Dong Thap quickly deploys salinity-control sluices along the Tien River

Salinity at times penetrates deep inland

According to observations, during the Lunar New Year holiday in early 2026, the influence of high tides and strong seasonal winds caused saline water to intrude deeply into Dong Thap Province. On the Tien River, salinity reached about 50 kilometers inland from the river mouth, extending to the area near the Dong Thap Political School Bridge in Trung An Ward, where salinity was recorded at 0.45 grams per liter.

Thanks to proactive monitoring and regular observations, specialized agencies in Dong Thap promptly operated irrigation systems to prevent saltwater intrusion. In addition, to protect agricultural production and domestic water supply in the Go Cong Freshwater Project area — located in the eastern part of the province and directly affected by drought and salinity — authorities operated the Xuan Hoa sluice to divert fresh water to the area. As a result, production activities and daily water use in the Go Cong Freshwater Project area have so far remained stable, without being affected by salinity or water shortages.

At present, farmers in the Go Cong Freshwater Project area have begun harvesting the 2025–2026 winter–spring rice crop. The family of Pham Cong Son, from Cau Xay Hamlet in Gia Thuan Commune, cultivated more than 0.5 hectares of Dai Thom 8 rice. Recently, his family harvested the crop with satisfaction as it was unaffected by drought or salinity, while yields and prices were both favorable.

Son said that water sources for production remain abundant thanks to increased water storage by authorities. However, his family plans not to plant the 2026 autumn–winter rice crop and will instead switch to growing vegetables to avoid potential impacts from drought and salinity when the dry season reaches its peak.

Water sources in the Go Cong Freshwater Project area of Dong Thap Province remain relatively abundant.

Tan Hoa Commune is also one of the areas that is directly affected by drought and salinity in Dong Thap each year.

Up to now, water supplies for both production and daily use remain plentiful. Nguyen Van Tai, Director of the Phuoc Trung Agricultural Service Cooperative, said that during this year’s winter–spring crop, the cooperative sowed about 150 hectares of rice. In about a week, its members will begin harvesting the 2025–2026 winter–spring crop. Water for agricultural production remains abundant thanks to increased water intake and storage by the Tien Giang Irrigation Works Exploitation One-Member Limited Liability Company. Under these conditions, farmers are no longer worried about salinity intrusion this year.

Dong Thap takes early action

Salinity intrusion during the 2025–2026 dry season in Dong Thap Province is forecast to peak on the 15th day of the second lunar month. On the Tien River, salinity of 1 gram per liter is expected to reach the area of the Xoai Hot sluice in Kim Son Commune. The level of salinity intrusion is projected to be similar to that of the 2024–2025 dry season.

With the current volume of stored inland water and the present salinity situation, water supplies for daily use as well as for rice and fruit production across Dong Thap are basically secured.

Nguyen Duc Thinh, Deputy Director of the Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that in the coming period the agricultural sector, local authorities and residents in the province will closely follow the province’s 2026 drought and salinity prevention and response plan.

This year, hot weather may last until May 2026. Therefore, the agricultural sector and local authorities must remain vigilant and proactively prepare for a scenario in which salinity intrusion could be higher than in the 2024–2025 dry season.

Leaders of the Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment inspect drought and salinity prevention efforts for 2026.

Recently, the People’s Committee of Dong Thap Province issued another official directive on proactively responding to salinity intrusion across the province.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the Dong Thap People’s Committee requested heads of provincial departments and agencies, as well as chairpersons of commune and ward People’s Committees, to closely monitor meteorological and hydrological developments, water resources and salinity intrusion forecasts in order to proactively implement appropriate response measures for each area in line with guidance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and local conditions.

In particular, relevant units must focus on implementing plans to ensure water supply for residents as well as production and business activities. Authorities were instructed not to allow drought, salinity intrusion or forest fires to disrupt production and business operations or cause shortages of fresh water for residents, healthcare facilities, schools and other institutions.

The Chairman of the Dong Thap People’s Committee also requested the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment to regularly monitor, direct, inspect and urge relevant sectors and localities to implement the response plan approved by the provincial People’s Committee; deploy suitable measures for each area to minimize impacts on agricultural production; and closely track salinity intrusion along canal systems to promptly inform local authorities and residents so they can build temporary salinity barriers and store irrigation water in time.

The Tien Giang Irrigation Works Exploitation One-Member Limited Liability Company has been tasked with closely monitoring salinity intrusion along canal systems to ensure proper operation of irrigation works and promptly inform local authorities about operational plans so the information can be widely disseminated to residents.

When salinity levels outside canals are forecast to increase, relevant units will operate sluices to maximize the storage of fresh water through main sluice gates. If salinity persists for a prolonged period, water diversion will be carried out when salinity levels remain within permissible limits.

Meanwhile, the Tien Giang Water Supply One-Member Limited Liability Company has prepared materials and equipment to install public water taps for residents in remote communes outside the dike system and for households living in scattered areas that do not yet have access to centralized water supply stations, allowing them to collect fresh water free of charge when requested by local authorities.