Hoang Tien and Hoang Thanh communes are implementing an emergency project to address erosion and damage to the coastal embankment and road, caused by storms in 2025. The total investment for this project exceeds 430 billion VND.

Specifically, the embankment section through Hoang Tien commune spans about 2 km with an investment of 270 billion VND. The section through Hoang Thanh commune is approximately 950 meters long, costing 160 billion VND. Completion of these constructions is expected by 3/2027.

The contractor is developing the sea embankment project in Hoang Tien commune. Photo: Le Hoang

The current construction plan involves pouring soil and rock from the base of the existing embankment to create a gentle slope stretching about 35-37 meters towards the sea. This will then be covered with precast concrete components. The primary objective is to protect the high banks, the transportation route, and inland structures from erosion.

As thousands of cubic meters of soil and rock are continuously poured onto the beach area, businesses, investors, and tourism households in Hai Tien are worried. They fear the sandy beach will shrink, potentially eliminating the swimming area when the tide rises.

Le Thanh Tung, representing a group of over 30 businesses and investors in Hai Tien, stated that the tourism business community feels "genuinely confused" witnessing the construction.

According to Tung, businesses have made significant investments in restaurants, hotels, and resorts, leveraging the beach's appeal. He emphasized, "The heart of a coastal tourist area is its sandy beach," expressing concern that a shrinking beach would severely impact Hai Tien's core tourism product.

He mentioned that some businesses previously suffered heavy losses from storms and understood the impact of earlier hard embankments built close to the shore. Tung argued that continuing with rigid, close-to-shore solutions requires careful consideration to avoid long-term consequences for the beach.

Thousands of cubic meters of soil and rock are being poured onto Hai Tien beach for the project. Photo: Le Hoang

Many residents also worry that soil and rock dumped on the beach could be washed away by waves, affecting water quality, currents, and the nearshore environment.

In a petition sent to the Chairman of Thanh Hoa Province People's Committee and relevant agencies, businesses proposed that authorities explore solutions such as submerged dikes or offshore wave-reducing dikes combined with "beach nourishment." This involves adding suitable amounts of sand to maintain and restore the beach. They believe any solution must balance coastal protection with preserving tourist spaces, preventing conflicts between erosion control and economic development.

"Our biggest concern is that after the state and businesses have invested tens of trillions of VND to develop tourism, there will be no beach left," Tung said.

Le Xuan Hoan, Chairman of Hoang Tien Commune People's Committee, explained that this is an emergency project, prioritizing the safety of residents and structures behind the embankment. Hoan stated that the current embankment solution was chosen because it meets the urgent requirements for dealing with severely eroded coastlines.

Ngo Quang Dinh, a representative of the project's design consultant, noted that Hai Tien faces prolonged erosion, necessitating protective structures to stabilize the coast. The current embankment aims to dissipate waves, maintain high banks, and create sea access, but it is only an immediate solution.

For the long term, the consultant proposes constructing a submerged dike 200-250 meters offshore, protecting approximately 3 km of coastline. This is estimated to cost over 500 billion VND, aiming to reduce wave energy and retain sand. Dinh likened the submerged dike to a "large resting platform," similar to the model used in Cua Dai, Hoi An.

Once the coast stabilizes, "beach nourishment" by adding sand will be considered. This, combined with the submerged dike and coastal embankment, would maintain the beach, improve the landscape, and facilitate tourist access to the sea. However, implementation depends on funding and decisions from competent authorities.

Perspective of the completed sea embankment project in the section through Hoang Thanh commune. Photo: Le Hoang

Hai Tien tourist area is about 20 km from the former Thanh Hoa City center. It boasts a coastline approximately 12 km long, with many sections retaining their pristine beauty. The area currently has nearly 100 accommodation facilities with around 6,500 rooms, welcoming about 1,5 million visitors annually.

Le Hoang