Hue to accelerate the Ô Lâu Thượng reservoir project with investment exceeding VND 4.5 trillion

Efforts to advance the Ô Lâu Thượng reservoir project and upgrade the Cu Lac Dam in Hue are progressing as procedures are being completed to enable early implementation. The projects aim to strengthen flood control, provide water for production, and respond to climate change.

On the afternoon of April 10, 2026, a working delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep, met with the Hue People’s Committee to discuss implementing conclusions related to the Ô Lâu Thượng reservoir project.

Project status and scope

According to the Project Management Board for Irrigation Investment and Construction 1 (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the project has basically completed preparatory work. Objectives, scale, and technical solutions are in place, and the project is assessed as consistent with planning and practical needs. The board said it is necessary to quickly finalize procedures to proceed.

The project includes two components: construction of the Ô Lâu Thượng reservoir and the upgrade of Cu Lac Dam. Total investment is more than VND 4,500 billion, funded from public investment capital. The total land area to be used is about 716 hectares.

Key technical targets

Ô Lâu Thượng Reservoir

• Designed capacity: about 70–78.6 million cubic meters.
• Flood control mission: reduce upstream floods on the Ô Lâu River and reduce downstream flooding.
• Water supply: directly supply water for about 760 hectares of production land and supplement water for the irrigation system, industry, and domestic use.
• Dry-season flow support: help maintain river flow during dry seasons, in coordination with Cu Lac Dam to support irrigation.

Cu Lac Dam upgrade

• Increase flood discharge capacity at a 1% frequency.
• Prevent saltwater intrusion and help keep fresh water.
• Serve about 5,255 hectares of farmland on both sides of the Ô Lâu River.

Implementation timeline and procedural requirements

The project management board said the target is to submit the investment policy for approval in Q2 2026, begin construction in 2027, and complete before the 2029 monsoon season.

However, the project faces challenges related to land clearance, including forest land. The board noted that early adjustment of land-use planning is needed to ensure implementation conditions.

Additional recommendations for related reservoir systems

For the Ta Trach reservoir system, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep suggested reviewing options to raise regulating capacity, repairing gate and valve systems, and studying a reasonable spillway to ensure safety and improve flood-reduction effectiveness for the Huong River.

Local measures and coordination

Emphasizing the strategic nature of the projects, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development urged Hue to closely coordinate with other ministries and sectors to accelerate progress, finalize procedures, and resolve obstacles.

Hoang Hai Minh, Standing Vice-Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee, said the locality is implementing multiple flood-reduction measures and proposed dredging the river system to improve flood drainage capacity. The city pledged to coordinate closely to rapidly implement the project in line with directives.

Inspection of related works

Earlier the same morning, the delegation also inspected the Thao Long dam repair project, requiring progress, quality, and safety in construction.