Promoting community management

In the border area of Dong Thap Province at the start of the flood season, also known locally as the “water-rising season”. During this time, the So Thuong River overflows from the Viet Nam–Cambodia border, feeding into tributaries and canals, bringing with it nutrient-rich silt and aquatic life. Yet in recent years, including this one, the volume of fish arriving with the floodwaters has declined markedly.

However, at a stretch of the So Thuong River in Thuong Lac ward, extending toward the Tien River in Hong Ngu ward, Dong Thap, the number of fish seeking refuge in the area has been steadily increasing.

Today, the An Binh Deity communal house’s wharf is regarded as a hub for aquatic resource regeneration. It is part of a designated conservation zone covering 140 hectares of water surface across three wards: An Binh, Hong Ngu, and Thuong Lac. The protected area is divided into four zones along the Tien and So Thuong rivers.

In addition to the natural food available in the water, locals bring rice, vegetables, and fruit to feed the fish. Some even contribute money to purchase supplementary food.

However, as the fish population has grown, Truong Minh Hai, from the An Binh Deity communal house, personally funded the construction of floating walkways to encircle the area and prevent poaching. Each floating walkway costs tens of millions of VND. He has also hired a caretaker to guard the river section, with wages covered by his own family and donations from visitors who buy fish feed.

Hai stressed that the fish are strictly for conservation and not for harvest, and that none of the community group members exploit the resource for income. “Recently, as word spread about the flourishing natural fish population in Hong Ngu, a number of tourist groups have begun including the wharf in their itineraries,” he said.

“This helps promote our homeland and supports local tourism. Food and beverage services in the area have also seen more customers. As for our community group, everything is done on a voluntary basis” Hai added proudly.

Enhancing management capacity and creating livelihoods

In addition to the An Binh Deity communal house’s community group, Dong Thap Province is home to four other community-based groups dedicated to protecting aquatic resources. These groups have helped raise public awareness and, importantly, created new and sustainable livelihoods, enabling local fishers to remain committed to their profession and their homeland.

Our group has 23 members and oversees more than 1,000 floating cages. Its main function is to patrol and protect the local fish cages. We also raise fish to serve visiting tourists. This approach has contributed significantly to generating livelihoods for local residents.

Tran Van Hung,
Vice Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of My Hiep Commune.

The My Hiep community group for the protection of aquatic resources, located in Dong Thap Province, was established in June 2023. Its mission is to monitor and prevent illegal fishing activities, such as the use of electric shock devices or toxic chemicals to catch fish and shrimp.

“Our group has 23 members and oversees more than 1,000 floating cages. Its main function is to patrol and protect the local fish cages. We also raise fish to serve visiting tourists. This approach has contributed significantly to generating livelihoods for local residents,” said Tran Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of My Hiep Commune.

According to the Dong Thap Provincial Farmers’ Association, all five community groups are participating in the project on enhancing management capacity and creating livelihoods for communities in Dong Thap province participating in co-management models for the protection of aquatic resources linked to tourism development, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/GEF SGP).

The project aims to strengthen the management and operational capacities of the groups’ representative boards; to create livelihoods and increase income for members involved in co-management of aquatic resources; and to promote experiential tourism, organic rice farming, and ecological aquaculture. The project is scheduled to run until September 2026.

It also provides technical support through non-refundable ODA funding, including boats, engines, and life jackets to assist the community groups in patrolling and safeguarding aquatic resources, while also enabling them to transport tourists.

Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, National Coordinator of the UNDP–Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, stated that the project in Dong Thap represents collaborative efforts between local authorities and residents in implementing co-management practices. Local communities have been entrusted with managing specific areas to protect aquatic resources.

Dong Thap is the first province in the country to pilot the co-management model for the protection of inland aquatic resources. Through their activities, the co-management groups have taken the lead in mobilising community involvement in conservation efforts.

“The community groups in Dong Thap have demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting local ecosystems. Each group operates in its own unique way, so it is essential to leverage the strengths of each in promoting co-management and tourism development. Initial outcomes show the project has made clear contributions to the conservation of aquatic resources and the growth of community-based tourism, which have been recognised internationally,” said Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen.

Currently, Dong Thap has more than 110 agri-tourism sites, many of which offer hands-on experiences such as ditch fishing, net casting, and traditional fish-trapping activities.

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, many farmers have recently shifted from traditional agriculture to integrated agri-tourism. They are now more willing to adopt sustainable production methods and welcome tourists for interactive experiences.

The project on enhancing management capacity and creating livelihoods for communities in Dong Thap province participating in co-management models for the protection of aquatic resources linked to tourism development has helped address current challenges and opened up new, more sustainable pathways for both the fisheries and tourism sectors in the province, delivering tangible benefits to local people and to society at large.