VietNamNet Bridge – This ancient city is taking steps to prevent its Old Quarter and the highly popular Cua Dai Beach from being washed away by climate change.

The city has already allocated VND75 billion to concrete a 700m dyke protecting the boundary of the old street of Hoi An. — Photo tuoitre.vn

Much of the beach a few kilometres from the city centre has already disappeared, threatening many guest houses and restaurants along the coast.

The city has already allocated VND75 billion (US$3.6 million) to concrete a 700m dyke protecting the boundary of the old street of Hoi An.

Vice-chairman of the city's People's Committee, Nguyen Van Dung, told Viet Nam News this on Tuesday, Nov 11.

The fund, which comes from the climate-change resilience programme, will help build a strong dyke against annual erosion caused by rising sea levels.

"The 1960s dyke system has become downgraded in recent years," Dung said.

"It was built with steel piles and concrete, but erosion and floods have punched holes in the system and threaten the ancient town," Dung said.

"The upgraded concreted dyke system running from the Japanese-style bridge to Cam Nam bridge along the Hoai River will strengthen the river bank street in Bach Dang and part of the Old Quarter from erosion."

Dung said the project was highly important to protect the ancient heritage, which is recognised by UNESCO.

The city has also raised an emergency VND10 billion (US$471,000) to strengthen part of Cua Dai beach, which has been eroded by big waves and rising seas.

The vice chairman said the city needed another VND60 billion ($2.85 million) to build a dyke system along the beach.

The city reported that about 8ha of public beach of Cua Dai, 5km east of the ancient town of Hoi An, had been washed away and dozens of resorts in the area were in danger of collapsing.

Source: VNS