Ho Chi Minh City against climate change: [Ends] Building a climate-resilient city

Ho Chi Minh City is considered one of the most vulnerable urban areas to climate change impacts. The city is gradually shifting from a “simply preventing flood” approach to “building a climate-resilient and adaptive city”, integrating infrastructure, smart governance, green development, and regional connectivity.

To discuss challenges, strategic directions, and solutions for the future, Vietnam Agriculture and Nature News had an interview with Bui Minh Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

Investing comprehensively in irrigation and flood control systems

Dear Sir, Ho Chi Minh City is considered one of the most vulnerable urban areas to climate change. How does the city view this issue?

Ho Chi Minh City is located in the downstream area of the Saigon - Dong Nai river system, with a network of more than 3,000 rivers and canals. Many areas have low-lying terrain and are directly affected by the East Sea's semi-diurnal tidal regime. These factors make the city highly vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise.

In recent years, extreme weather events have become more frequent and less predictable. The city has recorded numerous heavy rain events exceeding 100 mm within short periods, while tidal levels continue setting new peaks. Combined hazards, such as heavy rainfall coinciding with high tides and upstream flood discharge, are also becoming increasingly common.

Notably, these impacts are no longer isolated but are creating compounded pressure on infrastructure, transportation, production, and daily life. Previously, the city mainly faced flooding caused separately by rainfall or high tides, but now the simultaneous occurrence is becoming increasingly common.

Despite major investments in flood control and tidal regulation projects, residents still feel that “every rain means flooding.” From your point of view, what is the biggest bottleneck?

In recent years, the city’s irrigation systems, embankments, and tidal control infrastructure have shown positive results in many areas, helping limit flooding, improve drainage, and protect production and livelihoods.

However, significant bottlenecks remain. Some infrastructure systems have not been fully integrated or closed-loop, while others have deteriorated after years of operation. Meanwhile, rapid urbanization, widespread concretization, and rising population density have placed enormous pressure on existing drainage systems.

In particular, many canals have been encroached upon or narrowed, reducing the city’s natural drainage and water storage capacity. This is one reason flooding persists during extreme rainfall events.

Going forward, Ho Chi Minh City will continue investing in integrated, modern, and more comprehensive irrigation systems, embankments, and tidal control infrastructure. The city will also accelerate major drainage, canal rehabilitation, and infrastructure upgrade projects.

The city’s approach is to develop multi-purpose water infrastructure that serves not only flood prevention but also environmental protection, water regulation, urban renewal, and long-term climate resilience.

Strengthening resilience through non-construction measures

Beyond the infrastructure improvement approach, what measures is Ho Chi Minh City implementing to proactively adapt to climate change?

Ho Chi Minh City recognizes that relying solely on infrastructure solutions will not keep pace with increasingly severe climate impacts. Therefore, alongside infrastructure investment, the city is expanding non-construction measures to enhance overall resilience.

One priority is improving forecasting and early warning capacity. The city is making greater efforts to implement technology, digital data, and monitoring systems. The goal is to track weather developments, tidal surges, and disaster risks in real time.

Warning information is also being delivered more rapidly through the Ho Chi Minh City Disaster Prevention app and other digital platforms to help residents respond proactively and minimize damage.

The city continues to implement the “four on-the-spot” and “three readiness” principles, strengthen community disaster preparedness training, and improve coordination among rescue and emergency response forces.

Ho Chi Minh City aims to gradually build a smart urban governance model where data, technology, and rapid response capabilities play important roles in climate adaptation.

Toward a regional climate-adaptive urban model

Following expansion with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City faces new climate-related pressures. How does the city view this challenge, sir?

After expanding its development space, Ho Chi Minh City is no longer simply a megacity in terms of population and economy but also an area with highly diverse ecosystems and natural conditions, ranging from industrial urban zones to riverine, coastal, and mangrove forests.

This means the city will face various hazards, including tidal surges, salinity intrusion, coastal erosion, urban flooding, storms, tropical depressions, and urban heat island effects in highly industrialized areas.

The greatest challenge lies not in individual localities but in establishing regional coordination mechanisms and risk governance, as climate change impacts increasingly spread across interconnected areas.

How will Ho Chi Minh City implement a regional climate adaptation strategy in the future?

In the near future, Ho Chi Minh City will prioritize an integrated and coordinated climate adaptation strategy with stronger regional cooperation.

The city will focus on investing in modern tidal control and drainage systems, developing green infrastructure, and improving disaster forecasting and warning capacity. It will also strengthen connectivity and data sharing to support climate risk governance.

Protecting and restoring mangrove forests is identified as a particularly important measure to enhance natural resilience against sea level rise and tidal surges, especially in Can Gio and coastal areas.

Alongside infrastructure measures, the city will continue promoting green economic development, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy use, and building a more sustainable urban model.

Thank you, sir!

During June 4 - 6, 2026, in Cua Lo ward (Nghe An Province), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Nghe An Provincial People’s Committee, will organize a series of communication events responding to World Environment Day (June 5), World Oceans Day (June 8), the Month of Action for the Environment, and Vietnam Sea and Islands Week 2026.

1. National Forum on Environment and Climate – From policy to action

- Time: 8:00 a.m., June 5, 2026

- Venue: Vinpearl Cua Hoi, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province

- Online participation: ID: 942 6837 3034 | Passcode: KH0605

2. National Workshop: “Improving institutions and policies to promote sustainable marine economic development”

- Time: 2:00 p.m., June 5, 2026

- Venue: Vinpearl Cua Hoi, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province

- Online participation: ID: 934 2999 5099 | Passcode: HT0506

3. Art program: “Vietnam’s Sea – A journey toward blue spaces”

- Time: 8:00 p.m., June 5, 2026

- Venue: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province

4. National launch ceremony for World Environment Day, World Oceans Day, the Month of Action for the Environment, Vietnam Sea and Islands Week 2026; launch of the campaign “All citizens join hands to protect the environment for a green, clean, and beautiful Vietnam”

- Time: 6:00 a.m., June 6, 2026

- Venue: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province

5. Exhibition: “Blue Marine Economy – Sustainable Agriculture and Environment”

- Time: June 4 - 6, 2026

- Venue: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo ward, Nghe An province