Category: Vietnam

The Blue Dragon programme, the Blue Deal partnership in Vietnam, experienced a busy second half of the year 2024 with the following events.

Green Economic Forum and Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City

The Blue Dragon programme was invited by the Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to take part in the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) from 21 – 23 October. The Blue Dragon programme presented about breaking the Build-Neglect-Repair cycle by our successful training programme on asset management and operation and maintenance. This was well received by the public and enterprises present.

During GEFE, the Blue Dragon programme also met with the Water Agency and other Dutch enterprises active in Vietnam. The Water Agency has interesting content, which creates chances to collaborate with each other.

Expanding the Blue Dragon programme to more provinces in the Mekong Delta

During the work visits to Vietnam in October and November, we visited 4 provinces in the Mekong Delta who showed interest in joining the programme. We met the Provincial People Committees represented by the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and other departments of the provinces An Giang, Vinh Long, Bac Lieu and Soc Trang. They all started the approval processes to join the programme. At Bac Lieu the director even invited the press and local television to prepare a news item.

The Blue Dragon programme will organise workshops in February 2025 to discuss contents of the programme in each new province with the presence of officials from several departments of the provinces working on water management.

GIS training

The coordinating office of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) contacted us in 2023 to start a GIS training programme with all provinces of the Mekong Delta. This initiative was developed together with the Can Tho University (CTU) and Hannes Versteegh from the Dutch water authority Hollands Noorderkwartier into a 4 week training programme starting with the basics of GIS. The coordinating office of MARD invited the participants from all provinces to come to CTU in Can Tho to take part.

The first training started in March 2024 with almost 60 participants. 3 trainings have so far been organised in 2024. The coordinating office proposed to extend the training with GIS analyses and the Dutch water authority De Stichtse Rijnlanden organized 2 GIS specialists to develop and give the trainings with CTU. During 2025 and 2026, 5 more trainings will be organised relating to rice agriculture and water management.

Blue Dragon Day meeting – Ecological embankments for erosion prevention

On 13 November, the annual Blue Dragon Day meeting was held in Rach Gia, Kien Giang province. With 40 participants from Can Tho, Hau Giang and Kien Giang provinces, the Ecological Embankment Pilot project in Kien Giang, applying nature-based solutions for erosion protection, was discussed.
After the opening by Mr Tjeerd Dijkstra (partnership manager) and Mr Doan Chi Tam (Vice Director of Water Resources Division in Kien Giang), the presentations started.

Dr Vu Tien Duc (Royal HaskoningDHV) presented the different design options for ecological embankments that could be applied in the pilot area in Kien Giang Province. After the presentations, the participants were divided into 3 groups in which they analysed and discussed the different designs from technical, social, environmental, and financial perspective.

There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm during the discussions. As part of the Blue Dragon programme goals, there was also interprovincial cooperation by participants of Can Tho and Hau Giang giving their expertise on the pilot project in Kien Giang. The meeting resulted in recommendations on what designs should be considered during the next phase. Also, important recommendations were provided on how to improve the selected designs. The designs will be updated.

What do water authorities have to do with beauty pageants? The Blue Deal partnership in Viet Nam, called Blue Dragon, was asked by one of the competitors to become her official sponsor.

Earlier this year, Mrs. Lily Vo, a Vietnamese-born entrepreneur now living in the Netherlands, approached the Blue Dragon programme for support in her participation in the Miss Business Global election event, held in Vietnam. Mrs. Vo, a 1979 boat refugee from Viet Nam, wanted to use her platform to promote social and community initiatives, choosing to highlight Dutch water management as part of her campaign.

Nature-based solutions as central message

In collaboration with a former board member of the Dutch water authority Hollands Noorderkwartier, Mrs. Vo contributed to a video showcasing the improvement of the Hondsbossche sea defence, as an example of nature-based solutions. This project exemplifies the innovative water management strategies the Netherlands is known for, and served as a central message during her participation in the Miss Business Global event.

Miss Business Ambassador Global and Miss Business Charity Global

At the final election in late July, Mrs. Vo was crowned Miss Business Ambassador Global 2024 and Miss Business Charity Global 2024, with Dutch Water Authorities proudly supporting her as one of her official sponsors.

This unique collaboration highlights the global relevance of Dutch expertise in water management and its capacity to inspire and support international communities in tackling water-related challenges.

In March, several Dutch experts from various water authorities once again visited Viet Nam for the Blue Dragon programme, as the Blue Deal partnership is known. An update on what they've been up to there.

GIS training

From March 11th to 13th, the first GIS training took place, which was a great success. Over 60 participants from all 12 provinces in the Mekong Delta attended. Hannes Versteegh led this training in collaboration with Can Tho University. The training will continue in May. The training is a project that was set up by the KIWI programme, the Dutch learning programme in which Versteegh is one of the participants.

Pilot nature-based solutions for dike reinforcement

Next, we visited a potential pilot project for dike reinforcement using nature-based solutions for a section of the dike heavily affected by river erosion. The dike is located in one of our partner provinces, Kien Giang. This province is also keen to take on this pilot. Currently, residents are using more or less makeshift constructions to prevent river erosion. We have been looking into local natural materials and vegetation to apply, as well as the possibility of involving the local population. For example, we are looking into using grasses or water hyacinth woven into mats to reinforce the riverbank. We then discussed with the province and Royal HaskoningDHV how we will jointly implement this pilot.

