Regulations on the current lists of river basins and the lists of water sources in Vietnam

Regulations on the current lists of river basins and the lists of water sources in Vietnam (Photo from the internet)

Regulations on the current lists of river basins and the lists of water sources in Vietnam

Based on the provisions of Article 5 of the Water Resources Law 2023, the list of river basins and water sources has been regulated as follows:

- The list of river basins and water sources is the basis for implementing management content, basic investigation, planning, protection, regulation, distribution, restoration, development, exploitation, use of water resources, prevention, and control, and mitigation of water-related harms in accordance with river basins and water sources.

- The list of river basins includes:

+ The list of transnational river basins;

+ The list of inter-provincial river basins;

+ The list of intra-provincial river basins.

- The list of water sources includes:

+ The list of transnational surface water sources, the list of inter-provincial surface water sources, the list of intra-provincial surface water sources;

+ The list of groundwater sources.

Contents of the National water resource strategy in Vietnam 

- The National water resource strategy serves as the basis for developing water resources planning and a comprehensive plan for basic investigation of water resources.

The development of the National water resource strategy must be based on basic investigation results, water source forecasts, the impact of climate change on water resources, and must ensure the following requirements:

+ Compliance with the national overall planning, economic - social development strategy and plan, national defense, and security;

+ Ensuring water resource security, protecting, developing water resources, exploiting, and using water resources efficiently and economically;

+ Demand for use, ability to meet water sources, and international cooperation orientation; comply with international treaties of which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

- The National water resource strategy includes the following main contents:

+ Perspectives, guiding principles, vision, and goals for protection, exploitation, use, and development of water sources, prevention, and mitigation of water-related harms;

+ Guidelines, tasks, and overall solutions for protection, regulation, distribution, restoration, development, exploitation, use of water resources, prevention, and mitigation of water-related harms; priority projects and proposals for implementation in each phase of the strategy.

- The National water resource strategy is developed for a 10-year period, with a vision of 50 years.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall preside over and cooperate with relevant ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees to develop the National water resource strategy and submit it to the Prime Minister of Vietnam for approval.

(Article 11 Water Resources Law 2023)

rinciples of formulating comprehensive inter-provincial river basin planning in Vietnam

The development of comprehensive inter-provincial river basin planning must comply with the provisions of the planning law and the following principles:

- Ensuring the comprehensiveness of surface water and groundwater, the exploitation and use of water resources, and the protection and development of water sources, prevention, and mitigation of water-related harms;

- Ensuring the harmonious allocation of water use benefits among localities, industries, and sectors, between upstream and downstream; ensuring water resource security;

- Serving as the basis for the development of other technical and specialized planning with water resource exploitation and use content, water surface quality management plans, groundwater protection plans, and water resource regulation and distribution.

(Article 14 Water Resources Law 2023)

More details can be found in the Water Resources Law 2023 which comes into force in Vietnam from July 1, 2024.

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