The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that from December 2024 to February 2025, the Mekong Delta will experience unseasonal rains with rainfall that may be higher than the average of many years. However, this is the end of the dry season, so the increase in rainfall is not significant.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting also stated that the water level at the headwaters of the Mekong River is gradually decreasing and is 0.1 - 0.2m lower than the average of many years. Meanwhile, the forecast of high tides in the 2025 season is much higher than the average of many years.
The Southern Institute of Water Resources Planning believes that the risk of drought and saltwater intrusion in the dry season of 2025 may occur and be higher than the average of many years, but will not be as severe as the dry seasons of previous years.
Bac Lieu is one of the provinces at the end of the freshwater source, so the impact of saline intrusion in the dry season of 2025 is higher than the average of many years. According to the forecast of the Southern Institute of Water Resources Planning, Bac Lieu is 10/13 provinces and cities at high risk of saline intrusion. The salinity on Bac Lieu, Ganh Hao rivers, rivers and canals in the transition area in the Quan Lo - Phung Hiep system is higher than 4g/liter. The main affected areas include the districts of Hong Dan, Phuoc Long, Hoa Binh, Vinh Loi and Gia Rai town.
Mr. Ngo Nguyen Phong - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Bac Lieu - warned: From December 2024 to January 2025, Hong Dan district is at risk of water shortage for shrimp farming. The province is focusing on investing in the construction of water regulation sluices, building closed dykes combined with pumping stations, upgrading and expanding existing sluices with small apertures. Building and implementing flexible water regulation schedules, operating irrigation systems combined with production schedules in the two regions North and South of National Highway 1A in the province.
To prevent flooding, the province proposed that the Central Government invest in the construction of projects such as: Project to build sluices along the West bank of Ngan Dua - Cau Sap canal (18 sluices), Vinh Loi district and Phuoc Long district, with an estimated capital of 300 billion VND; Project to upgrade the sluice system along National Highway 1A (21 sluices), Gia Rai town, Hoa Binh district and Vinh Loi district, with an estimated capital of 500 billion VND. On the other hand, speed up the construction of the project to regulate and supplement water for aquaculture in the southern area of National Highway 1A, especially the construction of a pumping station at Cau Sap sluice.
