A tranquil landscape features lush green rice paddies, their golden grains swaying gently. A narrow waterway reflects the overcast sky, bordered by vibrant green grass. In the background, traditional buildings with ornate roofs and a forested hillside create a serene rural atmosphere, enhancing the scene's cultural richness.

Fighting the rising floods: How Vietnamese villages are tackling climate change with grassroots solutions

Fieldtrip report 2025
Christian Barthelt, 1 July 2025

Scorched fields and shifting skies

The sun blazes down on the parched, harvested rice fields between Hue and the central lagoon. Smoke from burning rice plant residues hangs thick in the air. As in many recent years, the timing of the rainy seasons and dry spells no longer aligns with traditional rice-growing cycles, leading to dwindling yields. Still, the roads are lined with rice spread out under the sun, slowly drying.

A rural road stretches through a vibrant landscape, where individuals work to spread harvested rice on the pavement for drying. Lush greenery and distant mountains provide a scenic backdrop under a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds. Colorful tarps are scattered along the roadside, adding visual interest. — Rice drying on the streets in Hue Province

“The rainfall patterns are changing more and more,” warns a farmer from Phong Phu. Already a labor-intensive process, rice farming is now becoming nearly unmanageable. Harvesting twice a year is hardly feasible anymore – some fear that even a single annual crop may soon be at risk. But changing rainfall patterns aren’t the only threat. Increasingly frequent and severe floods are shaking the foundations of local livelihoods. “What used to happen every 15 to 20 years is now almost a yearly routine,” says a local official from the Phong Binh communes. These extreme events are forcing communities to adapt quickly, often without the financial support needed. The search is on for affordable and sustainable solutions – and nature-based approaches are emerging as a hopeful path forward.

A detailed map highlights the coastal region near Huế, Vietnam, featuring shaded areas indicating project communes. Key landmarks include rivers and roads, with a scale bar for distance reference. An inset map shows the broader geographic context. The north is oriented at the top, aiding navigation. — The project region.

“Strong Roots, Strong Women” – Local action for sustainable impact

At the heart of the “Strong Roots, Strong Women” project are 20 villages in central Vietnam. Each has formed a volunteer group of around 15 people – at least two-thirds of whom are women. These groups are coordinated by the local Women’s Union, in collaboration with our project partner CSRD and a team of external advisors. Their mission begins with participatory risk assessments. Villagers ask themselves: How are we affected by climate change and environmental degradation? Which natural hazards are becoming more intense? Which ecosystems and their benefits for communities are affected? What does the future hold? How prepared are we – and how must we adapt our livelihoods? Once these questions are explored, the groups, supported by experts, begin developing locally grounded nature-positive solutions. The most promising of these will receive funding support from the project.

A speaker stands at a podium adorned with flowers, addressing an audience in a hotel setting. Behind them, a large screen displays a vibrant image of a person engaged in a water-related activity, surrounded by greenery. The room features decorative elements, including a patterned wall and potted plants, enhancing the atmosphere. — During the official opening workshop in Hue on 15 May, a representative of the women's groups explains how mangroves can contribute to coastal protection.

A snapshot from the field: May 2025

Just a few weeks ago, team members from Potsdam, Munich, and Hue visited 12 of the 20 project communities. They conducted an initial review with group leaders and found that while the types of climate hazards – flooding, heat, drought, and erratic rainfall – were common across the region, their impacts varied significantly. In the northeast of Hue, rice farmers face prolonged dry periods and disrupted rainfall patterns. In contrast, fishers along the rivers in Phường Hương Vân and Hương Xuân are grappling with extreme heat and intense sunlight, which negatively impacts fish production. In addition, water levels in the rivers are falling, and oxygen levels are dropping – further threatening fish stocks. Hydropower infrastructure, while desperately needed for a growing economy, can further increase these risks. In Huong Tra town, where traditional livelihoods focus on citrus farming, the picture is grim: many of the mandarin and grapefruit trees were destroyed during the catastrophic 2020 floods and had to be re-planted or replaced by Banana and Mango trees.

A group of individuals stands near a calm river, surrounded by lush greenery. Wooden cages with overgrown vegetation float on the water's surface. The atmosphere is tranquil, with a soft, cloudy sky above. The scene captures a moment of interaction among the group, emphasizing community and connection to nature. — Plants on the cages keep the temperature comfortable for the fish.

Emerging threats beyond climate change

In addition to climatic challenges, two pressing concerns demand urgent attention. First, population growth. Hue is booming, and settlements are increasingly spreading into flood-prone areas. A careful and sustainable land-use planning is needed more than ever. Second, plastic pollution is becoming an environmental crisis – especially along the coast, where tidal waves bring in massive amounts of plastic waste. It chokes canals, litters fields, and breaks down into microplastics that damage soil quality. During low tide, plastic bags snag on young mangrove saplings and other coastal tree seedlings, acting like sails in the wind and eventually uprooting them. Though not a climate issue in the narrow sense, tackling plastic waste is crucial to building resilient ecosystems around Hue.

A serene coastal landscape features slender trees emerging from shallow water, their reflections visible on the glassy surface. The sandy shore is interspersed with patches of green algae. A cloudy sky casts a soft light, enhancing the tranquil atmosphere. Some trees display remnants of fabric, hinting at environmental concerns. — Plastic bags develop intense pulling power during high and low tides and can easily tear young plants out of the ground.

Local solutions with huge potential

Vietnam has already made strides in flood risk management. Every community has an official committee that can issue flood warnings and coordinate evacuations. Yet, infrastructure gaps remain. Not all villages have safe flood shelters, and in prolonged floods space becomes scarce. Families with two-story homes often offer their upper floors as safe zones – a solution so effective that many families are now saving to build a second story themselves. Among fishers, some have started shading their fish cages with bushes and grasses. This not only cools the water but also provides extra feed for the fish. In some regions of the Perfume river, oxygen is being added to the cages via small electric pumps – simple innovations with significant impact. Meanwhile, farmers are beginning to diversify their crops. Rice is no longer the sole focus. More resilient plants like cassava, lotus, and similar species are being introduced, as communities hedge their bets against the next failed season.

A person stands beside a concrete utility pole, gesturing towards a flag of Vietnam, which is attached to the pole. The background features lush greenery and a paved road, with a parked black car visible. The individual wears a light purple shirt and black pants, blending into the serene, natural setting. — A representative of the People's Committee explains how high the floods rose in 2020 over a period of more than a week: more than 2 metres.

A weathered two-story building with peeling blue paint features multiple doors and a balcony. Clothes hang on a line above. In the foreground, a person stands with arms crossed, wearing a light blue shirt and dark pants. A motorcycle is parked nearby, and the ground is uneven with patches of grass. — In another community, we learn that flood shelters like this are quite rare – instead, two-story private houses are often used as rescue centres during emergencies.

Looking ahead: From ideas to action

The communities in this project are not starting from scratch. A rich pool of local knowledge and innovation already exists. The task now is to refine these ideas and scale the most promising ones. With support from CSRD and experts in Hue, the goal is to fast-track these efforts – helping more people across more villages build sustainable and resilient futures. It’s not just about protecting rice fields or fish stocks. It’s about ensuring that entire communities can adapt, survive, and thrive in the face of climate uncertainty.