In recent decades, unsustainable use of resources and the implementation of dams upstream accompanied with sea level rise acceleration has led to an extreme mangrove depletion, increase of coastal vulnerability in the Mekong delta. Extensive shrimp culture, where mangrove forest have been turned into aquaculture ponds are adding to the problem. The aim was to assess the current situation and find solutions which go in hand with the Building with Nature (BwN) concept for two selected locations along the Vinh Chau coast. Study location A is in an area where little mangroves have been left with highly used hinterland; and study location B where the sediment morphology changed from muddy to sandy soil. The Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) has been established to highlight the various benefits the BwN approach has. The results reveal that for both locations with different dilemmas, and the BwN approach would be able to solve the problems. It is recommended that the implementation of permeable fences for study area A and a coastal buffer zone for study location B would be the most suitable in terms of sustainability, costs and long-term safety. | Building with nature for coastal protection: A case study of Vinh Chau town in Soc Trang province, the Mekong delta, Vietnam
