On September 27, 2022, an interim workshop on the feasibility study of the climate change adaptation project in Nga Bay city, Hau Giang province, funded by the WARM Facility and implemented by the French Development Agency (AFD), was held in Vi Thanh city, Hau Giang province, Vietnam.

The goal of the project is to support the urbanization process with adaptive resilience, in order to cope with challenges such as climate change and sea level rise; support the development of a green urban area in Nga Bay city, prevent urban pollution and improve the quality of life for residents; support the sustainable economic development of the region and the city's ability to adapt to climate change.

The workshop provided an overview of the ongoing work, such as assessing flood risks, the current situation of the wastewater network and treatment plants, embankment systems and urban landscapes.

The overview of workshop

At the workshop, on behalf of the project advisory group, Mr. Erik Klaassen, head of the consultant group, presented the accomplishments of the group during this time in Nga Bay City to the scientists and attendees.

Mr. Erik Klaassen, the team leader, shared the main content of the Project at the workshop

According to Mr. Erik, according to the flood risk assessment, the consulting group has come up with specific solutions to adapt to the current situation in Hau Giang province in general and Nga Bay city in particular. These recommendations include raising the embankment height by 20 to 30 cm and setting a common height of 2.4m, which can be further increased in the future if necessary; developing a comprehensive plan to upgrade and improve the dike system to cope with sea level rise by 2050; considering increasing the size of drainage pipes from 600mm to 800mm when conditions allow; and creating a detailed plan for developing green infrastructure solutions (increasing permeable surface area by 50ha and water surface area by 15ha, possibly including a regulating reservoir)…

On behalf of the consulting team, Mr. Erick also shared the achievements of the research conducted in Nga Bay city regarding topics such as assessing the actual situation of the wastewater network and treatment plants, embankment systems, and urban landscapes.

At the workshop, the director of the provincial project management board revealed that Nga Bay City is the meeting point of 7 small rivers (Cai Con, Quan Lo, Phung Hiep, Lai Hieu, Mang Ca, Muong Lo Xeo Dong, Xeo Mon), making it more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

However, on the other hand, it has great potential to become a unique destination for culture, tourism, and economic exchange. The central area, known as the "seven river gathering water," was once the largest waterway transportation hub in Southern Vietnam in the early 20th century. It was closely linked to the major trading center of the South and had a significant impact on the agricultural market in the Western region. Therefore, when the project is fully evaluated and objectively forecasted for its future implementation and completion, it will create a new face for Nga Bay in particular and contribute to unleashing the inherent potential of Hau Giang province as a whole.

Director of the Provincial Project Management Board spoke at the Workshop

Representative of the WARM Facility, Mr. Trinh Quang Tuan - Facility coordinator, stated that the WARM Facility is a 20 million Euro grant from the European Union (EU) authorized to AFD through the Asian Investment Fund (AIF) with the aim of enhancing community resilience in climate-vulnerable areas. With the project being implemented in Vietnam, specifically in Hau Giang province, Mr. Tuan believes that a coordinated approach will greatly contribute to promoting the province's image and always have proactive measures to cope with climate change.

At the scientific workshop, the participants also provided feedback and made additional contributions to the results achieved by the research team, as well as suggestions for the most effective implementation of the project.