Ho Chi Minh City towards the sea with climate adaptation

The city of Ho Chi Minh will face many challenges in the future due to a changing climate. Due to heavy rainfall and its vulnerable position in the delta, the densely populated city is already regularly confronted with floods. The rise of the sea level, the lowering of the soil and increasing river discharges in the delta will further increase this problem. For further growth of the city of Ho Chi Minh it is necessary to make long-term strategic choices about urban development. Only then can Ho Chi Minh City grow into a prosperous and safe city that is not affected by flooding.

A climate adaptation strategy was developed for the city of Ho Chi Minh. Within this strategy, six strategic directions form a guideline for a climate-proof future for the city. Detailed plans were made for the development of new commercial and residential areas along the Saigon River and for a major port expansion seaward. Witteveen+Bos advised on water and flood management related institutional strengthening and governance. In addition, the possibilities for combining urban development and flood protection with the emphasis on sustainability and resilience were identified. With these solutions, the densely populated city of Ho Chi Minh can expand further in times of climate change when the safety of living and working is guaranteed.

Witteveen+Bos provided the following services: strategy development, institutional development, master and port planning, preliminary design, cost estimates, analyses and feasibility study.