The work, which runs from Japanese Bridge to Cam Nam Bridge along the Hoai River bank road, is aimed to help mitigate the impact of climate change on town. It has replaced the old dyke which was seriously deteriorated, leading to land erosion of up to three metres long.

A VND136 billion (USD6 million) 780m concrete dyke to protect Hoi An was inaugurated on March 21

Nguyen Van Dung, Chairman of the Hoi An Town People’s Committee, said that located at the lower section of Bon River, Hoi An often faces unusual weather phenomenon.

Increasing flooding and land erosions have seriously affected local residents. 

The project with the construction started in November 2015 has a total investment of VND136 billion, including VND80 billion from the state budget and the remainder from Hoi An Town’s budget.

There has been severe erosion in Hoi An since 2013 with 20 hectares of Cua Dai beach having been washed away. A 300m section of the beach was eroded by late 2015.

Experts blamed the erosion on the construction of resorts on the beach and the lack of proper environmental assessments before dredging occurred in the estuary. They also blamed the erosion on hydropower dams for affecting the river current.