VIETNAMESE MEKONG DELTA SURFACE WATER POLLUTION: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Abstract

The Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), a socio-economically vital region, depends heavily on its surface water. This review synthesizes 2013 - 2025 knowledge on VMD's polluted surface water parameters, their progression, sources, current management, and proposes future research and mitigation. Findings reveal persistent pollution by organic matter (BOD, COD), nutrients (NH₄⁺-N, NO₂^--N, PO₄^3--P), heavy metals/metalloids (As, Mn, Fe, Al, Cr, Hg), and microbial contaminants (E. coli, total coliforms), often exceeding national standards. Major drivers include untreated domestic/industrial wastewater, extensive agricultural/aquaculture non-point pollution, geogenic factors like arsenic mobilization and acid sulfate soil leaching, and saline intrusion worsened by climate change and upstream developments. Regulatory frameworks (e.g., Law on Environmental Protection 2020, Resolution 120/NQ-CP) and monitoring by national agencies and the Mekong River Commission underpin current management. However, the coexistence of multiple pollutant types underscores systemic weaknesses in wastewater control and diffuse source management, further complicated by the delta’s complex hydrology. There is an urgent need for integrated, adaptive, and well-enforced management strategies that address both local pressures and transboundary influences while incorporating climate change adaptation. Future research should particularly focus on knowledge gaps, data management systems, emerging contaminants, and the real-world effectiveness of mitigation policies to ensure the sustainable protection of the VMD’s surface waters.