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An Ambitious $600 Million Project to Revitalize Hanoi’s Western Rivers

20 March, 2025

“Hanoi Considers $666 Million Plan to Revive Western Rivers”

The Bui River, almost at its highest water level in August 2020. Image: kinhtedothi.vn

Hanoi is exploring a $666 million plan to pump water from the Da River to the Tich, Nhue, and Day rivers, aiming to rejuvenate these vital waterways in the city’s western region. This estimate was presented by Nguyen Truong Duy, an expert from the Vietnam Association for Large Dams and Water Resources Development, during a workshop on water security solutions for western Hanoi on March 3.

To implement this plan, Duy proposed extracting 100 cubic meters of water per second from the Thuan My sluice gate in Ba Vi District and channeling it into the Tich River. From there, the water will flow towards Son Tay Town, where a regulating dam will distribute 40 cubic meters per second to the Tich and Bui rivers, while the remaining 60 cubic meters per second will be directed through the West Thang Long canal system towards the Day and Nhue rivers.

“This strategy will maintain a natural flow, enhance the environment, promote public health, and boost water transportation and tourism in the region,” Duy asserted.

The project is expected to provide water for 70,000 hectares of farmland and reduce electricity costs by eliminating the need for pumping water from the Red River. Additionally, it will supply water to 20,000 hectares of aquaculture and clean water plants, reducing dependence on underground water sources.

Do Van Thanh, former Director of the Institute of Water Resources Planning, suggested that a more fundamental solution would be to construct two dams on the Red and Duong rivers to increase water levels. This approach would ensure a stable water supply for critical irrigation projects in western Hanoi, such as the Trung Ha and Phu Sa pumping stations and the Cam Dinh and Lien Mac gates.

Hanoi’s major irrigation systems, including Phu Sa-Dong Mo and those along the Nhue and Day rivers, should also be upgraded, added Thanh. According to him, the comprehensive plan involves raising the water levels of the Red and Da rivers to replenish the other waterways and operating key pumping stations effectively.

The construction of the Xuan Quan dam in Hung Yen province and the Long Tuu dam in Hanoi is already approved and will support this initiative.

Professor Dao Xuan Hoc, Chairman of the Vietnam Water Resources Association, endorsed the construction of the two dams as a feasible measure to revive the depleted rivers. He was supported by Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Huong, former Deputy Minister of Public Security, who also suggested exploring alternative construction materials to reduce sand exploitation and aid in the restoration of river ecosystems.

A stretch of the Day River in Quoc Oai District, marred by garbage and domestic waste. Image: kinhtedothi.vn

Western Hanoi’s Struggling Waterways

Hanoi is home to nine rivers, eight of which flow through the western part of the city. This vast area comprises three districts, one city, and 12 rural districts, covering 233,570 hectares and supporting a population of 3.4 million. Of these rivers, the Tich, Bui, and Day are used for irrigation, while the To Lich and Nhue serve as drainage channels.

In recent years, the rivers west of Hanoi have faced severe water shortages and pollution. The once-mighty Day River is now on the brink of ecological collapse. According to Thanh, the continued decline of the Red and Da rivers has pushed the western irrigation system to a critical point.

The bed of the Da River at the Trung Ha Bridge has dropped by six meters since 2001, and the section of the Red River flowing through Son Tay Town has seen a drop of over seven meters. These changes are attributed to sediment retention in upstream reservoirs, extensive socio-economic development, and illegal sand mining.

As a consequence, several irrigation systems along these rivers have dried up and become inoperable, including Luong Phu, Trung Ha, Cam Dinh, Dan Hoai, Lien Mac, and Hong Van. Additionally, the Nhue River irrigation system, which supplies water to 61,600 hectares of farmland, is struggling due to the falling water level of the Red River.

The lack of water has led to severe pollution, crippling irrigation systems and turning Hanoi’s western rivers into dead waterways. Since 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and Hanoi have initiated several irrigation projects, but they have fallen short in terms of management, operation, and long-term planning.

Nguyen Truong Duy pointed out that the approved Tich River Water Replenishment Project from 2010 aimed to divert water from the Da River to irrigate 16,000 hectares, with the first phase of construction almost complete. However, the Day River Restoration Project, designed to take water from the Red River, has not been effective due to the low water level of the river.

West Hanoi also faces frequent flooding, particularly in urban and rural districts, which further exacerbates drainage issues and disrupts the lives of residents.