Effects on Risks and Vulnerabilities

 According to national climate change projections, Viet Nam is at high risk to more
extreme climate impacts, including droughts and floods, suggesting a shortening of return
periods for future extreme drought events

 The drought has significantly increased the vulnerability of poor and near poor
households in the affected provinces.

 Indebtedness can have knock on impacts in terms of increased urban migration, unfair
labor exploitation of vulnerable people and reduced available income to invest in
education and other important household assets

 These shortage eventually have knock-on impacts on childhood nutrition and well-being.

Effects on environment and natural resources

Drought affects the environment such as destroying plant species, animal species, wild
populations, reducing air and water quality, causing forest fires, and soil erosion which can be
long-lasting and irreversible. 

Many households deprived of hygienic water and suffered from water deficiency during the
drought period. Severely, droughts can lead to diseases, and even wars due to water conflicts.

Effects on production and the acesss to goods and services.

 Hydroelectric power plants face many difficulties during operation

 Crop yields and water supply have been severely disrupted by the drought.

 Aquaculture industries have also been severely impacted, particularly in Ca Mau, Ben
Tre and also in other coastal provinces.

 Health centers and schools in highly impacted communes suffered water shortages,
hindering service delivery and some health centres struggled to cope with increases in
dermatological conditions and infections associated with prolonged drought.

Highlight issues for further considerations for Policy and decision making processes

 The drought has also shown the potential for private sector engagement in response and
recovery (including mobilizing private funding), but this should be systematic and
incentivized through targeted policies, regulations or mechanisms
 The drought has also showed the need for improved analysis and data on risk and
vulnerability in Viet Nam- particularly with regards to understanding how the aspects of
multi-dimensional poverty

 Management strategies need to recognize the economic and environmental value of water
and forests as key development assets.

 Viet Nam’s disaster early warning system should also integrate drought and salinity
monitoring and engage farmers in monitoring hydro-meteorological conditions

 A paradigm shift is needed in terms of long term agricultural planning