Adapting with the Rhythm of the Sea: Helly Tống's Journey to Cà Mau

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Along the western coastline, what Helly captures goes beyond natural beauty - it reveals the subtle yet profound shifts driven by climate change. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Cà Mau stands on the frontline of rising tides and stronger waves. Mangrove forests - once natural protective barriers - are gradually eroding, leaving the coastline increasingly exposed.

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These changes are not only environmental but deeply human. Water conditions are becoming less predictable, while saltwater intrusion and tidal surges are making aquaculture - the main livelihood for many households - more uncertain.

In response, the project to build the western sea dike from Cái Đôi Vàm to Kênh Năm, along with coastal protection embankments at critical sections from the Ông Đốc estuary to the Bảy Háp estuary, has been implemented with support from the European Union and the French Development Agency (AFD) as a long-term solution.

Through Helly’s exploration of the project, the sea dike system and coastal embankments emerge as key measures in protecting the shoreline. Wave-breaking structures, built using spun concrete combined with rock, help dissipate wave energy offshore - encouraging sediment deposition, gradually forming natural mudflats, and supporting mangrove restoration.

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At the same time, the sea dike helps safeguard inland production areas, stabilising both aquaculture environments and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Alongside infrastructure, technical support enables local communities to adopt more adaptive aquaculture practices - from water treatment and pond management to selecting suitable species. These changes help reduce risks and strengthen long-term sustainability.

From Helly Tống's perspective, the journey to Cà Mau is more than just a journey; it offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between people and nature. As the sea changes, so must people - not by resisting it, but by learning to understand and adapt.

At Vietnam’s southernmost edge, these steady efforts - with the support of the EU - are shaping a new balance: where coastal protection, ecosystem preservation, and livelihood stability are no longer separate goals, but part of a shared path toward a more sustainable future for coastal communities.

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Find out more about the “Plug in to Evolution” campaign at: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/plug-in-to-evolution_en