Vietnam $3.2mn coastal seawall collapses before use, repairs proposed

At Trung Giang public beach in Ben Hai Commune, 120 meters of a VND84-billion seawall were destroyed by wave erosion, and another 100 meters are at risk, the local People's Committee said. 

The structure was part of a Me Kong Subregion tourism infrastructure development project and was handed over to the commune in October.

Officials reported that waves have eroded the sand layer by 2.5 meters and undermined the seawall foundation by more than 0.5 meters. 

Concrete blocks, granite paving, and steps were damaged, and the walkway above the wall is unusable.

The commune has proposed to repair the seawall, restore the promenade and stairs, and construct an additional 120-meter reinforced concrete breakwater, two to three meters high, with costs estimated at VND20 billion, according to Ben Hai People's Committee chairman Nguyen Van Hong.

Erosion has also damaged coastal vegetation in Ha Loi Trung Hamlet, uprooting Casuarina trees and advancing the shoreline 20 to 30 meters inland. 

The forest is now only 150-200 meters from the waterline, officials said.

Trieu Co Commune reported similar erosion after heavy rains in November, destroying part of a concrete pier in Hamlet 6 and exposing its foundation. 

Waves have advanced about 50 meters inland since 2022. 

Local authorities and residents attempted to reinforce the pier with sandbags, but the measures failed to stop ongoing erosion.

Trieu Co officials called for urgent investment in reinforced seawalls to protect the pier, aquaculture areas, and local livelihoods. 

Residents have worried that continued coastal erosion could threaten homes, fisheries, and generations-long livelihoods dependent on the sea.