Mekong Delta embraces a new approach to seasonal flooding

Developing suitable production models

In recent days, rising volumes of water from the upper Mekong River have been flowing into provinces across the Mekong Delta. Along the Tien and Hau Rivers, floodwaters are bringing fertile sediment and aquatic resources into the region.

In An Giang Province, residents of localities such as Tan An and Vinh Xuong are gradually adopting farming practices that follow the seasonal flood cycle. When the waters recede, fields are left better prepared for the next crop, helping to reduce pests and diseases, lower input costs and improve yields.

Nguyen Van Thuan, a farmer in Tan An Commune, said what mattered most to local people was not whether the floodwaters were high or low, but whether they arrived at the right time and were effectively harnessed.

Under this approach, the flood season is no longer a period when agricultural production must stop. Many areas are introducing production models suited to seasonal flooding, including integrated systems that combine fish and shrimp farming with rice cultivation, lotus growing and other aquatic plants.

The flood season also brings an abundance of produce typical of the delta. Across flooded fields, canal banks, natural depressions and waterways, residents harvest freshwater fish, crabs, snails, aquatic vegetables and other wild produce.

For communities in the upper reaches of the delta, these resources are not merely gifts of nature but also an eagerly awaited source of income after months of work in the fields.

Local households said that as water levels rise, fish and shrimp move into canals, streams and fields, providing additional food and income.

In addition to wild harvests, cooperatives and businesses are expanding aquaculture, turning the region’s abundant water resources into organised production.

An Giang Province aims to reach total fisheries output of about 1.66 million tonnes in 2026, of which more than 1.2 million tonnes will come from aquaculture.

The province is also strengthening links between farming areas, processing enterprises and markets, gradually shifting from fragmented, small-scale production towards integrated value chains that generate higher economic returns.

During an inspection of agricultural production areas and pangasius fingerling farms in the province, Vice Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee Ngo Cong Thuc instructed irrigation management units to work with local authorities to operate sluice gates properly, drain excess water in a timely manner and protect farmland.

He said the potential for agricultural development in An Giang lay not only in expanding cultivated areas but also in reorganising production and shifting from a production-focused mindset to an agricultural economy approach.

He added that businesses, cooperatives and farmers must be linked along the entire value chain, from seed production and farming to processing and consumption.

This also highlights how today’s approach differs from the traditional practice of living with floods.

In the past, residents mainly relied on whatever nature provided. Today, the flood season is being integrated into broader production chains involving local authorities, farmers, cooperatives and businesses.

Nature-based solutions

Living with floods has long been part of the Mekong Delta’s history of settlement, land reclamation, and agricultural production.

However, as climate change grows more unpredictable, approaches to flood management are evolving.

Rather than trying to keep floodwaters out of every area, many localities are identifying which areas need protection, which can accommodate floodwaters, and which can support production suited to seasonal changes in water levels.

Under the Mekong NbS Project (nature-based solutions in the Mekong River basin) in An Giang, flood-based production models, including rice cultivation, fish farming, lotus growing and ecotourism, have been piloted on more than 235 hectares.

Areas where seasonal flooding is retained have recorded sediment deposits of about 3–5 tonnes per hectare, while participating farmer groups have earned about 50–100 million VND.

These figures show that, when properly managed, floodwaters can not only enrich agricultural land but also bring direct economic benefits to producers.

This approach reflects the key principles of Government Resolution 120 on the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta adapting to climate change.

The resolution states that regional development must respect the laws of nature, adopt models suited to natural conditions and promote adaptation to floods, saltwater intrusion, drought and water shortages. It also calls for making effective use of natural advantages while maintaining, protecting, and restoring ecosystems.

Experts say that properly managed floodwaters can deposit fertile sediment, cleanse fields, replenish water resources and help restore wetland ecosystems.

The flood season also paves the way for production methods different from those used in the dry season, reducing the delta’s reliance on a single farming model all year round.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phong My Commune in Dong Thap Province Vu Nhat Tan, said floodwaters brought fish, shrimp, sediment and unique landscapes.

He added that local residents could turn these natural resources into agricultural and aquatic products as well as tourism services.

More importantly, such models help foster a way of life better adapted to nature.

Rather than simply trying to block floodwaters or drain them away as quickly as possible, retaining water where conditions permit gives fields more time to absorb sediment, supports habitats and helps sustain aquatic resources.

Resource harvesting during the flood season must therefore be carefully managed. Fishing should go hand in hand with the conservation of aquatic resources, while destructive fishing practices must be restricted.

“Tourism must ensure safety and environmental sanitation without damaging ecosystems. This is an important condition for sustaining flood-season livelihoods in the long term,” Tan said.