Abstract

Vietnam is one the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Every year, typhoons, tropical storms, floods and droughts are causing significant damage to human settlements and infrastructure. While these weather conditions have always been part of the natural environment in Vietnam, their frequency and intensity is expected to increase with the effects of global warming. The NCAP project in Vietnam has taken Huong River Basin in Thua Thien Hue Province as a case study area. During the first stages of the project, impact assessments were carried out in order to better understand the vulnerability context. Based on the results of the impact assessments, the project has assisted policymakers at the provincial and local level in the development of sound adaptation policies and in mainstreaming climate change adaptation into the planning and decision-making processes. More specifically, the project worked on the following levels:

• On the local level, the project worked in the coastal commune of Thuan An. Project activities included awareness raising among local stakeholders and understanding local vulnerabilities.
• On the provincial level, the project worked towards the integration of climate change considerations into the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Strategy and Action Plans.
• The NCAP project in Vietnam also collaborated with the Coastal Cooperation Programme in Thua Thien Hue in order to integrate climate change considerations into the planning and development of the Chan May – Lang Co Special Economic Zone.