Vietnam's first Sabo dam inaugurated in Son La province

At the inauguration ceremony

The inauguration ceremony was jointly held by the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vietnam Office.

The construction of the dam started in September 2024 after the rainy season under Japanese standards. It is a gap-type concrete dam which is 61 meters long, 3 meters wide at the top and 9 meters high.

Addressing the event, Head of JICA Vietnam Office Kobayashi Yosuke, said that being aware of landslides and flash flood in mountainous areas in Northern Vietnam, JICA has studied, carried out many projects, and provided aid to Typhoon Yagi-affected areas. He emphasized that the inauguration of this dam marked a new milestone in the two countries’ cooperative ties in disaster mitigation.

Head of JICA Vietnam Office Kobayashi Yosuke and Deputy Head of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Nguyen Truong Son open the information board of the Sabo dam.

According to Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Head of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment suggested the Japanese Government continue supporting Vietnam in building a comprehensive system of Sabo dams all along Nam Pam stream area. If fully integrated, the dam system could be serve as a model for Vietnam to assess its effectiveness and consider mobilizing resources to multiply it in other high-risk areas.

The Sabo dam is hoped to be effective in protecting 28 households, a kindergarten and a cultural house located downstream on the left bank.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Thi Thu Hang highlighted the practical significance of Sabo dams in mitigating natural disasters, including landslides and flash flood. She hoped for the early completion of all 12 planned dams.

Translated by Chung Anh