Da Nang seeks flood management solutions for Vu Gia - Thu Bon basin
DNO - On April 9, Da Nang authorities, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) delegation, held a meeting on flood management planning for the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin, based on a study conducted by JICA.
The meeting was co-chaired by Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Tran Nam Hung and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep.
The Japanese delegation included Mori Takero, Consul General of Japan in Da Nang; Minamitani Taichi, Director of JICA’s Disaster Risk Management Division in Tokyo; and Kobayashi Kenichi, Deputy Chief Representative of JICA in Vietnam.
According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep, the Vu Gia - Thu Bon basin is both a key economic lifeline and one of Vietnam’s most complex river systems, with flood control, water security and downstream safety, especially in Da Nang and Hoi An, posing ongoing challenges.
At the same time, recent issues at the Quang Hue dam have exposed technical limits amid more extreme weather, making comprehensive upgrades and integrated management a top government priority.
Vice Chairman Tran Nam Hung said flooding in Da Nang stems from multiple factors, including upstream flows, heavy rain, tides and sea-level rise, while rapid urbanisation, poor flood corridor management and incomplete drainage have worsened localised urban flooding.
The city backs an integrated river basin-based approach being studied by the ministry and the JICA, shifting from “flood control” to adaptive management that balances risk reduction with development.
Participants called for more comprehensive flood risk assessments, factoring in upstream flows, local rainfall and tides, along with updated data and urbanisation analysis to produce detailed flood and disaster risk maps for improved decision-making.
Key priorities include defining flood discharge corridors, improving forecasting and early warning, aligning flood modelling with reservoir operations, and integrating risk reduction into urban planning.
The Da Nang People’s Committee pledged close coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, basin localities and partners, including JICA, to refine the study and ensure practical implementation, with the goal of finalising an integrated flood management framework for the Vu Gia - Thu Bon basin in the near term.
Discussions at the meeting, based on JICA’s report, focused on assessing current conditions and proposing feasible, context-specific solutions for Central Vietnam.