AND TRAINING CONSTRUCTION HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF ARCHITECTURE PHAM VIET QUANG CULTURAL LANDSCAPE ADAPTATION TO FLOODS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF THE LOWER KON RIVER AND HA THANH
Urgency of the topic
The downstream area of the Kon River and Ha Thanh River is a flood center in Binh Dinh Province, experiencing 3–4 major floods annually These floods peak between October and December, with daily rainfall of 200–400 mm, and they have caused substantial damage since 1990.
From 2019 to today, flood devastation in the Kon River basin has intensified: in 2019, 462 people died and damages exceeded 11 trillion VND; in 2021, more than 23,000 houses were flooded and infrastructure was damaged; and in 2023, heavy losses continued, underscoring persistent flood risks The 33-kilometer Kon River dike is eroding, illustrating how flood risk is rising due to climate change, sea-level rise, and ecological degradation Rapid urbanization through 2035 concentrates development in five urban areas with a combined population of 672,550 downstream, narrowing flood escape corridors, filling natural water storage spaces, and eroding the indigenous knowledge of “living with floods.” Against this context, the thesis investigates integrated flood risk management and resilience strategies in the Kon River basin to support sustainable urban planning and community adaptation.
This study on flood adaptation cultural landscapes in the residential area downstream of the Kon River and Ha Thanh River systematizes the value of flood-adaptation landscapes and their significance for the community It also zones residential areas into three risk levels—safe, high risk, and medium risk—and proposes spatial organization strategies that adjust population distribution, develop sustainable livelihoods, improve technical infrastructure, and preserve relics.
- architecture and enhancing community capacity in the period 2035-2050.
Research Problem and Hypothesis
Research problem:When traditional adaptation to flooding is replaced by purely technical solutions, local identity fades and community adaptive capacity to climate change is weakened
Research hypothesis:Cultural landscape elements are positively related to community flood resilience – Traditional knowledge combined with technical infrastructure increases post-disaster resilience.
Research Aims and Objectives
Purpose:Applying traditional knowledge of rivers in planning and constructing flood-adapted residential areas
Determining the values of flood adaptation cultural landscape in the residential area downstream of Kon River - Ha Thanh River
Building a flood-adaptive cultural landscape framework for residential areas downstream of Kon River - Ha Thanh River
Proposing a model and solution for organizing cultural landscape space to adapt to floods Residential area downstream of Kon River
Research Objects and Scope
- Research subjects:Cultural landscape of residential areas in the lower reaches of the Kon River and Ha Thanh River
This overview identifies flood-affected urban residential areas in the lower Kon River basin and along the Ha Thanh River, encompassing Cat Tien Urban Area in Tay Son District and An Nhon Town, as well as the Ha Thanh corridor in Quy Nhon City, Tuy Phuoc District, with a total coverage of about 203 square kilometers The time frame spans 2005, 2015, and 2025, and it presents an orientation for residential development in the lower Kon River region to guide resilient, sustainable urban growth.
- Ha Thanh River to 2035 with a vision to 2050
Scientific and practical significance
Developing the CQVH-TƯLL framework, which integrates indigenous technology, ecology, and culture, fills the gap in applying the 'cultural landscape' concept to settlement space design By foregrounding folk knowledge and flood landscape as the scientific foundation, this approach enables safe, harmonious living in tune with natural systems The framework translates cultural landscape insights into practical planning tools for housing, infrastructure, and land-use decisions that reflect local ecologies and cultural values It promotes resilient communities by weaving traditional technologies with ecological understanding and community practices, guiding sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and climate-adaptive planning.
The CQVH-TƯLL framework serves as a decision-support tool for planning, integrating zoning for risk and safety, guiding communities to live with floods, and delivering feasible planning, infrastructure, and architectural solutions that reduce disaster damage while preserving identity and promoting sustainable development Its application in five downstream areas of the Kon Ha Thanh River indicates an expected 9% reduction in people affected by floods, equating to about 60,530 residents.
New contributions of the study
Flood adaptation cultural value system in the residential area downstream of Kon River - Ha Thanh River
Building a CQVH-TƯLL framework integrated into residential area planning
Proposing a set of solutions for planning - organizing space - infrastructure according to the CQVH-TULL framework.
Research methods
The thesis uses a diverse system of methods, including: - Document research Analysis - comparison - synthesis Maps and spatial analysis (GIS) Community survey (Photovoice) Expert interviews.
