VAWR advances strategic partnership with German partners to pioneer flood modeling and disaster risk management in Vietnam

HANOI, September 21, 2026 - Operating as a special-ranked public institution under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) and standing as Vietnam’s premier scientific and technological organization in the water sector, the Viet Nam Academy for Water Resources (VAWR) consistently pioneers the integration and commercialization of advanced global technologies. Continuing this mission, VAWR proudly hosted a distinguished German delegation to forge collaborative pathways in disaster risk reduction and advanced flood modeling.

The working session welcomed esteemed German representatives of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam), and Geomer GmbH, a German consultancy specializing in GIS, flood modeling, and damage assessment.

During the session, Dr. Andre Assmann - representative of Geomer GmbH - showcased their cutting-edge expertise in disaster modeling and geographic data processing. Utilizing highly advanced simulation tools such as HEC-RAS and FloodAreaHPC, Geomer delivers specialized solutions for heavy rainfall inundation, soil erosion, and risk mapping. Crucially, these tools are highly adaptable and can be optimized for Vietnam's unique environmental conditions through domestic partnerships.

Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Hoa, Director-General of VAWR, highly commended Geomer’s impactful contributions to the FloodAdaptVN research project in Hue City. Drawing upon VAWR’s extensive regional expertise - including insights from the JICA-funded Huong River project - he affirmed the Academy's unwavering readiness to collaborate with German partners to localize and scale the Hue model nationwide.

Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Hoa - Director-General of the VAWR (seated in the right-hand row, third from the left) - delivered remarks at the meeting

Highlighting the distinct hydrological complexities of Vietnam, Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Hoa pointed out the stark topographical contrasts between Germany and Vietnam. He emphasized that Central Vietnam faces unique challenges compared to the dike-protected North region. "The topography in Central Vietnam undergoes drastic, rapid changes following heavy rains and severe floods due to its steep terrain", he explained. "Furthermore, rapid socio-economic development and unplanned construction significantly alter natural water flows, directly impacting flood forecasting and damage assessments. This high variability necessitates continuous data updates; without them, disaster response remains reactive."

To transition from a reactive to a highly proactive disaster response framework, Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Hoa stressed the paramount importance of post-project sustainability. Ensuring long-term continuity helps the government mitigate damages effectively while maximizing the sponsor's prestige and impact.

Demonstrating VAWR’s readiness for this expanded cooperation, he outlined the Academy's four core pillars of strength:

- A robust, nationwide network with 11 regional and specialized institutes; over 1,000 deeply knowledgeable professionals

- Exceptional professional capacity, backed by rigorous, world-class training

- Vast practical experience in executing urgent, high-stakes governmental and ministerial disaster-response projects

- A strategic readiness to synergize with BMFTR and AHK Vietnam to mobilize resources for sustaining and developing future initiatives.

To catalyze this enduring partnership, VAWR proposed immediate collaborative actions: Sharing disaster databases and open-source models established during the FloodAdapt project, coupled with targeted technology transfer and training sessions for VAWR scientists.

The successful working session concluded with a mutual commitment to deepening discussions on disaster risk assessment. By fusing Germany's technological excellence with VAWR's profound localized expertise, both sides are poised to engineer resilient, proactive, and highly effective climate adaptation strategies for Vietnam's future.