MEKONG DELTA LIVING LAB – PROGRESS UPDATES AND NEW FINDINGS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2025

The "Mekong Delta Living Lab" project — an open laboratory for coastal protection and nature-based solutions — has reached its mid-year milestone for 2025. Here are the most impressive highlights of ICOE’s research activities and international collaborations over the past six months.

1. Key Finding: Land Subsidence is a Real Threat to the Mekong Delta

One of the most critical research results in the first half of 2025 is the identification of delta subsidence as a major factor driving water level changes in the Mekong Delta, overshadowing the impact of global sea-level rise.

Measurements at Gành Hào and Sông Đốc recorded alarming subsidence rates. The highest rate observed among all stations was 2.007 cm/year, while the sea-level rise scenario showed an increase of only 0.392 cm/year over the same period. Combined, these two factors have pushed the total rate of water level change up to 2.399 cm/year.

Fig1: Rate of water level change and contributions of delta subsidence and sea level rise during 2000–2024.

2. Notable Fieldwork Activities

From June 11–19, 2025, ICOE, in collaboration with Thuyloi University, implemented a large-scale measurement campaign in Sóc Trăng and Bạc Liêu. The research team digitized over 100 coastal revetment and dike structures to evaluate their effectiveness in sediment trapping and mangrove restoration.

Fig2: Field measurement process in Vĩnh Châu (Sóc Trăng).

3. International Collaboration

In July 2025, the Institute was honored to welcome Assoc. Prof. Bas Van Maren and Dr. Anne Baar — two leading coastal engineering experts from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands. The visit, part of the "Mangrove Living Lab" project, opened in-depth discussions on the current status and potential for mangrove ecosystem restoration.

Fig3: Meetings and discussions on the "Mangrove Living Lab" project between ICOE and experts/researchers from the Netherlands.

4. Future Plans

In the second half of 2025, ICOE will focus on researching the correlation between inundation periods and mangrove growth capacity. Four "strategic" locations have been selected for measurements:

• Ward 2 and Lai Hoa in Vinh Chau (Soc Trang).

• Ganh Hao and Vinh Hau A in Bac Lieu.

This diversity promises to provide a comprehensive view of the practical effectiveness of both structural and non-structural solutions in the Mekong Delta.

Fig4: Planned measurement locations.