MAE calls for immediate action to address salinity intrusion in Mekong Delta

On May 6, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung chaired a meeting to hear reports on the implementation of Conclusion No. 26-KL/TW dated April 24, 2026, issued by the Politburo on preventing and combating land subsidence, landslides, flooding, drought, and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta for the 2026-2035 period.

The meeting also reviewed the two-year implementation of the project "Sustainable development of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta to 2030." It was attended by Deputy Ministers Nguyen Hoang Hiep and Hoang Trung, along with leaders of relevant specialized departments.

Immediate action

Based on the report and discussion, Minister Trinh Viet Hung highly appreciated the advisory efforts of relevant units, but frankly pointed out that the understanding of the situation remains insufficient and not yet thorough. He therefore requested that advisory agencies must firmly grasp the substance of their assigned tasks in order to implement solutions effectively. He emphasized that once the situation is well understood and efforts are focused and decisive, good results can be achieved, even beyond set targets. 

For major schemes such as the One million hectare low-emission rice project, the Minister called for an objective and comprehensive assessment, based on a strong sense of collective responsibility.

He stressed the need for immediate action, first and foremost in thoroughly disseminating Conclusion 26. This is an important political task that must be implemented in a systematic and widespread manner down to every level and organization.

Accordingly, the Ministry must proactively develop its own implementation plan and organize thorough dissemination across the entire system, from ministerial level down to Party cells. The next key task is to urgently finalize the Government’s action program.

The action program must adhere to the principle "clearly defined people, tasks, responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables". Intersectoral tasks must be clearly assigned to avoid overlap or omissions. In addition, efforts should focus on improving institutions, mechanisms, and policies; innovating approaches to investment and natural resource management; advancing science and technology; and strengthening intersectoral coordination and international cooperation.

Proactively adapting to climate change

An important requirement emphasized by Minister Trinh Viet Hung is the need to review and comprehensively compile data on types of natural disasters such as land subsidence, landslides, flooding, and drought. “We cannot speak in general terms. We must clearly specify where they occur, how many locations, how many kilometers are affected, and which localities are involved,” he stated.

The Minister requested the development of a comprehensive picture over the past 10-15 years of disaster situations nationwide in general and in the Mekong Delta in particular, especially in key areas such as river systems, coastal zones, and residential areas. He also stressed the need to clearly analyze causes, including human impacts such as sand mining, groundwater extraction, and alterations of river flows. "These are issues that cannot be avoided," he said.

At the same time, Minister Trinh Viet Hung requested that reports include a river system map showing flow directions, infrastructure such as dikes and dams, and affected areas; thereby identifying zones of sediment shortage and accumulation, and proposing solutions to ensure “water regeneration” for the entire system.

Regarding tidal surges, the Minister noted that this is an ongoing challenge directly affecting people’s livelihoods, particularly in delta, riverside, and coastal areas. He requested clear solutions for response, as well as a clear delineation of responsibilities among ministries, sectors, and local authorities.

According to the Minister, if properly leveraged, natural conditions can become advantages for developing the economy, culture, and tourism associated with riverine environments. However, this requires well-structured planning, from population distribution to appropriate livelihood organization.

For specific tasks, the Minister assigned Deputy Ministers to direct the clarification of all contents, from data and methodologies to objectives and resources. Results assessment must be backed by concrete data to ensure credibility in reporting. The overall spirit is act immediately, clarify thoroughly, and implement decisively, ensuring high-quality advisory work that meets current leadership and management requirements.