A recent transboundary analysis of the Ma and Neun-Ca shared river basins between Viet Nam and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has identified several major threats affecting the shared water systems and surrounding communities. Among the most pressing concerns are fish kills likely linked to agricultural pollution and flash flooding caused by increasingly intense tropical storms. These findings highlight the growing environmental and climate-related pressures facing the river basins and underscore the need for stronger cross-border cooperation to protect water resources, ecosystems, and livelihoods.
The findings were presented during the first annual review meeting of the project titled Fostering Water and Environmental Security in the Ma and Neun/Ca Transboundary River Basins and Related Coastal Areas, held in Hanoi. The study forms part of a broader Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), which is being used to assess the condition of the shared basins and identify the most significant risks. In addition to pollution and flooding, the analysis found that the river basins are also being affected by changes in river flow linked to hydropower reservoirs, deforestation that alters water flows and sediment levels, increasing water withdrawals driven by population growth, and emergency releases from dams during extreme water events.
The Ma and Neun-Ca project is designed to address these threats by strengthening transboundary cooperation between Lao PDR and Viet Nam, while also improving water security, environmental sustainability, and forecasting capacity. The initiative aims to promote more effective shared management of the river basins through practical measures such as testing and exchanging environmentally sound land and water management approaches, introducing improved practices and technologies, and building stronger bilateral cooperation mechanisms between the two countries.
According to Waleed Abouelhassan, FAO technical lead for the project and Land and Water Officer, the initiative shows how shared analysis and dialogue can be translated into coordinated action across borders. He emphasized that stronger cooperation between Lao PDR and Viet Nam is essential for addressing evolving water-related risks, protecting ecosystems, and supporting resilient livelihoods in the shared basins. His remarks reflect the project’s broader objective of turning technical findings into long-term policy and management solutions.
As part of the transboundary analysis, the project also completed an assessment of the hydro-meteorological monitoring networks in both countries. This is expected to improve the coverage and quality of hydrological monitoring, strengthen early warning systems, and create a stronger technical basis for better monitoring, data sharing, and information exchange between Lao PDR and Viet Nam. Enhanced monitoring is particularly important as climate-related events such as floods and extreme rainfall become more frequent and severe. The full analysis is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, which will provide further guidance for future interventions and policy planning.
In a joint statement, Mr. Chau Tran Vinh, Director General of the Viet Nam Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and Mr. Oudomsack Philavong, Director General of the Department of Water Resources under the Ministry of Environment in Lao PDR, said the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis is helping both countries clearly identify major challenges such as pollution, ecosystem degradation, and rising disaster risks. They noted that the analysis is providing a strong evidence base for developing appropriate policies, while also helping to strengthen monitoring systems, improve early warning capacities, encourage data sharing, and reinforce institutional mechanisms for cross-border cooperation.
The project meeting took place immediately after World Water Day 2026, observed on 22 March, and the two Director Generals also emphasized that gender considerations are integrated throughout the initiative. In line with the World Water Day 2026 theme of Water and Gender Equality, they noted that the project is not only responding to immediate environmental and disaster-related threats, but also contributing to the development of a more modern, equitable, and sustainable water governance framework. This reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that water security efforts are inclusive and that no one is left behind.
The Ma and Neun-Ca project is especially significant because it is the first bilateral Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters project between Lao PDR and Viet Nam. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) serves as the implementing agency, while the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) acts as the executing agency, working in partnership with the relevant national water authorities in both countries. The two river basins cover parts of Dien Bien, Son La, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh Provinces in Viet Nam, as well as Houaphan and Xiengkhouang Provinces in Lao PDR. Running until 2028, the project aims to create an enabling environment for stronger transboundary cooperation and coordinated action to halt environmental degradation in the basins and secure their long-term health and vitality.
Overall, the project represents an important step toward addressing complex and shared water challenges through joint analysis, coordinated policy development, and practical cross-border solutions. By improving monitoring, early warning, environmental management, and bilateral cooperation, Lao PDR and Viet Nam are laying the groundwork for more resilient and sustainable management of their shared river basins in the face of growing climate, environmental, and development pressures.
