Viet Nam, Germany partner for sustainable groundwater management

On June 24, in Hanoi, the National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI) cooperated with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of Germany (BGR) to organize the closing ceremony of the project “Sustainable Management of Groundwater Resources Linked with Geological and Hydrogeological Conditions in the Mekong Delta and Coastal Areas of Viet Nam Adapting to Climate Change” (CRMGG), while celebrating 17 years of cooperation between the two sides.

Managed aquifer recharge as a management breakthrough

Speaking at the opening, Mr. La Duc Dung, director general of NAWAPI, affirmed that the CRMGG project is not merely a technical cooperation program but also an important shift in water resource management mindsets-moving from passive response to proactive management based on science and data. Particularly, as the Mekong Delta and coastal regions face escalating pressures from climate change, saltwater intrusion, water level decline, and land subsidence, the project's outcomes demonstrate great urgency and practical value.

According to Mr. Dung, the standout highlight of the project is researching and implementing managed aquifer recharge (MAR) solutions. This is a breakthrough approach that harmonizes water extraction and regeneration. Pilot models have shown clear initial efficiency in boosting reserves, restoring aquifers, and mitigating risks caused by overexploitation. “More importantly, these results provide a reliable scientific foundation for regulatory bodies to consider practical applications toward the goal of sustainable water resource use,” Mr. Dung affirmed.

The project has also driven a distinct shift in data management and digital transformation by establishing an integrated platform for monitoring data, investigations, and specialized water resource information. Consequently, management operations are transitioning step by step from manual processes to centralized, connected, and more efficient operations, improving forecasting capacity and decision-making support.

Evaluating its long-term value, Mr. Dung emphasized the human element. After 17 years of cooperation, the local staff's professional capacity has been enhanced. They have mastered modern technologies and management methods, creating a foundation for the project's results to be continuously operated and replicated in practice.

Inheriting these achieved results, NAWAPI is accelerating its digital transformation strategy in the water resource sector. The establishment of a digital transformation steering committee and a big data development task force represents concrete steps to restructure data, strengthen connectivity, and exploit information sources efficiently. The goal extends beyond storage, aiming to turn data into a tool serving timely and accurate management, forecasting, and decision-making.

In the coming time, Mr. Dung stated that the center has identified key focus areas: reviewing and standardizing data to ensure synchronization and sustainability; strengthening connectivity and information sharing among units and localities; developing visual tools to monitor water resources and natural disaster risks; and focusing on training human resources capable of autonomously operating the system. Concurrently, expanding international cooperation, especially with BGR, will continue to be promoted to receive advanced technologies and enhance governance capacity.

Strengthening cooperation for sustainable management

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Santiago Alonso Rodriguez, first secretary of the German Embassy in Hanoi, evaluated that the CRMGG project serves as a prime example of the long-term cooperation efficiency between Germany and Viet Nam in the water resource sector. In a context where water security is increasingly a strategic issue, especially in vulnerable regions like the Mekong Delta, the role of groundwater is continually affirmed.

However, Mr. Rodriguez also noted that groundwater is not an infinite resource. Uncontrolled extraction can lead to severe consequences, including reserve depletion, water quality degradation, and increased land subsidence. Therefore, managing water resources in general and groundwater in particular needs to be based on science, reliable data, and sustainable solutions.

Mr. Rodriguez highly appreciated that Vietnamese agencies have proactively inherited, invested in, and expanded tested models, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable development. He affirmed that although the project has concluded, the German government will continue to accompany the Vietnamese government in future efforts to enhance resilience and water resource management.

The CRMGG project was deployed across all 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta (previously) and expanded to coastal areas of Vietnam during the 2023–2026 period. Backed by the German government, it was jointly executed by BGR and NAWAPI. The implementation of 3D hydrogeological models, digital maps, and remote sensing data has clarified aquifer characteristics, resource dynamics, and related impacts.