New Zealand is funding a five-year $5.4 million project to help Vietnam reduce dam-related flooding on the Ca River.

New Zealand is funding a five-year project to reduce dam-related flooding in Vietnam.

The two countries have launched a $5.4 million initiative focusing on the 1000km Ca River.

The aim is to halve the death toll from flooding on the river and reduce associated economic losses by 30 per cent by 2021.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand will be sharing its expertise in water engineering and natural hazard management.

Issues include effective assessment of dams most in need of repair, coordination between dam owners and communities, and upgrading the training for future water managers.

Vietnam has more than 7000 dams and over the past 10 years there have been 43 unplanned water releases or dam failures.

|  A Beehive release  ||  April 26, 2017   |||