Ben Tre is a delta province area of Southern Vietnam, known for its rich history, heroic spirit and defining natural geography: coconut palms, fruits gardens, occasional sand dunes, rivers and canals. Special attention has been in the Strategic Vision to securing sound infrastructure so that its features are encapsulated for sustainable growth.
Location: Mekong Delta Province, Vietnam
Size: 2,630 km2
Scope: Land use, Infrastructure and Climate adaptation plans
Client: Ben Tre Provincial Authority
Partner: Roland Berger
To address the economic downturn brought about by sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and poor infrastructure in Ben Tre, the strategic plan envisions the province as a green livable city that harmonizes development with nature and promotes a sustainable economy based on its existing agricultural strengths. It aims to foster Ben Tre’s diverse and unique settlement morphologies, reserve land for new economic initiatives, integrate transportation systems with water management to optimize local resources, create new growth opportunities and help the city adapt to climate change.
enCity’s plan for Ben Tre Province achieved a Special Mention award at the Singapore Institute of Planning Awards 2021.
Vision
The development strategy jointly designed by Roland Berger, a management consultant, and enCity will strategically transform Ben Tre into a green and livable province that has a smart and integrated infrastructure to mitigate Climate Change challenges, a vibrant economy that is built on the province’s agricultural strengths and richness in landscape. In addition, the project also aims to make Ben Tre an attractive tourist destination – a miniature version of the Mekong Delta for domestic and international visitors.
Development, land use, and adaptation strategies
enCity is in charge of formulating strategies in spatial development, land use, infrastructure development and climate change adaptation. Our strategies aim to transform urban areas into livable communities, promote Ben Tre’s diverse and unique settlement morphologies, reserve land for new economic initiatives and integrate transportation system with water management to optimize the local resources, create new growth opportunities and help the city adapt to climate change. Our strategic solutions are:
- Enhance intra and inter provincial links through two North-South highways with the coastal highway acting as a sea dyke. These 2 highways will connect Ben Tre internally and regionally, form key growth corridors and incorporate coastal defense functions.
- Invent a water resource-based land use system to enable farming adaptation to climate and market change. This includes developing eco-residential areas and river-front tourist/resort areas to meet the changing needs of accommodation and living.
- Redesign irrigation and water supply system to adapt to climate change and secure water resources: In addition to urban areas that need to be densely populated for economic development, the province also needs to preserve and promote the characteristics of rural residence in order to preserve local identity and adapt to climate change. 5 typical residence forms of the province are: Coastal place, Orchard place, River place, Market place, and Paddy place.
- Promote local water-sensitive urban morphologies to maintain local identity, tackle climate threats and attract tourists. This includes coastal defense with transport infrastructure to optimize investment. The coastal axis acts as a highway to help develop the Eastern economy of the province and a sea dyke to protect Ben Tre from harmful effects caused by sea level rise.