Final week of Asset Management, Maintenance & Operations training

From March 18 to 21, the final week of Asset Management, Maintenance & Operations training began with Robin de Bekker (from the Dutch water authority Drents Overijsselse Delta) and Marcel van Zutphen (from the Dutch water authority Vechtstromen). In addition to 20 participants from our 3 partner provinces, there were also 4 Dutch students attending who are currently undergoing a six-month internship at Can Tho University as part of their Water Management studies. On March 20, they visited a high-water protection sluice.

Further expansion of the partnership

During the same week, Birgitte de Kraker (from Dutch water authority De Dommel) and Tjeerd Dijkstra (from the Dutch water authority Vechtstromen) visited 3 new provinces to further expand the Blue Dragon Programme in the Mekong Delta. They also had discussions with current partners. The new provinces, An Giang, Vinh Long, and Soc Trang, are all enthusiastic about joining the Blue Dragon Programme. They have started the process of obtaining approval from the provincial People Committees.

The final work visit with training week on Resilient Cities and the Blue Dragon Day took place on November 10.

Training Week on resilient cities

The latest addition to the Blue Dragon programme is a new pool focusing on climate adaptation. In the inaugural week from 6 to 9 November, the pool concentrated on:

• Explaining the importance of cooperation in climate-adaptive measures
• Outlining the concept of climate adaptation
• Describing the systematics of climate adaptation
• Identifying the necessary data collection from a given area

The training was conducted by Mrs. Anet Lablans and Ms. Denise Winters both from water authority Hollands Noorderkwartier. The usual field trip during the week was spent in the city of Rach Gia. The participants were requested to photograph locations where flooding during heavy rainfall may occur.

The first Blue Dragon Day

In the morning of Friday 10th November at the meeting hall of the Research Laboratories Complex (RLC) Building, Can Tho University, the Blue Dragon Programme and Can Tho University organised the first Blue Dragon Day. This event, a highlight of the Blue Dragon Programme, revolves around the “Partnership for long-term assistance of Dutch Water Authorities in Mekong Delta Vietnam”.

We had the honor of welcoming distinguished delegates:

• Mr. Willem Timmerman, First Secretary, The Netherlands Embassy in Vietnam
• Mr. Vương Viết Hưng, Vice Director of Integrated Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Mekong Delta Project Management Board, Central Project Office (CPO), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Mr. Dang Ngoc Giao, Vice Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hau Giang
• Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai, Vice Rector of Can Tho University
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri, Director of DRAGON-Mekong Institute, Can Tho University

Other delegates were several lecturers and students of Can Tho University and representatives from Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Departments of Construction, and Departments of Planning and Investment from provinces in the Mekong Delta.

The Delegates of Blue Dragon Day

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for our partners to share their activities and experiences during Phase 1. Plans for Phase 2 were presented and discussed, including the expansion of the programme to other provinces in the Mekong Delta. Dynamic discussion sessions yielded valuable insights for Phase 2, and intent for cooperation was received from a new provinces of the Mekong Delta.

The second half of September marked another work visit for the Blue Dragon partnership in Vietnam. This included a training week and the strengthening of the ties with several partners.

The visit began with a training week for our partners’ staff on Flood Risk Management, conducted by experts from the Dutch water authorities of Hollands Noorderkwartier, Vallei en Veluwe, and an employee from Rijkswaterstaat (former Vallei en Veluwe employee). The focus was primarily on the importance of dike inspections and how to carry them out in practice. This was put into action during the field trip.

Diplomatic relations

In addition, in the context of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands, a tree-planting event, supported by the Blue Dragon programme, was attended. The tree-planting event took place near Can Tho, one of our partners. Trees were planted on the banks of the Mekong River by attendees and students to combat erosion. The Vice-Chairman of the People Committee Can Tho and Consul General Daniel Stork of the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City were also present at the event.

Unified vision

Furthermore, the work visit was used for a meeting with the Dutch Embassy to ensure alignment and a unified vision of the Dutch government’s activities in Vietnam. The Dutch Embassy also assisted in a meeting with the Ministry of Construction.

Commitment for the coming years

We also held discussions with the People Committees of our partners to strengthen commitment to the programme for the coming years. It was evident that attending the Blue Deal Congress last June had a significantly positive impact on the commitment. Partners now have a better understanding of the entire Blue Deal, why the Netherlands is involved, what is happening in other partnerships, and the shared challenges.

Blue Deal broadcasted on Vietnamese TV

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that, to our surprise, we made it to Vietnamese TV twice during this work visit! A news report was made in Kien Giang Province about the training we conducted there. And in Can Tho, the tree-planting event was covered on television.

Since the start of the Blue Deal partnership in Vietnam on June 10, 2022, there have been many activities. An update on the programme.

Official start in June

On June 10, after 2 years of absence, it was finally time: the official start of the Blue Dragon Program in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. In the presence of the directors of the Vietnamese partners, Hau Giang Province, Kien Giang Province and Can Tho City, Nettie Aarnink, member of the executive board of the Dutch water authority Vechtstromen, addressed the participants at the kick-off. In addition to these 3 partners, Can Tho University is an important partner for the Blue Deal. Nettie Aarnink signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with this university about cooperation in the coming years.

Training weeks and Dutch trade mission

Since June 10, 4 training weeks have already been carried out in Vietnam: 2 on asset management and 2 weeks on communication about awareness raising. In addition, Blue Dragon was a member of the Dutch Trade Mission to Vietnam from 28 to 30 November under the leadership of the Dutch Minister Liesje Schreinemacher of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

Young Expert

In the last 2 weeks of September, one of the local Vietnamese employees was in the Netherlands. She was selected to participate in the Young Expert Programme. During these first 2 weeks of the 2-year programme, all Young Experts of the Blue Deal partnerships came together in the Netherlands to meet and start a network.