Visit of ENSAPB students within the FEF Fleuve project

On March 10, 2026, CARE welcomed students from Ecole nationale supérieure d’architecture Paris-Belleville (ENSAPB) as part of the FEF Fleuve project, with the objective of raising awareness of the environmental challenges currently affecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

During the visit, scientific presentations were given by CARE researchers and partners:

• Dr. Nicolas Jourdain (CARE / CNRS) presented his research on global climate change, with particular emphasis on sea level rise and its potential impact on the Mekong Delta, including the risk of coastal flooding and land submersion.
• Dr. Hà Quang Khải (CARE / Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, VNU-HCM) discussed the issue of land subsidence in Ho Chi Minh City, highlighting the vulnerability of the city due to its very low elevation above sea level.
• Dr. Sébastien Hardy and Dr. Frédéric Cazenave (CARE / IRD) introduced the topic of flood risk management, addressing both the economic and social impacts of flooding, as well as existing and proposed protection measures such as dikes, tidal gates, and urban flood control systems.
• Dr. Christine Baduel (CARE / IRD) presented ongoing research on water quality in Ho Chi Minh City, with a focus on Contaminants of Emerging Concern, including PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, which remain insufficiently studied but represent a growing environmental issue.
• Mr. Trần Công Sắc (VNU-HCM Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology) introduced nature-based solutions currently being tested at CARE, including floating treatment rafts planted with aquatic vegetation. These systems aim to improve canal water quality while supporting biodiversity and contributing to the restoration of the urban river ecosystem.

The presentations led to lively discussions, with many interesting questions raised by the students, allowing fruitful exchanges with the researchers on environmental issues affecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

This visit was organized within the framework of international cooperation activities involving CARE and its academic partners.