Abstract:
Water is an urgent issue in Vietnam's economic growth. The gap between the growing water demand and the decreasing water supply has put pressure on all sectors, including the economy in Viet Nam. The uneven water distribution over time and region is a big problem that Vietnam is facing. The rainy seasons are unevenly distributed in most provinces from North to South. Besides, climate change has also brought about significant changes to the surface water as well as groundwater. The effects of water scarcity and water pollution also have a negative impact on Vietnam's annual gross domestic product. Viet Nam's population growth will also be a driving factor for water demand. Research by the World Bank in 2019 has shown that pollution is the biggest threat that could cost Vietnam about 3.5% of GDP each year by 2035 [1]. The region's rapid development in urban areas, untreated industrial wastewater, and pesticides in agriculture put tremendous pressure on Vietnam's river basins. This paper aims to provide an overview of Vietnam's water management situation, including water management with sustainable economic development, environmental water security, ecological water security, and water-related disasters. The paper also clearly analyzes the major challenges that Vietnam faces in managing scarce water resources to maintain economic growth, maintain ecosystems, and protect water resources in the coming years.
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