Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT The Vietnamese Mekong Delta is increasingly exposed to dry-season freshwater scarcity and salinity intrusion, challenging static and rice-centric land-use planning frameworks. This study aims to develop an Adaptive Agro-Ecological Zoning (AAEZ) framework that translates hydrosalinity dynamics into operational land-use guidance under climate variability. The framework integrates percentile-based salinity scenarios (P50 and P85), dry-season discharge at Kratie, functional accessibility of water infrastructure (canals, sluices, pumping stations), and land suitability into a rule-based GIS zoning algorithm. Three hydrosalinity typologies are defined using salinity magnitude and exposure duration: freshwater (<1‰ for >300 days), transitional brackish (1–4‰ for 60–150 days), and high-risk saline (>4‰ for ≥90 days). Application of the AAEZ framework reclassifies the Delta into freshwater rice zones (about 38%), shrimp–rice transition zones ( about 42%), and brackish aquaculture zones (about 17%), with approximately 3% identified as priority transition areas where current land use conflicts with hydrological constraints. Salinity simulations using MIKE 11/21 were validated against observed records (RMSE < 0.6‰). District-level zoning guidance is provided for key provinces including Ca Mau, Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, and Long An. The AAEZ framework offers a practical decision-support tool for integrating water-driven zoning into provincial land-use planning and climate adaptation strategies.
Source: Water Practice & Technology
DOI: 10.2166/wpt.2026.214
Authors: Nguyen Trinh Chung, Nguyen Dang Tinh
Institution: Thuyloi University
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7130503841