📋 Tender Overview
In Yen Phu commune, Tuyen Quang province, on the mountain slopes, fresh water flows through pipes into each small house of the Mong people. Download The ultimate goal is not how many projects can be built, but how many people actually have clean water every day - Photo design: VGP...That scene seems normal, but for the people here, it used to be a luxury. In the past, if people wanted water, they had to go get it from streams, sometimes traveling long distances. The dry season is even more difficult. From 2021, the State will support drilling wells and bringing pipes to homes, life will change completely. A resident of 1A Thong Nhat village could not hide his joy: Several houses share one well, the water is abundant and clean. Every month we only contribute electricity to pump water. Now we no longer have to worry about water shortages every day. Also in Sung Mang commune, hanging lakes built on rocky mountains have changed the lives of people in Ha Pong Cay village. Mr. Vang Cha Huu, a villager, shared that in the past, there were times when he had to carry a can to fetch water dozens of kilometers away. Since the hanging lake was installed, every house has water, children are cleaner, adults have less hardship. According to the Center for Rural Clean Water, Department of Agriculture and Environment of Tuyen Quang province, by the end of April 2026, the rate of rural people using hygienic water in the area has reached more than 96%. Download Download In 1A Thong Nhat village, Yen Phu commune (Tuyen Quang), the lives of households still have many difficulties and deprivation - Photo: Yen Phu The problem has not yet been completely solved, but if we go deeper into the craggy villages on rocky mountain slopes or areas where water is often scarce, the picture is not completely bright. In early 2026, during a business trip back to Tuyen Quang (former Ha Giang) - an area that used to be closely associated with many people. A year ago, Minister of Ethnic Affairs and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang made observations that made many people think. 10 years ago when I worked here, the water shortage was very stressful. Up to now, when I come back, I see that there has still been no breakthrough change. For example, at a highland boarding school, the water source for students still has to be brought from about 10km away, the Minister shared. According to Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang, the ethnic minority area Ethnic minorities and mountainous areas are the pan rooster of the Fatherland, playing a particularly important role in national defense, security and sustainable development. However, this is still the area with the most difficulties in the country, in which lack of domestic water is an outstanding challenge. Looking nationwide, Vietnam has achieved many positive results in rural water supply. The rate of households using hygienic water reached nearly 98%. However, if considering clean water standards from centralized water supply projects, the rate is only over 54% (about 9 million households). Notably, the gap between regions is still quite large. While many localities in the Red River Delta, Southeast or Mekong Delta have high rates, the Northern Midlands and Mountains region is only about 25%, the North Central region is about 35%, the Central Coast and Central Highlands are about 34%. Download Download Download At the end of June 2026, the Working Group of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs inspected and surveyed clean water needs and solutions in ethnic minority areas - Photo: Hung Dao Clean water for the people: Dont just count the projects According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the whole country currently has more than 17,500 centralized rural water supply projects. But only about 27% operate sustainably, over 27% operate relatively sustainably, nearly 30% operate inefficiently and more than 16% have stopped operating. Many projects were built with support capital but then lacked an operating unit, lacked maintenance funds or could not control water quality. From now to 2030, according to preliminary calculations by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, investment needs for rural clean water supply need over 94 trillion VND. This is a huge resource, requiring a methodical and focused approach. Download Mr. Ha Viet Quan, Chief of the National Office for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas (Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs) - Photo: VGP Discussing this issue, Mr. Ha Viet Quan, Chief of the National Office for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs) said that the clean water issue cannot be solved with a scattered investment mindset. Such a large demand for resources requires investment in clean water supply to be focused, invest according to a roadmap, and identify specific goals. for each stage. Priority should be given to ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, islands, areas with water scarcity, areas severely affected by drought, saltwater intrusion and climate change, Mr. Quan emphasized. Each region needs a separate solution, Mr. Quan shared: In the Northern midlands and mountainous areas, the important thing is water storage projects, self-flowing water supply systems, upgrading existing projects and protecting water resources in the Central Highlands or South Central Coast The Ministry needs solutions to adapt to drought, community water storage tanks, and controlled exploitation of underground water. The Mekong Delta must focus on storing freshwater in the rainy season and treating brackish water, salt water. Investing in a new project is the first step. What is more important is how the project operates? Who manages it? Who is responsible for maintenance? Who checks the water quality? When the project breaks down, who handles it? If these questions do not have clear answers, it is difficult to talk about sustainability. In the cu
