The Mekong Delta is classified as one of the world’s most vulnerable deltas to climate change. Regarded as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, agricultural strength in the Mekong Delta is affected by rising temperatures, salt intrusion, land subsidence, upstream hydropower dams, flooding and droughts.

Despite these challenges, the agricultural region has made progress in terms of productivity, output and exports of both agricultural and aquaculture products. The Mekong Delta offers abundant potential and resources since it remains Vietnam’s largest production zone, producing half of the country’s rice and over 70 percent of its aquaculture. Yet, the climate challenges will require the sector to innovate with climate-smart technologies and resilient strategies. The Mekong Delta is at a turning point in which its economy needs to be far more productive, innovative and climate-resilient.

Recognizing this formidable challenge, the Vietnamese Government issued Resolution 120 on Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Development of the Mekong Delta in 2017, calling for a “new vision, strategic orientation, comprehensive, radical and synchronous solutions to attract participation of different stakeholders for sustainable development.”