Dike project on Tien River nears completion, offering hope to flood-prone residents

In Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province, hundreds of residents living along the Nguyen Huong road are counting down the days until the completion of a vital dike project on the Tien River. This project is crucial for stabilizing their lives after experiencing severe riverbank erosion that has already claimed homes and land.

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Hearing about Ms. Dan's situation made me jump. If erosion happens at night while you're sleeping, you're lucky if you can escape.

The emergency project to combat erosion along the Tien River began in September 2025, following a significant landslide that affected approximately 500 meters of the riverbank, with erosion extending up to 70 meters inland. While no lives were lost, 35 households were displaced, and numerous homes and land plots were swallowed by the river. The situation remains precarious, with an additional 1,600 meters of riverbank identified as being at high risk of future erosion, threatening over 285 households.

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This Tien River dike project is like a long dream, from when I first heard about it until now. Once the dike is built, we hope for peace.

For the local communities, who live along the major Tien and Hau rivers, the threat of erosion is a constant source of anxiety. Readers have shared their fears, with one noting the terrifying experience of erosion occurring at night while people are asleep. Another expressed the long-held hope for the dike project, likening it to a "long dream" that promises peace and security.

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Every time it rains heavily, we listen for sounds, tense like watching an action movie. We hope that when the project is finished in 2026, we can forget the trauma of erosion.

Responding to the danger, the UBND of Dong Thap province issued an emergency construction order in October 2025. The project, funded by the provincial budget and other sources, is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2026. Current progress stands at approximately 75% completion, with over 72% of the budget disbursed. Project management is urging the contractor to accelerate work on the remaining sections to meet the deadline and alleviate the prolonged stress on the affected residents.

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I hope the Western provinces, after unification, will pay attention to calculating effective dike construction plans to help the people.