Viet Nam is one of the centres of origin of rice cultivation. Rice occupies 74 percent of Viet Nam’s 5.7 million ha of arable land (IRRI, 2008). Rice production is dominated by small, irrigated farms based around the Mekong River Delta in the south (52 percent) and the Red River Delta in the north (18 percent). In commercial farming in Viet Nam, both seasonal and semi-permanent adoption of climate-resilient rice varieties is practised (Snidvongs, 2006). The use of short cycle rice varieties allows farmers to produce two cycles of rainfed rice within the seven months of rainy seasons in the Mekong River Delta.
Climate change is increasing sea water levels, brought about by higher global temperatures, which will have significant negative consequences. If continued growth of greenhouse gas emissions and associated global warming continue up to 10.8 percent of the Viet Nam area (most of this impact is in the Mekong and Red River Deltas) would be impacted by a 1 m sea level rise (Dasgupta et al., 2007). Estimates state that sea levels are expected to rise up to 33 cm by 2050 (IFPRI, 2010a). This is placing huge stress on the populations that live along the lowlying delta.
FAO-IAEA has collaborated with agricultural research institutes in Viet Nam to develop high-yielding rice varieties with good levels of tolerance to salinity such as VND 95-20 and VND 99-3 for planting in saline-affecte