Concepts & Terms
Landscape is the synthesis of natural and artificial elements resulting from ongoing human–environment interaction, and it includes three groups: culture, production, and exploitation (mines/resources) Residential areas are concentrated living quarters—the basic urban or rural unit endowed with space and technical–social infrastructure that sustains sustainable life Cultural landscape refers to works that blend nature and people, reflecting social values, aesthetics, and indigenous knowledge, as described by Sauer, Cosgrove, and UNESCO The cultural landscape space comprises both material and immaterial elements (relics, architecture, customs, indigenous knowledge), and the Historical Urban Landscape (HUL) approach treats historical urban areas as a multi-layered system with a conservation orientation linked to sustainable development Flood-adapted cultural landscapes, or “living with water” spaces, merge technology, ecology, and culture, and include five elements: population distribution aligned with terrain/geoculture; livelihoods tied to the water calendar; infrastructure plus rituals/memories; adaptive architecture (stilt houses, mezzanines, etc.); and community organization, social capital.
Thesis structure
The research thesis has a structure of 3 parts:
Part III: Conclusion and Recommendations
CHƯƠNG 1 OVERVIEW OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPE ADAPTATION TO FLOODS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN THE LOWER KON RIVER AND HA THANH RIVER
1.1 Current status of cultural landscape in residential area downstream of Kon River - Ha Thanh River
The research area lies downstream of the Kon River and Ha Thanh River, encompassing an urban residential zone and flood-affected lands with a core area of about 203 km² across five main areas: Tay Son, An Nhon, Tuy Phuoc, Phu Cat (Cat Tien), and Quy Nhon City Its landscape combines Thi Nai Lagoon, a downstream mountain-plain structure, and a rich tapestry of historical and economic assets, including Champa and Tay Son heritage, the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, and Quy Nhon Port, which can receive ships up to 30,000 DWT Development is oriented along a Northwest–Northeast axis following National Highways 1A, 19A, and 19B, linked to the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, with the North–South Expressway driving land-use and industrial transitions Regionally, the area serves as a nucleus connecting the chain of coastal urban centers in the Central region, positioned on the East–West corridor (QL19; the planned Quy Nhon–Pleiku expressway) and the North–South corridor (Quy Nhon–Quang Ngai expressway; connecting Phu Cat Airport to QL19B).
Lower Kon River–Ha Thanh River area shows a clear urban–rural population divide In 2021, Quy Nhon had more than 290,000 residents, followed by An Nhon (175,800), Tuy Phuoc (180,300), Phu Cat (183,500), and Tay Son (116,000) Population density is concentrated in urban centers such as Quy Nhon, An Nhon, Dieu Tri, and Phu Phong, while midland and rural communes remain less populated Projections for 2035–2050 forecast rapid urbanization and suburbanization, which will place substantial pressure on local infrastructure and the environment.
Between 2020 and 2024, the regional economy shifted decisively toward industry and services, with Tay Son reporting industry and services at 74% of GRDP and agriculture at 26%; An Nhon showing 68.15% in industry and construction, 22% in services, and 9.85% in agriculture; Tuy Phuoc recording 50.01% in industry and construction and 23.43% in agriculture; Cat Tien-Phu Cat growing at 15.43% annually toward a Type IV urban area; Quy Nhon relying on agriculture at just 2.8% of GRDP Social development followed with rising living standards, an average income of 47–60 million VND per person per year, and poverty under 4%; An Nhon GRDP growing at 13.67% per year and Tuy Phuoc at 8.05%, generating more than 4,000 new jobs annually However, wastewater treatment remains only 45%, leaving local pollution and flood risks high Overall, the region is evolving rapidly and dynamically, but needs to balance economic growth with environmental protection and cultural preservation to advance toward long-term sustainable development (Figure 1.1).
Current status of the cultural landscape system in residential areas follows three main stages of residential formation: the Champa center (Do Ban) as the earliest core; the feudal stage when the French colonial period opened Quy Nhon as a port city; and the modern stage (1954–present), under which Quy Nhon expanded into a Class I urban area by 2010 and An Nhon was designated a town in 2011.
