Vinh River Rehabilitation Project

Creation of new green areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas

The intervention is envisaged as a complex project that includes multiple integrated solutions to challenges surmounting the effects of climate change. The goals were defined below: 1. To reduce the risk of flooding and landslides (and improve the quality of the land at the riverbanks) in urban areas and strengthen the city's ability to manage urban areas to adapt to climate change (1, 2). 2. To adapt to climate change by creating green spaces/riverbank greens for the city through the construction of public space infrastructure (2). 3. To contribute to sustainable urban development and adaptation to climate change, creating motivation for comprehensive socio-economic development for Vinh city and Nghe An province in general (4). 4. To help Vinh City build an integrated infrastructure, increase urban resilience, and help the city adapt to climate change by improving and upgrading the drainage systems of the Vinh river (3). 5. To enhance environmental conditions and human quality of life through modifications and enhancements to the Vinh River and wastewater collection and treatment system (4).

As of 2022, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam has conducted an appraisal of the environmental impact assessment report (EIA) of the priority infrastructure project and urban development adapting to climate change in the city (2). As this is a new project the implementation process started in late 2022 and early 2023. Component 3 of the project aims to work on river improvements and public space upgrades. This will include rehabilitation of the Vinh river, from where it adjoins the Ke Gai river to the Ben Thuy sluice gate, with a total length of 11.4 km, on the west side of the city. This segment of the riverbank is the primary drainage channel for the two most important catchment areas of the city, totalling over 4,300 ha. Activities will include dredging and improving slope protection and embankment in conjunction with constructing an intercept to collect wastewater that is currently discharged directly to the river, linking to the drainage and environmental sanitation activities in sub-component 1.1. The investments will significantly strengthen the environmental condition of the Vinh river and contribute to cleaner water and fewer plastics flowing into the river, thereby improving the water quality of the regional Lam river as the ultimate water-receiving body. Furthermore, following the river rehabilitation and environmental remediation investments, the quality of the land adjacent to the riverbank will be significantly improved. To ensure that the space is well-utilized and protected, this sub-component will invest in public spaces totalling 20 ha that will be designed and implemented with the objective of developing the Vinh river as the historic spine of the city, with an ecological village, a heritage crossing, market linkages, and new urban area that is connected by the Le Mao extension road. The development of expansive green public spaces along the riverbank will enhance the historical and cultural values of the river, benefiting both citizens as well as tourists (6). Furthermore a new Hung Hoa 2 regulation lake with an area of 53 ha area and the capacity of 2,160,000m3 will be created. The identified location of the Hung Hoa 2 regulation lake is in line with the approved city Master Plan and the land is currently available. The area surrounding the lake, totaling 70 ha will be developed as green public spaces that includes multi-purpose parklands and promenades with lanes for both pedestrians and bicycles. (7) 25 consultation meetings were organized in Nghe An province and Vinh city under the Vinh City Priority Infrastructure and Urban Resilience Development Project (VPIUR) with a total of 235 individuals attending. The participants included wide-ranging representatives from the provincial implementing agency (PMU staff), local governmental agencies (Nghe An PPC, Vinh city PC, C/WPCs), Provincial Departments (DOC, DARD, DONRE, DOCT, LFDC, DOST, DARD, DOLISA, DOT, DOIC), representatives of the local community (community heads), and local mass organizations (Women's Union, Fatherland Front, Veterans Association, Youth Union) (7).

• Local government/Municipality
• Citizens or community groups