Hội An, a renowned tourist city with rich cultural heritage, once boasted a beach hailed as the most beautiful in Asia. However, recent coastal erosion at Cửa Đại beach has severely threatened this beauty and significantly impacted local livelihoods, economy, and tourism. On March 20th, Quảng Nam Province officially launched a project to combat erosion and sustainably protect Hội An’s coastline, offering hope for the revival of this iconic beach.
The Vanishing Beauty of Cửa Đại Beach
Cửa Đại beach, approximately 7.5 kilometers long, was once a major tourist attraction. However, the strong impact of natural disasters, particularly coastal erosion, has dramatically altered the landscape and ecosystem. Luxury resorts, once symbols of tourism, now stand abandoned due to severe erosion. Powerful waves have decimated structures, endangering public safety and infrastructure. The escalating erosion and deposition have caused substantial economic damage and affected the community’s well-being. Climate change and rising sea levels are also major contributing factors to the erosion, threatening the entire coastal area and related activities.
Hội An’s Coastal Protection Project: A Comprehensive Solution
To address this urgent issue, Quảng Nam Province has launched a series of coastal protection projects, with a total investment exceeding VND 1 trillion. The project comprises three main phases:
Emergency Coastal Erosion Control Project (2019 – 2022)
This project, with a total investment of VND 40 billion, constructed a 220-meter long underground dyke from the Victoria Hotel to Hội An beach, combined with dredging of the northern Cửa Đại channel.
Emergency Coastal Erosion Control Project at Cửa Đại Beach (2021 – 2022)
With an investment of VND 300 billion, this project continued the construction of a connecting underground dyke and the creation of a 1,530-meter long beach by dredging. This is a crucial solution for protecting the coastline, facilitating the continuation of tourism activities, and promoting economic development.
Construction of Coastal Protection Seawalls (2022 – 2024)
Supported by the government with VND 210 billion, this project builds 550 meters of seawalls, combined with the creation of a 1,450-meter long beach by land reclamation. This project enhances the coastline’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Restoring Hội An’s Coastal Beauty
This project, with its substantial investment exceeding VND 1 trillion, marks a significant turning point in protecting Hội An’s coastline. This project is not only crucial for infrastructure development, but also contributes to enhancing resilience to climate change, protecting the land, homes, and assets of over 1,300 households, and fostering socio-economic development in the region. With the combined efforts of local authorities, the community, and relevant stakeholders, we are confident that Hội An’s coastline will soon be restored to its former glory, once again captivating visitors.
