Deploying many solutions to prevent riverbank erosion

In recent years, riverbank erosion has become a constant concern for hundreds of households in Tay Ninh province. Not only does it wash away land and damage traffic and irrigation infrastructure, but it also directly affects people's lives, livelihoods and safety. Faced with this situation, local authorities continue to implement many synchronous solutions to control and gradually reduce the risk of landslides.

Anti-erosion embankment works are being focused on implementation.

People's lives are affected

The Dong and Tay Vam Co rivers have long been considered the "blood vessels" of Tay Ninh province, not only playing an important role in waterway transportation but also providing irrigation water for hundreds of thousands of hectares of agricultural land. However, in recent years, the situation of landslides and subsidence along the river has become complicated, directly threatening the lives and livelihoods of the people.

According to statistics from the Provincial Irrigation Department, from the beginning of 2025 until now, the whole province has had 12 dangerous landslides and subsidence points with a total length of about 2,600m, and a lost land area of ​​about 26ha. Fortunately, no major human and property damage has been recorded, but this situation has directly affected 302 households living along the river. Many rural traffic roads, production embankments and living areas have been damaged, disrupting people's lives.

In Can Giuoc commune, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha said: “Every night when there is heavy rain and high tides, my whole family is worried. The land behind the house has many cracks, and we are afraid that it will slide into the river at any time. We have to move part of our assets elsewhere to prevent risks.”

Not only endangering households, landslides also threaten many inter-commune roads, canal systems, irrigation ditches and some concentrated production areas. In Binh Duc commune, a section of the northern bank of Thu Doan canal in Hamlet 1 has collapsed and subsided with a length of more than 50m, a width of about 3m and a depth of about 1.5m, with a risk of further landslides in the coming time.

Functional agencies survey the landslide and subsidence area on the North bank of Thu Doan canal (Hamlet 1, Binh Duc commune)

Mr. Le Van Binh (residing in Hamlet 1, Binh Duc Commune) shared: “The landslide situation on the North bank of Thu Doan Canal has lasted for nearly 2 months. People are very worried every time they pass through this area, especially when the tide rises. This is one of the main routes connecting Binh Duc Commune with Thu Thua Commune, so the landslide not only causes difficulties for daily life but also poses a potential danger to passing vehicles.”

Experts assess that the main cause of landslides along the banks of the Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay rivers is due to changes in water flow, high water volume during the rainy season, along with the impact of illegal sand mining and natural geological subsidence. In addition, climate change, rising tides and the cutting down of trees along the river also destroy the natural "shield".

Synchronously deploy multiple solutions

Residents of Hamlet 1, Binh Duc Commune are worried that continued landslides will endanger traffic.

Faced with this worrying situation, the provincial authorities have been implementing many solutions to limit landslides and protect the safety of people living along the river. In particular, the urgent solution is to regularly monitor, supervise, post warning signs and urgently evacuate households in dangerous areas. At the same time, the province has stepped up propaganda so that people do not build houses and solid structures close to the riverbank, avoiding the risk of damage when landslides occur.

Notably, in 2025, Long An Construction Investment Project Management Board is the investor of 11 projects in the field of agriculture and rural development, including the dredging project of the Vam Co Tay River and 10 embankment projects in many key areas such as: anti-erosion and saltwater prevention embankment of the Vam Co Dong River in Ben Luc district; embankment to protect the Vam Co Tay River from the new Tan An bridge to Da Han Bay (Long An ward); embankment of the Nuoc Man canal (Long Huu commune); anti-erosion embankment of the Vam Co Tay River bank (Khanh Hau ward); anti-erosion embankment of Kien Tuong ward; project to handle erosion of the Can Giuoc River bank (Can Giuoc commune); dredging project of the Vam Co Tay River from Hong Ngu canal to Binh Chau hamlet;...

Of these, 3 embankment projects have been 100% completed and are in the process of finalization, including: embankment to protect the banks of the Vam Co Tay River (from the new Tan An bridge to the junction with the Da Han Bay embankment); Nuoc Man Canal embankment (East bank, Long Huu commune) and the project to handle landslides on the banks of the Can Giuoc River (Can Giuoc commune). The remaining 8 projects are expected to be completed by December 2025 at the latest.

According to the Long An Construction Investment Project Management Board, the total planned capital allocation for 11 projects in 2025 is more than 246 billion VND (provincial capital is more than 62 billion VND, central capital is more than 184.3 billion VND). To date, more than 79.3 billion VND has been disbursed (reaching 32.19% of the capital plan). It is expected that by the end of the third quarter, it will reach 50.5% and by the end of the fourth quarter, it will reach 100% of the capital plan.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Do Huu Phuong said that the Department has coordinated with localities to review and list dangerous landslide sites to promptly isolate and develop treatment plans. The province also proposed that the Central Government support investment capital for anti-landslide embankment projects in key areas to protect residents and essential infrastructure.

Tay Ninh also focuses on long-term solutions such as planting trees to protect river banks, strictly managing sand mining activities, applying remote sensing and monitoring technology to provide early warning of landslide risks; integrating landslide prevention and control into new rural construction programs, urban development and climate change adaptation.

Many opinions say that, for sustainable protection, it is necessary to combine engineering and non-engineering solutions. Engineering solutions are building embankment systems, dredging, riverbank reinforcement, etc. Non-engineering solutions are safe resettlement, mangrove forest restoration, wave-blocking bamboo planting, riverside planning management, etc. If we only rely on concrete embankments, the cost will be high but the effectiveness will not be long-term if there is a lack of natural green belts.

On the local side, Mr. Nguyen Van Khai (residing in Ben Luc commune) shared: "We hope the embankment projects will be completed soon so that people can live and work in peace. If we only relocate temporarily, it will not be sustainable. There must be a long-term solution to preserve the land and the riverbank."

Riverbank erosion is not only an infrastructure issue but also closely linked to social security and sustainable development. Tay Ninh has determined that landslide prevention and control must be linked to the overall planning of urban development, agriculture and environmental protection. Only when economic, social and environmental benefits are in harmony can a long-term stable life be ensured for people living along the river.

Riverbank erosion is a major challenge to the sustainable development of the new Tay Ninh province. However, with the proactive intervention of the government, the support of the Central Government and the determination to implement key embankment and dredging projects, the situation is gradually being controlled, so that people living along the river can feel secure to stay and develop the economy on their homeland./.

Bui Tung

Source: https://baolongan.vn/trien-khai-nhieu-giai-phap-phong-chong-sat-lo-ven-song-a201852.html