Viet Nam, Netherlands share innovations in flood control

The VDDMA, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, partnered with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Viet Nam to host a technical workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23. The event was titled "Innovation in Flood Control and Strengthening Resilience to Climate Change."

The workshop was held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City as part of the Vietwater 2025 International Exhibition. Attendees included representatives from state management agencies, research institutions, private enterprises, and international development organizations.

Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga, Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Viet Nam Disaster and Dike Management Authority, stated that innovation, science, technology, and international cooperation are key elements. She emphasized that these factors are crucial in shifting the national approach from passive disaster response to proactive prevention and integrated disaster risk management.

"The workshop is an opportunity for stakeholders to share experiences and introduce advanced solutions and integrated disaster risk management strategies," Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga said. "These innovations and technological applications will contribute significantly to enhancing Viet Nam's adaptive capacity in the face of growing challenges posed by natural disasters and climate change."

Mr. Sander Capaij, Coordinator of the Delta Program at the Netherlands' Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, noted that the Dutch government has long prioritized cooperation with Viet Nam. This collaboration focuses on flood management and climate change adaptation through various activities and projects implemented nationwide. The Dutch representative expressed a desire to continue this close coordination with the VDDMA and other relevant agencies in the future.

During the workshop, delegates heard several presentations. A representative from the VDDMA discussed the application of science and technology in disaster prevention and outlined priority orientations. This was followed by a presentation from the Haskoning Company on flood risk management, drawing from global experiences to propose solutions for Viet Nam. Other topics included the introduction of a smart disaster warning platform that combines Telemac open-source software with artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate floods in the Mekong Delta, as well as an early warning system designed for climate change adaptation.

Concurrently with the workshop, the VDDMA also collaborated with several domestic and foreign companies at the Vietwater 2025 Exhibition. Together, they organized booths displaying scientific and technological products and solutions focused on flood management and disaster risk mitigation.