The Mekong Delta may experience sooner and even more serious droughts and saltwater intrusion in the 2019 – 2020 dry season, compared to the situation in 2016 when historic saline intrusion was recorded, an official has said.

Low and late floods have further worsened saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta region, heard a workshop held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on October 4.

Saltwater is expected to severely intrude into the Mekong Delta during the remainder of the year, instead of in March or April next year, as normal, said the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha said at a national conference recently that climate change in Mekong Delta "comes sooner and much faster than many scenarios" had predicted.

 More than 67,160 ha of farmland nationwide are likely to be hit by drought and saline intrusion in the coming time if a lack of rainfall persists, according to the Directorate of Water Resource under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – More breakthrough solutions are needed to help farmers in the Mekong Delta cope with unpredictably rising water levels, 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Water and agricultural land in Nhon Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District of the south central province of Ninh Thuan has been contaminated with high saline levels, affecting local production and livelihoods.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam needs US$140billion to $179 billion in the next 20 years for climate change reduction and adaptation, as well as technology.  

 VietNamNet Bridge – Agricultural biotechnology is one of the key tools that can improve the yield and quality of agricultural products in a time of climate change, experts said.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung on Monday spoke with provincial authorities and government agencies about the need for urgent action to prevent landslides in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

The Mekong Delta will disappear in the next several decades once Pak Beng Dam and another 10 planned hydropower dams are built on the Mekong River in Laos and Cambodia, 

VietNamNet Bridge – A lack of cutting-edge technologies, unrealistic policies, and a failure to take advantage of local expertise and knowledge are constraining agricultural development in the country, 

VietNamNet Bridge – Signs of growth stagnation in the Mekong Delta in recent years have been blamed on climate change, which has contributed to drought and saline intrusion.

VietNamNet Bridge - The dry season in 2017 is expected to be less severe than in 2016, but Mekong Delta will still face a lack of fresh water and saline intrusion, scientists say.

VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists believe that the current three-crop-a-year production policy will not help farmers escape poverty, and will only worsen saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has directed relevant agencies in receiving and using the Asian Development Bank’s emergency aid to help the country deal with impacts of drought and saline intrusion.

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc this morning stressed the important role that the Mekong Delta plays in national development as well as the enormous challenges that faced the region, especially climate change.  

VietNamNet Bridge - The underground water level in Mekong Delta has been degrading rapidly, and is at risk of arsenic contamination.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam needs to be well-prepared to cope with natural disasters, which have become more fierce and unpredictable in recent years,

 Deputy PM visits disaster-hit localities in Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh loses 49.5 million USD due to drought, saline intrusion, UNESCO, ILO funded tourism project benefits locals, HCM City: 201 women awarded “Heroic Mother” title