Urban landscape along the Kon Ha Thanh River shows newly developed districts such as Nhon Binh, Nhon Phu, Nhon Hung, Tay Xuan, and Long Van – Long My, which face potential risks of development in flood-prone areas and the loss of agricultural land The historic streets retain imprints of Champa, China, and France, with landmarks like Thi Nai Consulate, Cathedral, and An Nhon alongside the Imperial Citadel Industrial parks—Phu Tai, Long My, Quang Trung, and Nhon Binh—operate effectively but lack green belts, and their industrial traffic mingles with urban areas, posing pollution risks.
Monuments - religion:There are about 38 provincial/national relics such as Twin Towers, Banh It Tower, Long Khanh Pagoda and Do Ban/Emperor Citadel, which have archaeological value
Figure 1.1 Research spatial scope boundary ancient, art, spirituality; along the river can form cultural - ecological tourism routes, need green buffer zones and lighting infrastructure
1.1.4 Current status of residential infrastructure system
Within the basin's flood-control system, more than 20 lakes operate to manage floodwaters, with Dinh Binh as the only lake on the main Kon River stem offering a large flood capacity Thuan Ninh and Nui Mot lakes sit on tributaries, primarily intercepting branch floods and supplying water to the system The main dykes and embankments include Da Dam (31.645 km) and Go Cham (13.7 km), along with additional defenses such as the Tan dyke.
An (Kon River) comprises a 13.64 km dyke system, with other routes largely meeting late flood-prevention standards at a 10% probability Flood drainage routes and bottlenecks are defined by the Binh Thanh junction, which directs flood flow as 20–22% through Da Dam (North) and 78–80% through Tan An (South), of which 10–14% goes through Go Cham.
In An Nhon, flood risk shapes the cultural landscapes of residential areas, with floods reaching 2–4 meters annually in low-lying zones, urban elevations at 7–15 meters, and rural areas situated 0.5–1 meter higher than surrounding rice fields The urbanization rate stands at 35.05%, influencing living environments and social life Socially, urban settlements form along river corridors to support trade, guided by a pond–well–dike–bank water management system that stores and distributes water Culturally, water is central to Vietnamese civilization—embodied in the concept of mountains and rivers—abate through traditional water management and drought prevention practices celebrated in temples, royal decrees, and local customs.
1.2 The process of transformation of cultural landscape space in the residential area downstream of Kon River - Ha Thanh River
1.2.1 Land cover transformation of residential architectural works
Using Landsat imagery for 2005, 2015, and 2025, the study analyzes four land-cover classes—water surface, green space, built-up land, and bare land—over a standardized area of 529 km² Built-up land shows a sharp increase from 4.1% to 13.7% to 28.5% across the three periods, while green space declines by 20% of the total area Water surface decreases slightly from 2005 to 2015 and then increases slightly toward 2025 The observed land-cover dynamics indicate rapid urban expansion alongside loss of green space, with potential impacts on local hydrology and urban sustainability.
2025 (associated with lake/alluvial restoration) NDVI ≥ 0.6: dense vegetation; ≤ 0.2: water surface/artificial surface/bare land
1.2.2 Landscape changes in the lower Kon River - Ha Thanh River area in the period 2005-2015-2025
Transforming green space area.Continuously decreasing from 428.97 km²
(2005), 367.62 km² (2015), 298.25 km² (2025) Main reason: land conversion to construction narrows the green coverage ratio of the whole region
Water surface area change.Development: 57.73 km² (2005), 61.68 km²
(2015) (6.8% compared to 2005), 53.56 km² (2025) (-13.2% compared to
2015) Decreased due to encroachment on rivers, opening embankments, and concreting banks Locally increased due to renovation of regulating lakes and clearing of waterways
Construction land area.Rapid increase: 26.6 km² (2005), 92.63 km²
Between 2015 and 2025, the area expanded from 175.96 km² in 2015 to a larger size by 2025, with estimated expansion rates of 4.1%, 13.7%, and up to 28.5% Consequently, NDBI and IBI increased significantly, with growth spreading along both river banks and into the expanded zones such as Nhon Binh, Nhon Phu, and Nhon Hoi.
Vacant land area, including alluvial plains and dry river land, shows a sharp decline—from 40.79 km² in 2005 to 19.10 km² in 2015 and 8.61 km² in 2025—reflecting changes in vegetation cover and land-use patterns NDVI analysis indicates high-NDVI zones (≥0.6) are increasing, while low-NDVI zones (
