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Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh CityThe Center of Water Management and Climate Change

PROFILEEstablishment

As a crucial step in the organization structuring to build up a model of interdisciplinary studies and -training in Vietnam, on 5/4/2011, the Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) President signed the decision 237/QĐ-ĐHQG-TCCB to form the Center of Water Management and Climate Change, with the objective of becoming one of the leading center in Viet Nam and South East Asia. The Center of Water Management and Climate Change will be the hub for the interdisciplinary teams composed of outstanding scientists, in- or outside of VNU-HCM, working intensively to solve the issues related to water and climate change in Vietnam and the region. The Center has been established following a bilateral agreement between the governments of Viet Nam and the Netherlands, in which a grant of EUR 2.5 Mn will be provided via project NICHE (2012-2016), apart from VND 16 Bn from the national budget.

Target region

The target region of WACC is the southern part of Viet Nam below 12oN, covering 24 provinces/Cities including Ho Chi Minh City, with about 40 million inhabitants.The target region including 3 catchments: Mekong, Dong Nai – Sai Gon and Vam Co has been of the most economical importance of Viet Nam. There have been many dynamical links between those 3 catchments in context of demography, economy, transport infrastructure, logistics, education, health care... in which Ho Chi Minh City plays a central role. Therefore, the WACC’s strategic vision considers that integrated WM/CCA strategy should be developed for the whole region rather than isolated catchments as usual.

Coordination role for Inter-disciplinary study and trainingThe activities of WACC will be organized to coordinate VNU’s staffs for Interdisciplinary scientific/education activities. The relevant staffs of VNU have been teamed-up so that they can contribute their diversified knowledge for Interdisciplinary activities in effective manners. For such purpose, the role of Interdisciplinary research long term programs should consider the target region as a whole and will include a holistic and dynamic approach for WM/CCA study, sharing a comprehensive database and tools.To prepare for the young generation, the WACC’s staffs have been trained at PhD or MSc level at Dutch universities in tailored sandwich programs that closely linked with inter-disciplinary research programs and human capacity building for the Mekong delta and the target region.

Under framework of NICHE VN-104, WACC has been preparing special Master courses on Climate Change Adaptation targeting to potential mid-careered Decision Makers of the region. Problem-based courses adopted from international curricula are prepared by VNU-HCM’s professors/lecturers, who are sending to the Netherlands to work with Dutch partners for the courses apart form professional short courses given by Dutch specialists in Ho Chi Minh City.

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WACC has been also active in giving lectures and presentations at many local- and international workshops and training courses concerning climate change adaption, urban flood and disaster response.

Besides, joint research projects with partners from the Netherlands, Germany, US, Australia … have been accelerated to obtain achievements at international level. The WACC, through its activities, has also established connections with Authorities of Ho Chi Minh City and provinces in the Mekong delta

The WACC has held many international workshops, conference and training courses since 2011 and sent its staffs to scientific events around the world to prepare them for international environment.

WACC team

WACC activities base on a three-layered collaboration model, in which core staffs play connection role.

WACC team formed by The WACC’s core staff and VNU key partners has worked closely in inter-disciplinary reseach and consultant projects in Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong delta projects. The WACC team is currently an integrated group, which comprises excellent experts on applied mathematics, IT, RS/GIS, Socio-economy, hydrologic/hydraulic modelling, experiment and survey, ecology, environment and governance… working as full-time or part-time contract based.

In the Mekong delta project, strong links with provincial partners play also an important role in improvement of project effectiveness. A field office in Can Tho was built under a long term cooperation framework signed by WACC and its local partner to serve for projects. Other field offices are going to be built soon in An Giang and Tra Vinh.

Research activities

Period RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

2013-2016 The Sai Gon-Dong Nai basin eco-hydrology research program (2013-2015). This

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WACC team

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20132013201320132013

2012-20132012-20132012-20132012-20142012-20142013-2017

2012-present

2013-

2013-2016

2013

2012-2013

2012

research program tries to explore the impacts of climate change on basin hydrology and their environmental consequences considering the dynamics interactions between climatic and anthropogenic factors. The projects is the first interdisciplinary research funded by Viet Nam National University aiming to improve water management and climate change adaptation policies for the Sai Gon – Dong Nai basin including Ho Chi Minh City.Social survey on fresh-brackisk water farmer conflicts, Tra Vinh provinceSocial survey on landuse change motivation, Can Tho CitySocial survey on community perception on retention facility, Can Tho CityTo review the UNDP report on Migration and Resettlement in the Mekong delta.To review the Mekong delta plan prepared by an Inter-government panel of Viet Nam – Netherlands.On Integrated urban flood management for Tan Hoa Lo Gom sub-basinApplication of Telemac 2D model for Flood Early warning system of Ho Chi Minh CityFlood risk mapping for Ho Chi Minh CityDownscaled dynamic climate modelTo develop prototype of wireless telemetry system for environment monitoringThe project "Integrated Stormwater Management for high-dense urban Agglomerations in the Tropics using the Example of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam". Brandenburg University of Technology.Urban theme coordinator for Phase 2 of Post-graduate Programme Climate Change Adaptation in the Mekong River Basin (PRoACC) 2013-2014 with 12 post-graduate researchers from Mekong riparian countries hosted at local partner institutes. The project is funded by the Unesco-IHE (Delft-the Netherlands).Member of Chairpanel for the Flood control of Department of Scientific and Technology HCMC.The Mekong delta Socio-hydrology research program (2012-2016). This project deals with Risk analysis and social-economical implications of climate change on livelihood and farmer’s adaptation capacity. Three provinces will be explored: An Giang for flooding, Can Tho for urban water and Tra Vinh for salinity. The project is a part of the Dutch funded project NICHE VNM/104. Scientific committee of the international conference on Flood Resilience, Sep. 2013 Exeter, UK.Scientific committee expert of the Practitioner’s Handbook on Urban Disaster Risk Management prepared by UDRM, Bangkok.Technical committee of the “Cities and Flooding” handbook, a World Bank document

