Irrigation development in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Towards polycentric water governance?

Abstract

Vietnam’s irrigation development policy directions are divided between the objective to continue
increasing rice production through agricultural intensification and to improve farmer’s livelihoods
through crop diversification and integrated farming. While the first objective requires
the construction of new large-scale irrigation system in deeply flooded area of the Vietnamese
Mekong River Delta, the latter demands the modification in management of existing irrigation
physical infrastructure for non-rice crops, in particular brackish aquaculture in the coastal zones.
This article looks at Vietnam’s irrigation policy formulation processes in the last three and half
decades in relation to the idea of polycentric governance. It discusses the current shortcomings
and potential role of polycentric governance networks to capture stakeholders’ interests at
multiple governance levels essential for future policy development. It partially sheds light on the
dark side of water governance, bringing to light the fragmented polycentric decision-making
processes in Vietnam’s irrigation development policies.