MANGROVES LIVING LAB: PRE-SURVEY COMPLETED, READY FOR HYDRODYNAMIC MONITORING CAMPAIGN IN THE MEKONG DELTA

• Implementing Partners: Thuyloi University & Institute of Coastal and Offshore Engineering (ICOE).

• Time & Location: January 21–23, 2026, in the coastal areas of Ca Mau and Soc Trăng (Vinh Chau).

• Core Objective: To assess the current status, identify risks, and determine sensor placement for the official measurement campaign in May 2026.

1. Mangrove Status and Shoreline Dynamics

The survey recorded contrasting developments across the study sites:

• Positive Signals in Bac Lieu: Mangrove forests (primarily Avicennia) behind the hollow-pile dikes at the Bạc Liêu wind farm are thriving. Local reforestation is actively expanding on the mudflats in this area.

  
  

Figure 1: Bac Lieu wind farm viewed from land to sea. Left: Thriving mangrove forest planted behind hollow-pile dikes. Right: Active local reforestation on the mudflats. Field observations identify the primary species as Avicennia. Photo taken on Jan 22, 2026.

• Complex Trends in Lai Hoa: Following severe erosion from 2006 to 2014, the area showed recovery in 2019 due to replanting. However, the 2019–2024 period marks a return to erosion at a rate of 20m/year.

Figure 2: Satellite imagery of Lai Hoa (2006–2024). Color-coded shorelines show intense erosion of 20m/year (2006–2014), recovery in 2019, followed by renewed erosion at the same rate (2019–2024).

• Contrasts in Vinh Chau: 

  • Vinh Chau 1: Experiencing mild erosion, forest fragmentation, and a sudden drop in the forest edge.

  • Vinh Cha 2 & 3: Maintaining stable, mature mangrove forests with almost no shoreline movement over the last 5 years.

Figure 3: Satellite imagery of Vinh Chau 1 (2006–2024). Analysis shows mild erosion and forest loss due to aquaculture (2006–2014), recovery (2014–2019), and mild re-erosion (2019–2024)

Figure 4: Satellite imagery of Vinh Chau 2 and 3 (2006–2024) showing forest recovery through reforestation (2006–2019) and a stable shoreline during 2019–2024.

2. Official Measurement Campaign Plan

The project has selected two representative sites in Vinh Chau to compare hydrodynamic mechanisms between degrading (XS_VC1) and stable (XS_VC3) forest areas. Advanced equipment, including Wave buoys, AWACs (offshore), pressure sensors, Divers, and sediment samplers (in-forest), will be deployed for two weeks of continuous data collection.

• Figure 5: Cross-sectional diagram of the integrated monitoring equipment deployment.