The Can Tho River embankment project aims to help the Mekong Delta city cope with climate change. It is part of a dyke system for flood control in Can Tho and has a total length of 5,160m, with the highest point of the dyke reaching 3.05 meters. The embankment section through Ninh Kieu, Cai Rang, and Phong Dien districts has been under construction since 2016. It is funded by the city’s budget and foreign official development assistance loans, with a total value of VND 1.095 trillion. Loans from the AFD contribute to over VND470 billion, and the remainder comes from the city’s budget.

By the schedule, the works of Can Tho riverbank revetment shall be divided into four construction packages with a total contract value of more than VND 501 billion. The project is currently delayed due to slow ground clearance process, with only 88.9% of the project land handed over to contractors. It has also faced administrative obstacles for disbursement procedures.

At the working session, Director of AFD in Vietnam Harvé Conan said that AFD is ready to support capital extension for Can Tho City after working with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment. He said that the delay will force Can Tho City to deduct the local budget to implement the project without financial support from AFD.

Mr. Hervé Conan expressed sympathy for the difficulties of the city's leaders in the implementation of site clearance and resettlement work. He recommended that Can Tho focus on completing paperwork with specific work and completion time.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc He, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, thanked the AFD for their recommendations and said that Can Tho City would continue implementing the project effectively. Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc He then asked related departments and agencies to review the progress of each unfinished work, urgently solve problems, and extend necessary procedures to complete the project according to the plan and schedule.