Vietnam needs to effectively cooperate with other countries the Mekong River flows through and work to internationalise the region’s water issues, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said on June 15.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha speaks
at the ninth session of the 14th National Assembly 

He made the call at the ninth session of the 14th National Assembly.

Vietnam is facing various problems in water security, he said, adding that the proportion of people in the country with access to domestic sources of freshwater is lower that the global average.

Climate change is resulting in an uneven distribution of water in different regions and seasons, and the economic structure in the Mekong Delta needs to change to ensure sustainable development.

Countries in the upper reaches of the river may hold some 20% of water volumes in their reservoirs, while Vietnam may lose up to 80% of its water due to climate change and is likely to face water-related risks, the minister said.

He said that State management responsibilities should be revised to ensure water security, while investment in infrastructure, monitoring, data, and planning should be clarified.