River Embankments – An 'Ecological Shield' against climate change

Climate change is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with unusual storms, heavy rains, high tides, and saltwater intrusion. In Tay Ninh province, where rivers and canals are abundant, the risk of landslides has grown more severe, directly threatening local livelihoods, agricultural production, and even vital transport routes. In response, the province has identified investment in anti-erosion embankments as a priority, aiming to protect people’s lives and assets while ensuring sustainable development.

Many projects are “reaching the finish line”

From this orientation, many key projects have been launched. According to information from the Long An Construction Investment Project Management Board (PMB), the unit is currently the investor of 11 projects in the field of agriculture and rural development, with a total capital of more than VND 2,108 billion. These include the dredging of the Vam Co Tay River and 10 embankment projects, such as: anti-erosion and salinity prevention embankments on the Vam Co Dong River in Ben Luc; the embankment protecting the Vam Co Tay River from the new Tan An bridge to Da Han Bay (Long An ward); the Nuoc Man canal embankment (Long Huu commune); the embankment preventing erosion of the Vam Co Tay River bank (Khanh Hau ward); the embankment protecting Kien Tuong ward; the Can Giuoc riverbank erosion control project (Can Giuoc commune); and the dredging of the Vam Co Tay River from the Hong Ngu canal to Binh Chau hamlet, among others.

Some projects have already been “completed ahead of schedule,” delivering clear results. Specifically, three projects — the embankment protecting the Vam Co Tay River bank (from the new Tan An bridge to the Da Han Bay embankment), the Nuoc Man canal embankment (east bank, Long Huu commune), and the Can Giuoc riverbank erosion control project — have been completed and are currently in the settlement stage. The remaining eight projects are expected to be finished by December 2025 at the latest.

Among the projects, the Da Han Bay area (Long An ward) has long been considered a “hot spot” for landslides. The province has invested in building an embankment more than 2 km long, divided into two phases. Phase 2, 1.2 km in length with a capital of over VND 140 billion, started in 2023 and was completed in 2024, quickly proving effective in preventing erosion and stabilizing local livelihoods. Phase 1, 875 meters long with an investment of VND 178 billion, commenced in 2021 but was delayed due to site clearance issues. By October 2024, once these obstacles were resolved, the project was restarted and has now reached 95% completion.

Mr. Le Van Phuong, representative of Thanh Tuan Construction and Survey Co., Ltd. — the construction unit — said: “As soon as the site was handed over, we mobilized maximum manpower and equipment to accelerate progress. We are striving to complete the project by December 2025, ensuring absolute quality and safety.”

Mr. Doan Van Thai, a resident of Long An ward, shared: “At first, my family was a little worried about losing land. But after seeing the embankment completed — with no more landslides and houses and roads stabilized — we realized the project was for the common good, so we fully agreed.”

Further investment proposed for landslide hot spots

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ngan, Deputy Head of the Agricultural Project Management Division under the Long An Construction Investment Project Management Board, emphasized: “During the construction of the embankments, the Board has regularly inspected and urged contractors to ensure both progress and quality. These riverbank embankments not only address urgent erosion problems but also create a long-term safety corridor for production and daily life. At the same time, the Board is working closely with relevant sectors and local authorities to accelerate implementation while preparing upcoming projects in line with sustainable development goals”.

Alongside the projects currently under construction, the province has also proposed that the central government allocate nearly 4 trillion VND from the reserve fund and the medium-term public investment program for the 2026–2030 period to implement 11 new projects. These are all large-scale initiatives covering multiple areas, including: the western embankment of Nuoc Man Canal (Tan Lan Commune), Bao Dinh River embankment (Tan An Ward), Vam Co Tay River protection embankment (from the Health Protection Center to Vanh Dai Canal), Can Giuoc River anti-erosion works, Thu Thua Canal embankment, Kien Tuong Ward protection embankment (remaining section), embankment protecting residential areas along the northern bank of Vam Co Tay River (Moc Hoa Commune), Tam Vu River anti-erosion embankment, Duong Van Duong Canal embankment, and the southern embankment of Vam Co Tay River (through Chua Noi Pagoda), among others.

In addition, the province has called for investment in 2 major drought and salinity prevention projects: the salinity control system on the Vam Co River and the Thanh An freshwater reservoir. These facilities will provide an essential supplementary water source, supporting both agricultural production and household needs during the dry season.

It is evident that riverbank embankment projects not only help address climate change, reduce erosion, and prevent saltwater intrusion but also play a crucial role in safeguarding people’s property and lives while creating favorable conditions for agricultural production and transport infrastructure development.

Amid the unpredictable challenges of climate change, these projects are more than just technical infrastructure. They serve as a resilient ecological shield, opening opportunities for stable and sustainable socio-economic development in Tay Ninh in particular and the Mekong Delta as a whole./.

By V.Quang – Translated by Tuong Vinh