The Vietnamese Government, in collaboration with the European Union and the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement - AFD), implemented the "Climate-Resilient Urban Infrastructure Project in Four North-Central Coast Provinces in Vietnam" (CRUIV).
The project is co-financed with a total amount of EUR 156 million, which includes a EUR 5 million grant from the EU, a EUR 123 million (USD 132 million) ODA loan from AFD, and EUR 28 million (USD 30 million) from the provincial budgets of Vietnam.
According to Mr. Hervé Conan, the AFD Country Director in Vietnam, CRUIV reflects a new integrated approach by AFD, which involves investing in infrastructure, enhancing capacity, and building long-term plans. This project serves as a platform for urban development ideas that are resilient and mitigate environmental impacts.
Vietnam identifies sustainable urban development as key to creating a healthy living environment and contributing to the global effort to achieve a greener, cleaner future for the planet.The project is expected to bring practical value to hundreds of thousands of people living in climate-vulnerable regions. It will not only improve people's livelihoods but also be a model for developing sustainable and climate-resilient urban areas at both national and regional levels.
The project is implemented in five districts across four provinces in the North Central region of Vietnam, focusing on three main pillars: Resilient infrastructure investments, including drainage systems, retention ponds, anti-erosion embankments, dikes, and upgrades to urban drainage systems; Local capacity building through technical training programs, climate-adaptive land-use planning, and the development of early warning systems; and Technical assistance – with a EUR 5 million grant from the EU, channeled through AFD, to support the project's implementation quality and long-term sustainability.
To implement this project, on April 11, the Vietnamese Government, in collaboration with the EU and AFD, organized an event on "Strengthening Climate Resilience of the Coastal Provinces of Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh."
The event marks an important milestone in strengthening international cooperation on sustainable development and climate change adaptation in Vietnam. The CRUIV project is not only a financial investment initiative but also a catalyst for transforming planning mindsets, paving the way for more livable cities, which are greener, more resilient, and more sustainable in the future.
The event focused on building the capacity of local officials, as well as those directly involved in urban planning, infrastructure operation, and risk response. Presentations from the Technical Support Team received positive feedback.
The content focuses on operating early warning systems, assessing flood risks, planning dikes, embankments and reservoirs, and applying "green infrastructure" in line with Sustainable Urban Development (SUDs). Specific design examples demonstrated the potential of nature-based solutions for urban climate adaptation.