Vietnam's $4.7 Billion Coastal Hub Threatens Mangroves Protecting Ho Chi Minh City

Vingroup has broken ground on Can Gio, a massive coastal development on reclaimed land the size of 1,800 soccer fields, featuring a $4.7 billion container port, a 14-km sea-crossing link to Vung Tau, new roads, a metro line and a 2,870-hectare mixed-use district called Green Paradise. Scientists caution that the construction could block tidal exchange and raise pollution, threatening the mangrove forest that buffers Ho Chi Minh City—one of the world’s most flood-vulnerable cities—against rising seas and storms.

Local fishers already see catches decline as waters become shallower and drainage worsens, while some residents feel inadequately compensated for lost land. Authorities argue the works are outside the core of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve and that sand for concrete will be sourced from an artificial lake rather than the Mekong River. International bodies have not formally objected, though the UN says it is monitoring the project, and experts stress the need for careful impact assessments to balance economic growth with ecosystem protection.