Vietnam’s Mekong Delta loses hundreds of hectares annually to coastal erosion

The figure was revealed at a climate resilience workshop held in Can Tho on Thursday, hosted by the Southern Institute of Water Resources Planning (SIWRP) in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam.

Participants at the event reviewed the current status of coastal protection and discussed nature-based solutions to strengthen climate adaptation.

Do Duc Dung, SIWRP’s chief, reported that coastal erosion and mangrove degradation have become increasingly severe, undermining the region’s natural defenses and threatening sea dikes and nearby communities.

Based on recent surveys in five Mekong Delta provinces, namely Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, and Bac Lieu, the SIWRP found that although sea dikes have been upgraded in many areas, several sections remain incomplete.

Coastal protection infrastructure is varied but inconsistently effective, and many mangrove belts have thinned or disappeared entirely, compromising their ability to shield dikes.

Dung also pointed out the lack of sustainable aquaculture models along the coast.

Current practices may deliver economic benefits but contribute to long-term environmental degradation and hidden pollution risks.

Tran Quang Tho, head of Mekong Delta water resources planning at the SIWRP , reported that out of the region's 450km of coastline, about 50.8km are regularly affected by erosion.

Critical forest belts have been severely reduced in areas like Go Cong Dong in Tien Giang and the Bac Lieu-Soc Trang border.

Tho emphasized that the most effective restoration efforts combine well-planned mangrove reforestation with measures to promote sediment accumulation, along with supportive forest management policies and sustainable use incentives.

Similarly, Pham Trong Thinh, former deputy head of the Southern Sub-Institute of Forest Planning and Investigation, stressed the need to classify coastal zones based on distinct geological and hydrological conditions.

This would allow authorities to design appropriate hard and soft embankment structures to match each area's specific characteristics.