The Mekong Delta region is implementing several projects to cooperate internationally to enhance climate change mitigation and sustainable development.
Over the past years, 17 climate adaptation projects have been implemented in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, supported by a total of VND 99.133 trillion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans. In a significant move, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a high-level conference in July 2023, approving a plan to borrow USD 2.53 billion from six international partners to finance 16 sustainable development projects in the region. Notably, the national budget will disburse 90% of the funding.
In parallel, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with 10 provinces in the Mekong Delta, has developed the Mekong Delta Integrated Climate Resilience and Transformation Project (MERIT – WB11), with an estimated investment of USD 741 million.
Beyond financial commitments, scientific cooperation is gaining momentum among regional research institutions and universities. Can Tho University (CTU) leads several initiatives, including partnerships with Australia's Beanstalk and MBI Innovation to promote climate-smart agriculture. The university is also building a "Monitoring and Adaptation Community" in Ca Mau to enhance climate risk management and participate in the Net Zero Science and Technology Program to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
CTU is also collaborating with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on sustainable urban development in Can Tho City.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri, Director of the DRAGON-Mekong Institute for Climate Change Research, emphasized:
"DRAGON-Mekong serves as a hub for research, education, and scientific knowledge transfer, contributing to disaster preparedness and sustainable development."
Meanwhile, Tra Vinh University actively engages in international projects such as the Mekong Salt Lab (MSL) Forum, which addresses saltwater intrusion and livelihood protection. The university also partners with WWF Vietnam and Kim Delta Company on sustainable aquaculture practices and recently hosted a climate change conference with universities in the Philippines to exchange sustainable development strategies.