The Mekong Delta, a vital region for Vietnam’s food production and home to diverse communities, faces escalating environmental pressures due to climate change, including rising sea levels, land subsidence, and salinity intrusion. Coupled with growing socio-economic demands, these challenges make sustainable water management increasingly urgent. This report investigates how the Mekong Delta can sustainably and resiliently coexist with water, using the island of Cồn Khương as a case study. Central to the research is the integration of traditional knowledge with innovative design strategies and stakeholder engagement.

Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the study explores technical solutions such as a soft dike system that combines ecological restoration with flood protection, and floating pontoons designed to accommodate housing, agriculture, and renewable energy systems in response to fluctuating water levels. These solutions align with the delta’s natural rhythms to support long-term ecological health. A structured stakeholder engagement strategy, using a power-interest matrix, ensures inclusive participation and effective governance across sectors. Additionally, the project proposes sector-specific management strategies to support regional adaptation of national policies in urban, agricultural, and water planning.

The findings from Cồn Khương offer a scalable and resilient model of water management that harmonizes local needs with international sustainability goals. This integrative framework presents valuable insights for similar vulnerable regions and highlights a pathway toward sustainable adaptation in the Mekong Delta.

An MDP project performed in the scope of the Delta Futures Lab in collaboration with the Dragon Institute. The report delves into the enviromental threats the Mekong Delta is facing and provides a design framework to deal with these problems. Furthermore, a case study is chosen to display how the framework can be adopted in a practical setting, envisioning what a future looks like where the Mekong Delta co-exists with water.