Geologic Resources Vulnerability Assessment to Orient for Vietnam Coastal Bays Sustainable Use: A Case Study of Ganh Rai Bay, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Ganh Rai is one of the important bays in the East of Nam Bo in particular and Vietnam in general. This area has diversified resources, especially geological resources (geosite with high developing of seaport, geotopes with beautiful beaches, wetland with abundant mangrove etc.). They are advantageous conditions to improve the economic development such as marine transportation, aquaculture and fishing, tourism, etc. However, hazards such as erosion, channel siltation, sea level rise, oil spill, environmental pollution etc., and activities of unsuitable resources exploitation and utilization have degraded environment, decreased biodiversity and increased vulnerability. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the geological vulnerability for sustainable use.Based on the three components (vulnerability factors, vulnerable objects and resilience capacity) the vulnerability of Ganh Rai bay has been assessed in 4 levels including: low vulnerability (off-shore areas in Tan Thanh and Ba Ria town), medium vulnerability (Thi Vai riverine area, coastal area of Ba Ria town etc.), high vulnerability (coastal area in Vung Tau city, area of 0-6m water depth etc.) and very high vulnerability (coastal and estuary areas in Vung Tau city). Based on this assessment, some solutions on management, education and awareness, hazards mitigation, geological resources use planning (eco-agriculture, silvo-fishery, eco-tourism, seaport developing and management together etc.) for sustainable use of geological resources have been proposed.