The overexploitation of groundwater in the Mekong Delta has contributed to severe land subsidence, which could lead to devastating consequences if the practice continues, experts have said.
Nguyen Van Cu street in Can Tho city’s Ninh Kieu district was flooded by high tides in October last year. High tides and land subsidence have contributed to flooding in the city in recent years (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) – The overexploitation of groundwater in the MekongDelta has contributed to severe land subsidence, which could lead todevastating consequences if the practice continues, experts have said.
The delta, the country’s largest rice, fruit andseafood producer, is facing a land subsidence rate of 1 cm per year, with someareas reaching a rate of 5.7 cm, according to the Ministry of Natural Resourcesand Environment.
Can Tho city has the highest rate of landsubsidence, with more than 5 cm in most areas during the 2015 – 19 period.
Speaking at a seminar held in Can Tho ealier thisweek, Tran Quang Khai of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology’s WaterManagement and Climate Change Centre, said that if Can Tho continued exploitinggroundwater, most areas would become lower than sea level by 2100.
Flooding and high tides will also become moresevere, he said.
Construction projects in Can Tho have alsoworsened land subsidence.
"The delta exploits 2 million cu.m ofgroundwater a day, according to reports, but the reports do not include allhousehold-bore wells, so the volume is actually higher," said Khai.
The main causes for subsidence are reducedsediment supply due to upstream dams, river sand mining, and groundwaterexploitation, seminar participants said.
Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent expert on MekongDelta ecology, said the cost of using surface water is higher than that ofgroundwater.
He said the delta should develop zoning of areaswhere groundwater exploitation should be restricted.
Seminar participants said that raising publicawareness about the problem is needed and that the surface water and rain watershould be used more.
Strict legal regulations to protect groundwaterresources in the delta are also needed, they said.
Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the Can ThoPeople’s Committee, said the city has zoned areas where groundwaterexploitation is restricted and has taken measures to prevent the practice./.
The People’s Committee of Ca Mau province has ordered local authorities to strengthen measures to check erosion and subsidence along rivers and canals, coasts and elsewhere to safeguard people and their properties.
The People’s Committee of the Mekong Delta province of An Giang has declared an emergency following repeated erosion along a canal bank in Long Xuyen city’s My Thanh ward.
The Mekong Delta province of An Giang has asked the World Bank and the Australian government to help build reservoirs in combination with irrigation infrastructure to serve production in the Long Xuyen quadrilateral sub-region.
The Mekong Delta needs 338 trillion VND (16.5 billion USD) in the next five years to upgrade its traffic infrastructure, improve water storage and mitigate riverbank and coastal erosion.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Nguyen Van Cu street in Can Tho city’s Ninh Kieu district was flooded by high tides in October last year. High tides and land subsidence have contributed to flooding in the city in recent years (Photo: VNA) 
