On 31 May 2022, in Quang Tri, the final evaluation workshop of the Project "Feasibility study on project preparation for the Green City Project: Urban development, green growth and climate resilience in Dong Ha city” took place. Vietnam" took place. The project is co-funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union (EU) through the WARM Facility.

Green City Project: Urban development, green growth and climate resilience in Dong Ha city, Quang Tri province, Vietnam includes 2 components: Investment project and Technical assistance. In particular, Component 1: Investment project proposed to establish the foundation for improved city infrastructure, has 3 sub-component projects: Embankment projects (with 7 sub-projects: Embankments around Ho Chi Minh City River, 2 sub-projects to embank the West bank of Thach Han River, 3 sub-projects to embank the North bank of Vinh Phuoc River, to embank the South bank of Hieu River), Drainage project (there are 3 sub-projects: Improving the downstream drainage system Khe May Lake, Improving the drainage system downstream of Trung Chi Lake and Improving the drainage system in low-income areas) and urban upgrading projects (there are 2 sub-projects: Ba Trieu Park and Road Improvement low-income neighborhood).

Component 2: Technical assistance, will build on this foundation to strengthen climate resilience through incremental change driven by informed decision-making and strengthening technical capacity. Component 2 has 4 sub-projects: Support for climate-responsive land use planning and flood management; Support investment program implementation activities; Support the pilot city program to implement the green growth urban development plan in Vietnam; Support local economic activities and create green jobs
At the workshop, consultants pointed out the benefits of the proposed embankment: Preventing landslides, responding to the negative impacts of climate change, with a total protected riverbank length of 11.7 km, Estimated total area of ​​riverbank land protected: 23.5 hectares, cleared and expanded flow; Flood prevention, reducing flooded area by 6% for rain events with frequency < 10%; Improve living environment conditions in riverside areas and create conditions for the development of riverbank parks.

In addition, project experts also pointed out that there are differences compared to the design of the local consultant: The preliminary design is based on hydraulic - hydrological calculation data, taking into account sustainability factors, adaptation to climate change; Proposing intervention solutions including gray and blue-gray based on the principle of minimizing impacts on the landscape and river biology.
Common benefits of the 3 drainage sub-projects: Increase sewer coverage rate (from 55% to 76%), thereby enhancing environmental sanitation in the city; increase green area, increase rainwater storage, reduce land occupation and create more entertainment areas for the community with soft embankments (including dredging) and landscaping around river/canal banks; helps improve flow, prevent flooding, prevent landslides, and effectively address the negative impacts of climate change (reducing 26% of flooded area in case of widespread rain).

Participating in comments on the project components, Mr. Pham Van Dung - Vice Chairman of Dong Ha City People's Committee proposed that the consulting agency and project management unit receive and study the comments contributed by experts and managers, and will complete the entire project dossier, ensuring project effectiveness.

The project is implemented in 4 years, with a total expected investment of 1,149.23 billion VND (equivalent to 42.23 million Euro); of which, AFD loan is 33.80 million Euro (equivalent to 919.87 billion VND), non-refundable aid is 1.36 million Euro (equivalent to 37.13 billion VND), counterpart funding is 192.23 billion VND ( equivalent to 7.06 million Euro).

The overall goal of the Project is to develop the system of central coastal urban areas in accordance with the master plan for development of Vietnam's urban system to 2025 with a vision to 2050 approved by the Government; to build Dong Ha City into a green urban area, responding to climate change in accordance with city planning goals until 2030, with a vision to 2050.