Dau Tieng Lake - Best Irrigation Work in Vietnam

Dau Tieng Lake lies on the upstream of the Saigon River. The lake nestles almost in Duong Minh Chau district and a little in Tan Chau district, Tay Ninh province. This is one of the three largest irrigation reservoirs in Vietnam, with a surface area is 27,000 ha and a holding capacity of 1.58 billion cubic metres. The construction on this irrigation system was started in 1981 and completed in 1985. With three canal systems stretching a total length of 1,550 km, the lake has a huge impact on the entire southern key economic zone. Apart from regulating water flows in the Saigon River, the lake waters 93,000 ha of agricultural production land in Tay Ninh province and neighbouring localities like Long An, Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, Dau Tieng Lake is an important source of freshwater water for production and livelihood in the region. With 100 million cubic metres of water supplied annually, the lake helps wash saltwater and increase freshwater surface downstream of the Saigon River and the Vam Co Dong River, thus indirectly serving agricultural production for more than 32,000 ha of land in the basin.

 

With the coordination and management of Dau Tieng - Phuoc Hoa Water Resources Exploitation Co., Ltd, three canal systems have been modernised and synchronised, helping raise crop productivity and improve livelihoods for people in Tay Ninh province in particular and its neighbourhoods in general. Recently, the Government has revealed a plan to solidify Dau Tieng canal systems. With its roles and missions, the company is accelerating the implementation of the project, especially the eastern canal system. When the project is completed, the lake will be able to store more water, improve water supply volume and prevent dam failure risks that may arise from natural disasters and climate change. Because the water level stored in Dau Tieng Lake is lower and lower than the original design, especially in the dry season, the allocation of water resources for production in the dry season is in trouble. However, fortunately, with its sensible balancing and allocation of water, the company has effectively served production activities in the dry season in provinces.

 

Apart from the role of supplying water for production and livelihood, Dau Tieng is endowed with romantic scenery and unique ecosystem. The picture of Dau Tieng Lake is dotted by many islands like Nhim Island (​​350 ha), Cau Mount, Xin Island and Trang Island. Aiming to build Dau Tieng Lake area into a tourist site, an ecological conservation site and recreational site on land and underwater, Tay Ninh province is calling tourism investors to tap the potential here. Dau Tieng Lake is near Binh Duong province and Ho Chi Minh City. This is a huge potential for developing eco-tourism in Dau Tieng Lake area.

 

Currently, as Dau Tieng Lake also serves many Cambodian people and more importantly when tourism is invested for development, a greater number of tourists flock to the region, natural environmental protection and water pollution prevention will be very important. Mr Le Van Dung, Director of the company, said, it is necessary to plant forests to protect the lake and beautify the nature. This will help Dau Tieng Lake to promote its role and mission of supplying clean water for industrial and agricultural production in Tay Ninh province in particular and surrounding provinces in general.