Rapid economic development and inadequate water infrastructure pose significant public health challenges in Vietnam. Climate changes exacerbates these issues by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Vietnam, with its landscape rich in porous river systems, hosts more than 3,500 rivers longer than 10 kilometers. Around 70% of its population lives along these waterways, which are crucial to the nation’s culture and economy. These essential resources face threats from natural and human-induced challenges, putting the livelihoods, cultural heritage and economic stability of Vietnam at risk.

Water Threats in Vietnam

• Freshwater Access and Pollution Threatening Public Health. Many critical water infrastructures are insufficient or in a state of disrepair. Water access from centralized supply systems has reached only about 48% of the rural population. This has led to poor handwashing and other hygienic practices in some disadvantaged areas. Nearly 30% of people in Dien Bien, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Ninh Thuan provinces had limited availability of basic handwashing facilities at home—one of the fundamental practices to prevent COVID-19.
• Groundwater Over-extraction. Groundwater over-extraction is recognized as the main driver of land subsidence. The decline in groundwater levels leads to the compaction of the aquifer, causing the land surface to sink. Over the past 25 years, the Mekong Delta has sunk by an average of 18 cm due to groundwater withdrawal. This sinking land has exacerbated the vulnerability of Delta residents to floods and storm surges.
• Climate Threat. Vietnam ranks among the countries most susceptible to climate changes. Its extensive coastline and river deltas are highly exposed to rising sea levels. Flooding alone is projected to affect an estimated 10 million people. Over the next 15 years. This climate-induced flooding poses a significant long-term threat to Vietnam’s agricultural production, economic development, food security and poverty reduction efforts.
• Salt Drought. Drought and saltwater intrusion further extend the threat to the river deltas of Vietnam. Saltwater has intruded up to 60 kilometers from the river mouth of Ben Tre province. Saltwater intrusion changes the salinity of groundwater, significantly impacting agricultural productivity and challenging the regional freshwater supply. Major infrastructural and landscape-scale interventions are necessary for the future sustainability of the deltas.

Alleviating Water-related Poverty in Vietnam

The World Bank has been instrumental in supporting Vietnam’s water and sanitation sector. Through the Vietnam Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Project, the World Bank has aimed to improve water services in major cities while addressing the needs of low-income households. This project includes developing sustainable water management practices and enhancing wastewater treatment to improve both health and environmental conditions. In addition, UNICEF has played a key role in promoting water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs in Vietnam, particularly in remote areas and schools. The organization works with the Vietnamese government to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, emphasizing hygiene education to reduce water-borne diseases, particularly in children.

Looking Forward

Efforts to improve the water infrastructure and promote sustainable practices are vital for reducing poverty in Vietnam. International support, such as initiatives by the World Bank and UNICEF, plays a significant role in enhancing access to clean water and sanitation facilities, particularly for vulnerable populations. Building resilience to climate impacts and prioritizing long-term water management could help safeguard the country’s health, economy and natural resources.

– Yuhan Ji

Yuhan is based in Cambridge, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr