Mekong Delta to shift from passive disaster response to active adaptation

On May 9, in Can Tho, Trinh Viet Hung, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Agriculture and Environment, together with Truong Canh Tuyen, Chairman of the Can Tho People's Committee, co-chaired a conference on implementing Conclusion No. 26-KL/TW dated April 24, 2026, issued by the Politburo on preventing and combating land subsidence, erosion, flooding, drought, and saltwater intrusion in Mekong Delta for the 2026 - 2035 period.

Speaking at the conference, Trinh Viet Hung assessed that localities in the Mekong Delta region have thoroughly grasped the spirit of Conclusion No. 26-KL/TW, gradually shifting from a mindset of passive response to proactive prevention and adaptation to natural disasters.

According to the Minister, c clearly outlines two guiding viewpoints and seven groups of tasks and solutions for implementation. In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has proactively developed a plan to implement Conclusion No. 26-KL/TW.

At the same time, the Ministry has completed the first draft of a Government Resolution promulgating the Action Program for the implementation of Conclusion No. 26-KL/TW, and is currently collecting feedback from ministries, sectors, and localities in the Mekong Delta region before submitting it to the Government by the end of May 2026.

Regarding investment in disaster prevention and control infrastructure, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has coordinated with the Ministry of Finance and local authorities to propose eight key projects under the 2026-2030 public investment plan. These include major projects such as the water control and regulation system for the area south of National Highway 1A; the second phase of the water control project on the southern bank of the Hau River; and the flood-prevention, erosion-control, and climate-adaptation project for Can Tho.

Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, stated that with the view that “it is impossible to build embankments wherever erosion occurs or construct dams wherever subsidence appears,” the Mekong Delta needs an inter-regional, inter-provincial, and cross-sectoral approach. At the same time, the role and responsibility of each locality should be strengthened to fundamentally address the region’s disaster-related challenges.

At the conference, many localities contributed initiatives and specific solutions to the draft Government Resolution. Trinh Viet Hung highly appreciated the proactive and flexible spirit of local authorities in responding to natural disasters and adapting to new environmental conditions.

Notably, Vinh Long proposed relocating households living on Thanh Long Islet in Quoi Thien Commune while extracting sand from the islet to use as fill material for infrastructure projects. According to provincial leaders, the area covers about 30 hectares but is now home to only six households and frequently experiences dangerous erosion. If an embankment protection project were to be built, the estimated cost would be around VND 150 billion, with limited effectiveness.

Trinh Viet Hung said that the solution proposed by Vinh Long Province would not only help address erosion risks but also create an additional source of materials for transport infrastructure development in the locality and neighboring provinces, reflecting a significant shift in management thinking and disaster response approaches.

To effectively implement Conclusion No. 26-KL/TW in the coming period, the Minister urged localities to promptly disseminate and concretize the conclusion into practical action programs and plans; adopt flexible approaches in water resource management, river sand mining, groundwater extraction, and construction management along rivers and coastlines in the spirit of adaptation and efficiency.

Local authorities also need to prioritize safeguarding residents' lives and property; review and provide accurate data on areas at risk of erosion, land subsidence, drought, and saltwater intrusion, as well as on the demand for relocating people from hazardous zones.

In addition, the Minister stressed the need to accelerate key disaster prevention and control projects; strengthen the application of science and technology and digital transformation; and develop integrated databases to support disaster management, forecasting, and early warning systems. At the same time, localities should enhance intersectoral and interregional coordination and expand international cooperation to manage and regulate river systems and operate irrigation infrastructure across the Mekong Delta.

According to Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (MAE), erosion, land subsidence, drought, and saltwater intrusion are posing serious threats to livelihoods, infrastructure, as well as the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta.

Land subsidence has been recorded across most parts of the Mekong Delta, at rates ranging from 0.5 to 3 cm per year. In coastal areas, the common subsidence rate is between 1.5 and 2.5 cm annually. Measurement results show that subsidence levels in the Mekong Delta over the past five years have ranged from less than 5 cm to more than 10 cm.

Regarding erosion, since 2016, the entire region has recorded 812 erosion sites with a total length of nearly 1,211 km. Of these, 688 are riverbank erosion sites stretching about 751 km, while 124 are coastal erosion sites extending more than 459 km. Notably, as many as 315 sites have been classified as especially dangerous, with a combined length of around 619 km.

In addition, flooding, drought, and saltwater intrusion have become increasingly complex and severe.