ADAPTS VIETNAM

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ADAPTS VIETNAM Handbook of Adaptation Measures
for Local Communities
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INTRODUCTION OF THE HANDBOOK

• As part of the ADAPTS project implemented in
  Vietnam from 2008-2011, CSRD visited a large
  number of communities along the Huong River Basin
  in Central Vietnam to assess their climate risk
  perceptions and to identify ways in which they
  are already adapting to climate changes. This
  resulted in the identification of various local,
  mostly low-cost adaptation measures that have
  proven to be highly effective. Most of these
  simple measures have been developed by the people
  themselves. This demonstrates that climate change
  adaptation advisers must work collaboratively
  with local communities to build on local
  knowledge and local responses to changing
  conditions in developing climate and adaptation
  strategies and policies.
• This simple handbook is intended as a practical
  source of inspiration for vulnerable communities
  and authorities in Vietnam, as well as in other
  countries similarly impacted by climate change. 

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Adaptation Measures
CENTRE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
(CSRD) 2/33Nguyen Truong To, Hue City,
Vietnam csrd_at_vnn.vn, www.csrd.vn
SAFE HOUSE MODELS
STORM CONDITIONS
Additional frame to strengthen the roof (Xiên
Thu?ng) 1. Function The additional frame is
designed to connect the beams and the roof in
order to create a solid block capable of
withstanding up to a force 10 gale. This roof is
capable of lasting for more than 20 years. 2.
Technique The additional frame is a wooden,
rectangular frame. It strengthens the house by
connecting the walls with the roof. 3.
Feasibility Total cost of building this house is
60,000,000VND. This model suits rural areas. It
has been popular in the past, and it is very
suited to todays changing weather conditions.
Picture 1. The house with additional frame (Add
Tr?n Ðình Cho, hamlet 2, Huong Loc commune, Nam
Dong District, Thua Thien Hue Province)
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SAFE HOUSE MODELS
STORM CONDITIONS
Tail beam 1. Function This is the buffer bar
between the concrete beam and the wooden beams
of the roof. It protects the wooden beam from
rotting, and thus increases the sustainability of
the house. 2. Technique Additional beams are made
of wood to protect them from rotting. At
contact point, mortar is used to fasten the beams
together. 3. Feasibility This modification is
cheap and easy to make. This technique is good
for tiled roofs.
Picture 2. Tail beam (Thuy Bieu commune, Hue City)
Tube-tile combined with water trough
(downspout) 1. Function The tube-tile is used to
keep other tiles stable, and to prevent rain
and wind damage. The water trough is used to
catch rain water. The combination of tube-tile
and water trough protects the roof from rain
water and strong winds. Storms cannot blow the
roof off when the roof is fixed flat. 2.
Technique The tube-tile is a commonly-used
material in the building industry. The
tube-tile is used to cover the top of the house
and the roof edge, after the roof is completed.
The water trough is made from concrete. The
bottom of the trough is not absorbent. It is
built underneath and encloses at the end of the
roof. 3. Feasibility The cost of tube-tile is
not high.
Picture 3. Tube-tile combined with water
trough (Add Hoàng Trung Son, t? 9, Th?y Bi?u,
Hue City)
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SAFE HOUSE MODELS
STORM CONDITIONS
Multi-roofed house 1. Function This model is
designed to break up the wind as it hits the
roof. Thus the impact of the wind is less and the
roof can withstand storm conditions. 2.
Technique This kind of roof is made from wood and
is divided into many eaves. The frame of the
house needs many beams and uprights. 3.
Feasibility Cost of this roof is high but it is a
good solution for houses which are frequently
affected by storms.
Picture 4. Multi-roofed house
How to strengthen the house to cope with
storms 1. Function The roof is tied to the beams
so that the wind cannot blow it away. 2.
Technique Material nylon wire or rope
tightening stakes. Method Tie wire or rope
across the top of the roof, parallel with the
roof beams. Attach the two ends of each wire to
the ground, using the tightening stakes. After
the stormy season, remove the wires which might
otherwise cause the roof to rust by trapping wet
leaves and rubbish. 3. Feasibility This
technique is very cheap and simple to implement.
