Ham Rong Beach in Hue: Famous beach deformed after storms.

In late November, Ham Rong beach in Vinh Loc commune (Hue City) was completely deformed after successive storms and heavy rains. The golden sand was deeply eroded by waves, the wave-breaking trees were uprooted, and beachfront shops and restaurants suffered severe damage. The Vinh Loc commune People's Committee reported that 5 shops and restaurants were severely damaged; in Hamlet 4, 14 households are located in the landslide-prone area.

The entire coastline is eroding.

Successive large waves have exposed the foundations of concrete structures, leaving pillars hanging precariously over the waves. In many places, steep, undercut banks have appeared, posing a risk to locals and tourists. The sandy shoreline has been washed away, and the once bustling area is now deserted and desolate.

Voices from coastal business owners

Mr. Hoang Trong Quang, the owner of a restaurant at Ham Rong beach, shared that erosion has been occurring for many years, but the recent level of erosion has far exceeded expectations. “My restaurant used to have two rows of coconut trees more than 30 meters from the waterline. Now, the waves have washed them all away, even the foundation, and caused the restaurant to collapse. This has never happened here before,” he said.

Safety risks and community impact

Coastal erosion not only destroys shops and businesses but also directly impacts residential areas. According to local investigations, 14 households in Hamlet 4, Vinh Loc Commune, are currently located in a landslide-prone area. Without urgent embankment solutions, the sea could continue to encroach further inland, threatening the safety and livelihoods of many families.

Proposed solution

Along with business owners, residents of Ham Rong hope that authorities will soon implement emergency measures such as soft embankments and sheet pile embankments to reduce the rate of erosion while waiting for permanent embankments. The People's Committee of Vinh Loc commune has requested Hue City to allocate funds to address severely eroded areas, restore livelihoods, and ensure safety for the residential area. In the long term, it is necessary to invest in a system of hard embankments to protect the coastline, and at the same time upgrade coastal roads to serve rescue and relief efforts during the rainy and stormy season.

Fact-checking information

• Location: Ham Rong Beach, Vinh Loc Commune, Hue City.
• Current situation: The sandy shoreline is deeply eroded, many shops and stalls are damaged; the entire stretch of shoreline shows signs of erosion, with the appearance of undercut banks.
• Damage recorded: 5 shops severely damaged; 14 households in Hamlet 4 are in the landslide risk zone.
• Local actions: Proposing soft embankment and sheet pile embankment solutions in the short term; recommending investment in hard embankments and upgrading the coastal road in the long term.