On May 16, 2025, the Institute of Construction and Urban Economics (ICUE), in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Hoi An City, organised the inauguration and handover ceremony of the Green Space and Coastal Park (officially named Âu Cơ Park). This is the result of the project “Preventing erosion on Cua Dai beach through green corridors and park”, funded through the IKI Small Grant Programme and aimed at enhancing capacity and climate action and protecting biodiversity at both national and local levels.

Climate change increasingly has severe impacts on the livelihoods of millions of coastal residents and marine ecosystems. Viet Nam, with over 3,200km of coastline, has 28 out of 63 provinces and cities bordering the sea and thousands of coastal fishing communities. Among them, Quang Nam Province, especially Hoi An Ancient Town — a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site — has been seriously affected by the coastal erosion along Cua Dai beach.

According to the 2022 Report, from 2016 to 2022, the Cua Dai coastal area lost approximately 112 hectares of land due to erosion, and nearly 70% of the protective coastal forest was damaged, mainly due to rising sea levels.

To address the local coastal degradation, ICUE has implemented the IKI Small Grant project with strong collaboration from local authorities, socio-political organisations of Cua Dai Ward and the local community.

Strengthening the Coastal Corridor in Hoi An

The project established a coastal green corridor with native species such as Casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia), Barringtonia asiatica, beach morning glory, and mangrove apple trees to block wind, reduce erosion, and raise public awareness of climate change.

A multi-layered planting solution was applied, combining shrubs and ground cover plants to create a sustainable ecosystem, enhance adaptability and protect the coastal environment.

The principle of natural regeneration was applied, supplemented with additional planting and protection of native habitats to minimise human and animal intrusion into wildlife habitats.

 Enhancing the Community Park

A community park has been constructed along the coastline with a total area of approximately 10,000m², located between Green Corridor No. 3 and the tourism business zone. The park aims to create a green space for the community, raise awareness of ecosystem protection and promote biodiversity conservation.

The park consists of a public utility area, including cycling paths, seating areas, recycling stations and information boards, public restrooms, a seating area featuring shaded seating, picnic tables and solar-powered lighting, a sports area designed for all age groups with facilities such as table tennis, shuttlecock kicking, badminton, and sensory playgrounds and including accessible ramps for people with disabilities, a children’s playground inspired by the Sumatra Tern bird. The playground offers diverse physical activities such as climbing, hiding and sliding and fosters children’s connection with nature.

Protecting Wild Bird Conservation Area

Within the project area, a wetland depression has been recorded, hosting up to 103 bird species, including 11 species listed in the Viet Nam Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List, such as the Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Knot, and others.

The project implemented suitable vegetation planting to protect this area and recommended that local authorities strictly enforce wildlife protection regulations.

Additionally, eco-tourism such as bird-watching and wildlife observation were proposed to promote green tourism linked to conservation.

Naming the Community Park

The park was named Âu Cơ, honoring the legendary Mother of the Vietnamese people, expressing national pride, cultural roots, and the desire to build a sustainable green space for the community.

The inauguration marks not an end, but a new beginning for future collaborations, aiming towards greener and more sustainable cities in Viet Nam and beyond, contributing to the protection of coastlines against global climate change challenges.

For more details, please refer to the full content at: Preventing Erosion on Cua Dai Beach through the Development of Green Corridors and an Eco-Park in Hoi An, Quang Nam – International Climate Initiative (IKI) in Viet Nam

For more information about the project, please visit: Preventing erosion on Cua Dai beach through green corridors and parks | Internationale Klimaschutzinitiative (IKI)