Picture 5. Strengthen house model
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SAFE HOUSE MODELS
FLOOD CONDITIONS
Half-completed, upper floor 1. Function This
creates more space to store household belongings.
Some families use it for their ancestral
altar. In the flooding season, family members can
occupy this space and continue many of their
indoor, daily activities. In summer, this
construction helps to keep the house cooler. 2.
Technique The half-completed floor is 2-2.5m high
from the ground floor, and is made from concrete.
To build this model, the house wall should be
higher than usual. 3. Feasibility The cost of
this house model will suit households with a
steady, average income.
Picture 6. Half-completed floor (Add Tôn Th?t
Duong Ðôn, Luong Quán, Th?y Bi?u, Hue City)
Girder (joist) 1. Function To store and protect
food in floods and the rainy season. It is also
possible for people to shelter up there. 2.
Technique Lay some planks across the collar
beams in order to easily create an attic space to
be used when the house is flooded. 3.
Feasibility This model is very simple and easily
set up for all households in inundated areas.
Picture 7. Girder (Add Qu?ng Thái commune -
Qu?ng Ði?n district, Thua Thien Hue Province,
Vietnam)
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SAFE HOUSE MODELS
FLOOD CONDITIONS
Raising the floor level of the house 1.
Function To avoid inundation in the flood
season. 2. Technique Raise the ground level
higher than the average flood level, by using
sand or soil to raise the foundations. 3.
Feasibility The cost of raising the ground floor
level is considerable but of great benefit to all
households living on low-lying land.
Picture 8. The floor level has been raised (Add
Th?y Bi?u commune - Hue City)
House models to cope with HOT and COLD weather
HOT AND COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS
Suspended ceiling 1. Function The suspended
ceiling may be helpful in lowering hot, summer
temperatures. It also limits the possibility that
a wind storm will blow the roof off. 2.
Technique Material plastic or wooden or iron
sheets wooden beams and rafters. Method make a
frame, using the beams and rafters, to fit on top
of the walls. Nail the sheets to this frame. 3.
Feasibility The cost for this ceiling is very
reasonable and depends on the material iron
sheet 0.5USD/m2 plastic sheet 0.3USD/m2.
Wooden sheets cost depends on the kind of wood.
Picture 9. Suspended ceiling (Add Hoàng Trung
Son, hamlet 9, Thuy Bieu commune, Hue City)
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HOT AND COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS
Picture 10. Verandah (Add Nguy?n Van Thanh,
hamlet 16, Vinh Phu commune, Phu Vang district,
Thua Thien Hue province)
Addition of a verandah to the house 1.
Function To drain water away from the house and
to provide shade from the sun. To create more
space for daily activities. 2.
Technique Material iron sheets, concrete or
wooden uprights, beams and rafters. Method the
uprights are fixed in the ground in a line in
front of the house and connected to the front of
the house by beams. Collar beams and vertical
beams are made into a frame onto which the iron
sheets are nailed or attached with steel
wires. 3. Feasibility A verandah is an
inexpensive and popular addition in the rural
area of Thua Thien Hue Province.
Picture 11. Verandah (Add Tr?n Quang Thanh,
hamlet 3, Huong Loc commune, Nam Dong district,
Thua Thien Hue Province
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WATER USE MODELS
GRAVITY WATER SYSTEM
1. Function To utilise water from streams in the
highland areas for domestic and agricultural
use. 2. Technique This method includes four main
steps a. Spillway this is a small, concrete
wall built in a stream to raise the water
level. b. Filter-bed to screen the waste such
as leaves, branches of trees and other heavy
items in the water. c. Water pipes to bring
water from spillway to households. They should be
made from metal, plastic or rubber. d. Taps to
distribute water to each branch of the water pipe
system and thus to each household. This system
requires a good maintenance schedule to ensure
that it continues to work well. 3.
Feasibility This method is very effective and
useful for communities in highland areas who are
not connected to a District water supply. The
communities themselves can build it and pay the
costs. If this system is carefully managed and
responsibly maintained by the local people, it
will work well.
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RAIN WATER STORAGE
Small containers
Rain water use
1. Function To store rain-water for domestic use.
2. Technique Concrete containers are easy to
clean. A simple cover should be added. 3.