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Period CONSULTANT ACTIVITIESOngoing

2011-2012

2011-20122011-2012

2010-

Detailed planning for decentralized water retention space to adapt with climate change in Ho Chi Minh City.Survey and modeling Assessment of upgrading project for storm sewer system of Nhieu Loc Thi Nghe sub-basin.Social survey on Flood risk perception of Ho Chi Minh City Communities.Project manager of Flood/Inundation Management Strategy for Ho Chi Minh City, a Dutch-granted project conducted by Haskoning, Deltares and DHV. The project was funded by Dutch Government to revise the Tide control plan for Ho Chi Minh City by MARD (2008). Approaching to integrated solution for flood risk management in context of Uncertainties, the project outcomes have been submitted to Policy Makers and the World Bank.Technical advisor to the Steering Center of Flood Control Program HCMC.

PAPERS / PRESENTATIONS

N. X. Q Chau, T. Nguyen, L. P. Ho, T. V. T. Tran and D. M. H. L. Pham (2014). Quick assessment of Urban flood risk under extremes: Case study of Ho Chi Minh City. Accepted paper for the International Conference on Urban Drainage. Kuala Lumpur, Sep 2014.

T. Nguyen, L. P. Ho, T. V. T. Tran, N. X. Q and X. T . Le (2014). Lowland occupation and hydrological anomalies in Ho Chi Minh City: a 2D model study. Accepted paper for the International Conference on Urban Drainage. Kuala Lumpur, Sep 2014.

L. P. Vo, L. P. Ho, H. Q. Nguyen, T. Nguyen, N. X. Q Chau, G. T. Pham, T. N. Le,D. M. H. L. Pham and T. T. Mai (2014). Land Use Change in the Dong Nai Basin and Implications for Flood Hazard of Ho Chi Minh City. Accepted paper for the International Conference on Urban Drainage. Kuala Lumpur, Sep 2014.

R. Lasage, T. I. E. Veldkamp, H. de Moel, T. C. Van, H. L. Phi, P. Vellinga and J. C. J. H. Aerts (2014). Assessment of the effectiveness of participatory developed adaptation strategies for HCMC. Accepted paper for the Journal of Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences.

Ho Long Phi, Nguyen Thong, Chau Nguyen Xuan Quang and Nguyen Kim Dan. (2014). Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management Approach in context of Uncertainties: Case study Ho Chi Minh City . Accepted paper by La Houille Blanche.

Ho Long Phi (2013). Socio-Eco-Hydrological processes: from concept to modelling. Presentation at the Workshop on Coupled Natural and Human Systems in Coastal Zones. Shanghai, China. Dec 13-16, 2013.

Ruben Dahm, Ferdinand Diermanse and Ho Long Phi (2013). On The Flood and Inundation Management of Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Presented paper at the International Conference on Flood Resilience: Experiences in Asia and Europe 5-7 September 2013, Exeter, United Kingdom.

Ho Long Phi (2013). Integrated urban flood risk management approach in context of uncertainties: case study Ho Chi Minh city. GIZ conference: “Integrative Urban Development - towards Green and Resilient Cities in Vietnam”. Da Nang, 25 Oct 2013 (proceeding in press).

Ho Long Phi (2013). A balanced approach for Urban Flood Management with Robust Decision Making approach. The World Bank and GGKF Practitioner’s Workshop. Bogor, June 3-4, 2013.

Ho Long Phi (2013). A balanced approach for Urban Flood Management: a Ho Chi Minh City case study. The World Bank Workshop on Flood risk management and Urban Resilience 2. Seoul, May 28-29, 2013.

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Ho Long Phi (2013). Flood-Resilience Urban development Ho Chi Minh city. The BMBF workshop on Megacities. Hamburg, May 14-16, 2013

Ho Long Phi (2013). Urban Flood Management for HCMC under Uncertainties: Statistical and Modelling approaches. NCKU workshop, Taiwan 23-24 Apr 2013.

Ho Long Phi (2013). Lessons from Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh city’s actions. Round Table Meeting on “Urban Development for Climate change resilience”. ISET, Da Nang, Mar 2013.

Ho Long Phi (2013). Development of the Mekong Delta under Uncertainties and Decision Making Approach. Mekong Environmental Symposium. BMBF, Ho Chi Minh City, Mar 2013.

Ho Long Phi (2012). Adaptive Flood risk management in Ho Chi Minh City. The 2nd European Flood Risk Conference. Rotterdam, Nov 2012.

Ho Long Phi (2013). Integrated urban flood risk management approach to adapt with uncertainties: case study Ho Chi Minh city. Congress shf-33th day of hydraulics : «Main hydraulic developments - social issues, economical benefits & technical innovations». Paris, Nov 14-16, 2012

Ho Long Phi (2012). Evaluating Alternative Flood Risk Management Options. The WB Workshop on Flood risk management and Urban Resilience 1. Bogor, May 2-3, 2012

Ho Long Phi (2012). The sustainability of flood management strategies under uncertainties. ProAcc workshop. Laos, Feb 2012.

Update: Jan 2014