Resilient Shores : Vietnam’s Coastal Development Between Opportunity and Disaster Risk

In a country that is among the most exposed to natural hazards, Vietnam’s coastline often bears the brunt. Typhoons, storm surges, riverine flooding, coastal erosion, droughts, or saline intrusion are all-too-familiar threats to most people living along the coast. Yet despite these risks, coastal re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rentschler, Jun, de Vries Robbé, Sophie, Braese, Johannes, Nguyen, Dzung Huy, van Ledden, Mathijs, Pozueta Mayo, Beatriz
Format: Report
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/977501603140108585/resilient-shores-vietnam-s-coastal-development-between-opportunity-and-disaster-risk
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/34639
Description
Summary:In a country that is among the most exposed to natural hazards, Vietnam’s coastline often bears the brunt. Typhoons, storm surges, riverine flooding, coastal erosion, droughts, or saline intrusion are all-too-familiar threats to most people living along the coast. Yet despite these risks, coastal regions host thriving economic sectors, providing livelihoods for a growing and rapidly urbanizing population. The coastal regions could be a powerful engine for Vietnam’s continued socioeconomic development, but rapid urbanization, economic growth, and climate change mean that disaster risks are bound to increase in the future. Although the government of Vietnam has made impressive progress in reducing and managing natural risks, current trends show that the work is far from complete. To guide effective action, this report provides an in-depth and multi-sectoral analysis of natural risks in coastal Vietnam and reviews current efforts in risk management, proposing a concrete action plan to balance the risks and opportunities of coastal development. These actions, if taken decisively, are an opportunity to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities and hence the prosperity of coming generations.