Feasibility This kind of tank is easy for
households to use.
Picture 14. Contain water in small tanks
Medium tanks
1. Function To store rain-water for domestic use.
2. Technique Material concrete. Method place
this tank underneath the downspout of the house
to capture water from the roof. Cover the cover
is made of iron or plastic. It prevents dust,
rubbish and insects from entering the
water. Capacity each household can decide how
much water they wish to store. 3.
Feasibility This tank is useful for people in dry
areas where there is no water supply system.
It is simple to install, and cheap.
Picture 15. Water stored in medium tanks
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Self-contained water supply system
RAIN WATER STORAGE
1. Function To store rain-water for domestic use.
2. Technique The system comprises a concrete
tank and a small tower which is made from 4
concrete columns and a small tank with a lid.
The tower must be higher than the house in order
to use gravity to move the water to the taps
below. Pump and pipe they move the water from
the tank on the ground to the tower. 3.
Feasibility This system requires a detailed
design and considerable investment. It is
suitable for average income households.
Picture 17. Water tank
Picture 18. Water tower
1. Function To store rain-water for domestic use.
2. Technique Material concrete. Method install
this concrete tank on a concrete roof. Lid the
lid is made of iron or plastic to keep out dust,
rubbish and insects. Capacity tank size may be
varied according to household needs. 3.
Feasibility This tank is useful for people in dry
areas where water is limited and where there is
no water supply system. This is a simple and
cheap method.
Picture 16. Water tank on the roof
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FILTERING UNDERGROUND WATER
Separate filter tank 1. Function To purify
underground water for domestic use by using a
multi-layer filter tank. 2. Technique This
method has 4 parts a. Well or drilling well
from which to extract the underground water. b.
Pump to raise water from the well to the filter
tank. c. Filter tank to clean the underground
water using 5 layers of gravel, sand and active
coal. d. Container to store the filtered water
ready for domestic use.
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FILTERING UNDERGROUND WATER
Filter tank combined with storage container
In some households, they combine the storage
container and the water filter. This is smaller
and simpler to build than the system which has a
separate filter tank.
Picture 20. Combined filter and storage tank
The structure of the active coal filter tank.
Picture 19. Active coal filter tank
(sinhquyen.com)
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GREEN FENCES TO PROTECT HOUSES
TYPICAL GREEN FENCE MODEL
1. Function To inhibit flood flow To shade the
roads To break up winds and protect from storm.
2. Technique Local people plant three varieties
of plants to protect their houses - Duong Lieu
(Casuarinaceae) This tree can be planted as a
line or many parallel lines in front of the
house. The distance between the lines should be
2m. After 3 years, they may be 4m high. - Hop
(Bambuseae) Local people plant this tree to make
fences around their houses by raising its
branches. - Tra (Thespesia populnea) This tree
is planted along the riverbank or lagoon bank to
prevent erosion and protect roads. The tree
branches may be raised to increase its height.
Picture 21 House protection by planting trees
around Add Nguy?n Ph?n, hamlet 3, H?i Duong
commune, Huong Trà district, Thua Thien Hue
Province
3. Feasibility These trees grow well in many
kinds of soil. For the lagoon communities which
are very vulnerable to flood, storm and sea level
rising, this is an excellent model.
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WATER FOR AGRICULTURE
Earth canal to access water from sand dune
This approach is used by a lagoon commune where
water for agricultural use completely depends on
rainfall. This canal supplies water for a
one-crop field in Hai Duong commune, Huong Tra
District, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam.
EROSION PREVENTION MODELS ALONG COASTLINE
Picture 23. Concrete sea dyke
Picture 22. Canal to access water from sand dune
Picture 25. Forest after one year
Picture 26. Forest after seven years
Picture 24. Rock sea dyke
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English version revised September
2012 Editor Lam Thi Thu Suu Design and
Presentation Pham Thi Dieu My Tran Ba
Quoc Contact Centre for Social Research and
Development (CSRD) 2/33 Nguyen Truong To, Hue
City, Vietnam Tel/fax. 84 54
3837714 Website. www.csrd.vn Email.
csrd_at_vnn.vn