Da Nang’s coastal area has basically returned to its original status in more than a month after the city’s efforts across the post-storm recovery and reconstruction process had been made, contributing to beautifying coastal landscapes to attract tourists. However, in the face of climate change, the city has developed solutions to protect coastal landscapes in a bid to preserve both the environmental health and attractiveness of these destinations.

The damaged sidewalk area on Vo Nguyen Giap Street near the My An Sluice Gate has been repaired and returned to its original status after storm SONCA. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Rapid post-storm recovery

To help get coastal landscapes restored back to its once full look in an attempt to attract tourists , the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches has worked with the Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company to promptly send their cleanup crews and motor vehicles to beaches along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street spanning across Thanh Khe and Lien Chieu districts to collect trash and debris after the storm.

Meanwhile, nearly 980 square metres of land valuable to a section of the sidewalk area on Vo Nguyen Giap Street near the My An Sluice Gate  located in My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District were lost through erosion due to high tide, big waves and extreme heavy rainfall brought by Storm SONCA on October 14​. This location is known as the ‘Gateway’ to the An Thuong Tourist Area, and the erosion not only caused it losing its beauty but also caused tourists losing places to go for a walk or get in some exercise.

However, the damaged sikewalk has been repaired after fast and effective recovery and reconstruction activities that were carried out by the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and the Da Nang Tourist Beaches along with the Centre of Road Infrastructure Management.

Furthermore, owners of service businesses along the beaches located on Vo Nguyen Giap Street joined forces with the Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company to promptly carry out cleanup and recovery activities after the storm. Besides, Storm SONCA resulted in damages to a 100 square- meter area of the sidewalk around the East Sea Park. Therefore, the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and the Da Nang Tourist Beaches coordinated with relevant units to repair the damaged sidewalk.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Vu, the Head of the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches said that small damaged locations have been already repaired following the storm.

“In general, the landscape along Vo Nguyen Giap Coastal Route has been restored after being damaged by the storm. An around 2,000 square- meter area of the sidewalk of Southern East Sea Park were lost through erosion due to the storm. Repair activities are being carried out at the damaged infrastructure of the Phuoc My Beach and the damaged sidewalk," said Mr. Vu.

The sub-department of Seas and Islands under the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment has conducted regular surveys of landslides and erosion in the city’s coastal areas during this year’s hurricane season in order to ask relevant units to carry out cleanup and recovery activities in a bid to repair the damage to coastal environments. Importance is attached to placing landslide warning signage at high- risk coastal areas as a device to warn landslide risk to local residents and tourists.

The need for road embankment protection along coastal areas

Many people in the city expressed concern that climate change is making hurricanes stronger and more destructive, thereby increasing the potential for higher surge in recent years. They remarked that pounding waves and storm surge have eaten a lot of sand along coastal areas, causing landslides at many sections of sidewalks of Hoang Sa and Vo Nguyen Giap coastal streets. Meanwhile, some sections of sidewalks of Vo Nguyen Giap Coastal Street have yet to get a solid embankment to protect them from flooding and erosion due to severe storm waves and hurricanes.

Mr. Vo Van Dang, a resident of My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District stressed the need for the municipal government to find best ways to protect public and private property from coastal erosion. He also underlined the necessity of building embankment to protect Vo Nguyen Giap Coastal Street against erosion.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Ha, the Director of the Environmental Protection Division under the Municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment said climate change is having serious impacts on the world's weather through more frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels and other severe weather events. Particularly, Da Nang’s average temperature has already risen by 0.7 degrees Celsius between 1961 and 2019. Moreover, climate change is making the wettest days wetter, heightening flood risks in the city. Especially, sea level in the city has risen by over 3 mm every year, badly affecting the dyke and embankment system in the city’s coastal area.

To reduce environment effects of climate change, the Municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment continues its efforts to develop strategies, plans and programs for general management of natural resources and protection of coastal environments. Heed is paid to building database of Da Nang’s sea and islands. A plan for the establishment of a coastal protection corridor in the city has been submited by the Department to the Municipal Administration for consideration and approval.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L