A new guide introducing water sensitive urban design (WSUD) and its benefits was launched on 8 October 2019 in ADB headquarters as part of a weeklong series of events marking World Habitat Day.

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Entitled Nature-Based Solutions for Cities in Viet Nam: Water Sensitive Urban Design, the publication is a joint effort between the Urban Development and Water Division of the Southeast Asia Regional Department (SEUW) and the Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF) to promote the concept of WSUD in Viet Nam and Southeast Asia more widely. 

 

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WSUD is a component of nature-based solutions which use the natural environment (e.g., soil, water, plants) to respond to diverse environmental, economic, social, and climate challenges. Specifically, it integrates water cycle management with the built environment through urban planning and design.

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The concept and tools are flexible enough to be inserted in different types of urban development and can either complement or replace gray infrastructure depending on the local context and purpose.

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The publication expounds on WSUD and discusses examples from Vinh Yen, Hue, Ha Giang, and Ho Chi Minh City. These Vietnamese cities are currently supported by the ADB-funded Secondary Green Cities Development Project and the proposed Ho Chi Minh City Climate Resilient Urban Services Project, which seeks to mainstream climate mitigation and adaptation in urban investments, as well as improve surface water quality and drainage capacity, respectively.