Southeast Asia's largest saltwater intrusion prevention project of a time
Thao Long saltwater prevention and freshwater storage dam on the Perfume River is one of the most important irrigation works of Hue City. Started in August 2001 and put into operation in 2006, the project has a total investment of more than 150 billion VND, including 15 saltwater prevention culverts and a boat hold. This is considered the largest saltwater prevention and freshwater storage project in Southeast Asia at that time.
For many years, Thao Long dam has played a role in controlling saltwater intrusion, ensuring fresh water for the Perfume River basin. The project also coordinates with Ta Trach, Binh Dien and Huong Dien reservoirs to regulate water sources, serve agricultural production, supply domestic water, improve the ecological environment and contribute to stabilizing the ecosystem of Tam Giang lagoon area.
However, after nearly 20 years of continuous operation, many items of the dam have shown signs of degradation. The valve gate system, mechanical structure and some hydraulic items no longer meet long-term operation requirements, posing a risk of affecting the safety of the project if not repaired in time.
Faced with that reality, the urgent repair project to ensure the safety of Thao Long dam is being implemented and is expected to be completed on November 26, 2027. This is an item under the Emergency Repair Project to ensure the safety of reservoirs and dams, with a total approved investment of 348.845 billion VND.
Race to complete ahead of the rainy and flood season
According to reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper, these days, at the Thao Long dam construction site, the construction atmosphere is urgent. Many machines, equipment and dozens of engineers and workers are mobilized to simultaneously deploy key items. The repair is carried out according to a plan to both construct and maintain the operation of the project to ensure the task of regulating water sources.
According to Mr. Truong Van Giang - Director of the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Agricultural and Rural Development Works of Hue City (Project Management Board), the project to urgently repair and ensure the safety of Thao Long dam is being accelerated before the 2026 rainy and flood season.
To date, the construction volume has reached about 34% of the contract value. Units are focusing on construction in compartments 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12. In parallel with that, the processing and manufacturing of new valve gates has also been implemented, completing 4 out of a total of 6 valve gates, equivalent to about 80% of the volume.
According to Mr. Le Van Man - Head of Project Management Department (under the Project Management Board), all old valve doors of 6 undergoing construction compartments have been dismantled and brought ashore for repair. Damaged valve doors according to design documents have been newly processed and manufactured. The biggest difficulty of the project is waterproofing at the junction between the pile and the construction pillars to prevent water leakage when pumping out water for construction. The repair project is much more complex than new construction because it requires simultaneous combination of hydraulic, mechanical and equipment items. In particular, the entire construction process is carried out on the water surface by a barge system, without a fixed ground.
According to the Project Management Board, the goal in 2026 is to complete the entire hydraulic part, install valve doors and equipment for 6 door compartments, and complete the door installation before August 20 to ensure the safety of the project during the rainy and flood season. Along with that, the units will continue to reinforce the downstream area, repair the management house and complete the generator system, ensuring that Thao Long dam operates stably and promotes long-term efficiency.
