective utilisation of this emerging “digital resource.”

Speaking at the forum, Nguyen Hong Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Water Works Management and Construction, affirmed that the sector had already taken early steps in applying science, technology, and digital tools in recent years. Thanks to strong guidance from the Ministry’s leadership and the dedication of technical teams, initial progress has been made in data digitisation, monitoring, and system operation.

Mr. Khanh stated that from now until 2026, the Deparment will conduct a comprehensive assessment of technology and digital applications across the sector to inform future solutions, models, and policy frameworks. Regular scientific and technological forums will also be held to sustain professional exchange, share experiences, and accelerate digital transformation in irrigation, fulfilling the guiding vision that “science and technology are the drivers of progress, and digital transformation is the key to modern governance.”