35

Flooding Hazard in Red River Delta The Red River Delta is one of Viêtnam’s major areas of settlement and economic development. Such development was made possible over the centuries by the ceaseless efforts of the Delta’s inhabitants and their successive governments to tame the rivers that criss-cross the Delta in order to curb the risk of flooding and ensure availability of water resources. Rapid economic development has brought about unprecedented and dramatic changes in land use in the Delta, as well as a brisk increase in economic capital invested in this area. Such changes seem to have taken place without the risk of flooding being taken into account objectively, as the illusion persists that the dyke system alone can protect the delta from natural disaster. Should exceptional flooding occur which would exceed the current – and already quite high – level of protection, the resulting situation could turn out to be disastrous for the entire national economy