Adaptive co-management in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: examining the interface between flood management and adaptation

Abstract

The rural landscapes of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta have undergone a dramatic change, where flood management and adaptation are at the forefront. This article investigates how these synergies facilitate policy change. Drawing on qualitative information from the literature, focus group discussions, and interviews, the article argues that there are confrontational but complementary effects between them, which evolve towards adaptive co-management. Collaborative learning between local governments and farmers enables shared understanding of water management drawbacks, leading to policy change. The article recommends that more attention be given to this approach to guide strategic water policy development in the region.

Keywords:

• Adaptation
• adaptive co-management
• collaborative learning
• flood management
• Vietnamese Mekong Delta
• water policy

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to extend their gratitude to the participants in the study areas for their provision of information for this study.

Notes

1. Low dykes, also known as August dykes, were initiated in An Giang Province in 1978 (Tong, 2015). This system aims to delay the seasonal floodwater inflows into fields until the summer-autumn rice crop is harvested. The protection of this structural system also enables rice farmers to actively pump the remaining floodwaters out of the fields to start the winter-spring crop early. So far, farmers and local governments have invested a considerable amount of money in maintaining the August dykes. Many prefer the building of high dykes to avoid annual maintenance costs and enable the triple rice cropping system.