Office asked to beef up cooperation in water resources management
The standing office of the Vietnam National Mekong Committee should continue carrying out cooperation activities in the Mekong River Commission, and sharing experience in integrated water resources management, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said at a conference in Hanoi on December 24.
Mekong River in the Golden Triangle region of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The standing officeof the Vietnam National Mekong Committee should continue carrying outcooperation activities in the Mekong River Commission, and sharing experiencein integrated water resources management, Deputy Minister of Natural Resourcesand Environment Le Cong Thanh said at a conference in Hanoi on December 24.
Chief of the office Le Duc Trung reported thatin 2019, the office successfully hosted a plenary meeting of the VietnamNational Mekong Committee, and provided consultations for the Pak Laymainstream hydropower project in Laos’ north-western province of Xayaburi.
The office also coordinated with member nationsto implement the Siem Reap Declaration towards achievement of the SustainableDevelopment Goals in the Mekong River Basin, as well as conducted research onthe impact of exploitation and usage of water resources on the Mekong Riverbasin.
It also fulfilled its role in connectingbilateral and multilateral cooperation activities. For example, the office hasmaintained the regular notification of the water discharge from hydropower damson the Sesan and Sre Pok rivers for Cambodia, while coordinating with Laos toimplement consultations for hydropower projects on the Mekong River’smainstream.
Deputy Director of the Department of WaterResources Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and EnvironmentNguyen Thi Thu Linh suggested the office actively monitor developments in theregion and promote technical guidance on hydroelectric dams on the MekongRiver’s mainstream, as well as strengthen the monitoring network of waterresources and transboundary environment./.
Vietnam's rivers have greatly contributed to socio-economic development, but over-exploitation in recent years has seriously affected this valuable resource, an expert has said.
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat and the Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Centre (LMC Water Centre) has inked an agreement to enhance efficiency of key cooperation fields between the two bodies.
Saltwater has intruded early this year into the Mekong Delta’s coastal provinces, affecting the availability of freshwater for irrigation and household use.
Floodwater levels in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are high and will continue to rise this month, especially in upstream areas, according to the hydraulic works management and construction department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Conservation efforts to restore habitat and boost the population of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park are finally showing progress, with the cranes and many other rare wild birds coming back to the park.
Torrential rains from the night of July 31 to early August 1 triggered flash floods and landslides across several communes in Dien Bien province, leaving at least two people dead and eight others missing.
Transitioning to a circular economy not only offers a sustainable development path for Ho Chi Minh City but also serves as a pivotal step toward establishing a fully green economy.
An exhibition featuring 100 green, recycled, and circular economy models and products from 50 businesses and educational establishments took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31, as part of the local green transition forum and recycle day 2025.
Regional solidarity and cooperation are the key factor for the effective implementation of wildlife protection regulations. Only through sustainable cooperation, innovative approaches, and collective action can biodiversity be safeguarded for the present and future generations, an Vietnamese official has said.
Hanoi has approved a comprehensive plan to restore the environmental quality and develop four major urban rivers – the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set reverine environments.
The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
Mekong River in the Golden Triangle region of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Photo: VNA) 
