Da Nang City, Viet Nam, 18 April 2025

The Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia Resource Facility (PRF), in partnership with Viet Nam Environment Agency (VEA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), and the Departments of Agriculture and Environment of Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province, officially launched the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project to enhance the governance and integrated management of the Vu Gia – Thu Bon River Basin and its adjacent coastal areas in Da Nang and Quang Nam.

Spanning from 2023 to 2027, the IRBM Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). PRF serves as the executing agency in partnership with ASEAN, with project activities being rolled out across six ASEAN Member States, including Viet Nam. This initiative aims to reduce pollution, sustain freshwater environmental flows, and strengthen resilience to climate change vulnerabilities.

In her online remarks, Ms. Aimee Gonzales, Executive Director of PRF, highlighted the project’s core approach:

“We are applying the Source-to-Sea framework to link actions across the entire water system, from the river’s headwaters to the coast. This integrated approach recognizes the connections between land, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems and promotes cooperation among diverse stakeholders at all levels.” 

At the project launch ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong, Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam Environment Agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, stated that the project's objective is to establish sustainable and effective management mechanisms for the Vu Gia–Thu Bon River Basin and the coastal areas of Da Nang and Quang Nam. These mechanisms will be developed through interdisciplinary approaches, including efforts to improve water quality, reduce pollution, manage solid waste, and maintain environmental flows.

Mr. Dang Quang Vinh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Environment, underlined project’s potential to strengthen environmental management through cross-sectoral and inter-regional collaboration:

“This initiative will foster closer cooperation between localities, government agencies, the private sector, and communities to address shared environmental challenges.”

Reinforcing this point, Mr. Vo Nhu Toan, Deputy Director of the Quang Nam Department of Natural Resources and Environment, stated that the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river system plays a key role in providing domestic water for millions of people in the area:

“This project is a good opportunity for stakeholders to assess the current situation, strengthen interdisciplinary governance mechanisms, and gradually develop a more effective integrated river basin management strategy for the Vu Gia - Thu Bon River Basin and the coastal areas of Da Nang - Quang Nam.”

The Vu Gia – Thu Bon River Basin faces mounting pressures from hydropower development, rapid urbanization, and growing industrial demand. These trends have altered natural water flows and increased the discharge of untreated wastewater, resulting in degraded water quality and adverse impacts on ecosystems, including saltwater intrusion in coastal areas of Da Nang and Quang Nam.

To help address these challenges, the IRBM Project will implement targeted interventions to be identified in consultation with the local governments and stakeholders with the aim of improving water quality, reducing pollution sources, managing solid waste, and maintaining essential environmental flows. These efforts will contribute to the development of a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable governance and management system for the Vu Gia – Thu Bon River Basin and its adjacent coastal areas.

For more information, please contact Orange Omengan, Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist: oomengan@pemsea.org

About the project

Supported by the Global Environment Facility, the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project aims to set-up functional management mechanisms in priority river basins of six ASEAN countries to reduce pollution and sustain freshwater environmental flows as well as adapt to climate change vulnerabilities. The Project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, and executed by Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of Seas Asia, in collaboration with ASEAN.

Footnotes: 

Cover photo. Caption: The IRBM Project launching ceremony in Da Nang City, Viet Nam was attended by representatives from the government, academia, civil society organizations, and media partners. Credit: Photo by Orange Omengan/ PEMSEA