Water Governance Under Renovation? Concepts and Practices of IWRM in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to explore Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) practices in Vietnam. Based on intensive empirical research in the Mekong Delta, the daily reality of water resources management is investigated in several sub-sectors. It will be shown that water management practices deviate to a large extent from the existing legal frameworks, policies and strategies commonly based on IWRM principles. It will be argued that the gap between of fi cial policy and actual practices is not the outcome of lacking capacity or resource scarcity, as often assumed in donor and government reports. Rather, it is a result of the peculiar structural features of the contemporary state in Vietnam.

The rationality of groundwater governance in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta’s coastal zone

“…199/2013/ND-CP, respectively (Tri et al, 2016;Waibel et al, 2012). In 2002, the MONRE was established and charged with water resource allocation, the regulation and management of surface water and groundwater quality, and water resource assessments (Tri et al, 2016;Waibel et al, 2012). The MONRE is the most relevant authority for groundwater management.…”

“…Nonetheless, in practice a technical water engineering approach to flood prevention and freshwater provision dominates. Limited attention is paid to the protection of (ground)water resources (Waibel et al, 2012). Since 1995, the MARD has been responsible for the management of irrigation for agricultural and aquacultural purposes, and based on this responsibility it has to develop rural water supply programmes.…”

Managing flood risks in the Mekong Delta: How to address emerging challenges under climate change and socioeconomic developments

“…Reflecting on these objectives, Käkönen ( 2008 ) and Pham ( 2011 ) questioned the suitability of the current technology-centric flood management approach to spontaneously secure flood safety and sustain flood benefits. This and other challenges experienced in flood management were also reported in the recent literature, including technical difficulties (Hoa et al 2008 ; MDP 2013 ), limited resources and capacity (Bastakoti et al 2014 ; Hoa et al 2014a ), and governance and institutional constraints (Waibel et al 2012 ; MDP 2013 ). Without timely solutions, the challenges can hamper flood management efforts, thereby creating serious consequences for the people and the economy of the Mekong Delta (MDP 2013 ).…”

Water governance for sustainable development: International practices and implications for the Mekong Delta region

“…At the river basin level, the establishment of three river basin organizations (RBO): Red River, Dong Nai River, and Mekong River in 2001 aims to perform various functions related to the supply, distribution, protection, and allocation of water (Taylor & Wright, 2001). However, these institutions do not work effectively as it is expected (Waibel et al, 2012). As argued by Trang (2005), water resources management practices tend to be substantially divergent.…”