Viet Nam - Republic of Korea share experience in river restoration

From April 5 to 10, 2026, a delegation from the Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment joined a capacity-building program on river restoration in the Republic of Korea. The program was organized by the Korea-Mekong Water Center (KOMEC), bringing together policymakers, experts, and technical staff from both countries.

During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation toured wastewater treatment and reuse facilities at the Asan New Town Water Environment Center. Through thematic workshops, technical exchanges, and field visits, participants explored Korea’s effective approaches to pollution control, water quality improvement, and ecosystem restoration.

Established in 2019 following the first Mekong-Korea Summit, KOMEC serves as a key platform for technical cooperation, knowledge sharing, and innovation exchange between Korea and Mekong countries. The Center has since organized a range of activities, including the Mekong-Korea International Water Forum and specialized training programs, contributing to stronger regional water governance capacity as transboundary water security challenges intensify.

According to representatives of the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), the program builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2024 between Viet Nam’s Department of Water Resources Management and the Korean Ministry of Environment (now the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment). This marks a tangible move to implement shared priorities in a coherent and effective manner.

As Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea further deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, water resource management has been identified as a key pillar of cooperation. Following the high-level visit of Party General Secretary To Lam to Korea in August 2025, both sides agreed to strengthen coordination in the sustainable management, exploitation, and use of water resources, including by leveraging regional frameworks such as the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and KOMEC.

Korea has reaffirmed its commitment to support Viet Nam in implementing the 2023 Law on Water Resources, as well as national and river basin planning for the 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050. The shared goal is to improve water governance, ensure sustainable use, and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to water protection.

Key areas of cooperation include restoring degraded and depleted water sources, developing a comprehensive national water database, and strengthening capacity building for water management personnel at all levels. Both sides also aim to refine legal and policy frameworks, enhance regulatory effectiveness, and ensure fair and efficient water allocation across sectors and regions.

A key priority for the coming years is the expansion of smart water management models, using digital technologies, AI, and big data. These tools are expected to improve forecasting, monitoring, early warning systems, and decision-making, especially in the face of increasingly complex climate risks.

Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh, head of the delegation, called for stronger practical cooperation with K-water, focusing on experience sharing, workshops, and specialized training. She also urged Korea to provide technical support and jointly implement international projects on integrated water management and smart solutions for green growth and climate adaptation

As part of the program, the delegation also visited several flagship projects, including K-water’s water management center, the water treatment and reuse system in Asan New Town, and the Cheonggyecheon Stream restoration project - widely recognized as a successful example of urban river revitalization.