Mekong Dispatch-May 2025
The news aggregator serving the region.
May 2025 Issue
Mekong Dispatch, originally developed as a news aggregator, understands the growing concerns over press freedom and the escalating environmental crises and now seeks to secure its future as an evolving independent platform dedicated to amplifying local voices. By prioritizing and encouraging original reporting and commentary on environmental challenges, Mekong Dispatch aims to foster greater awareness and accountability. The platform plans to expand its coverage, providing increased commentaries, in-depth journalism, and special reports highlighting the intersection of environmental issues, policy, and community resilience. We would love to hear from you. This is your free newsletter. Please click and sign up for more, including weekly dispatches –– The editors.
May Highlights
“Laos and Switzerland strengthen efforts to improve dam safety” by The Star May 11, 2025.
Laos and Switzerland have reaffirmed their commitment to safer hydropower development with the successful convening of the Steering Committee meeting for the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance (DSTIA) project in Vientiane.
“Lavrov: Vietnam-Russia friendship flows like the Mekong, enduring and unshakable” by VietnamNet May 8, 2025.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the Vietnam-Russia relationship with a poetic phrase: “Nothing can hinder our enduring friendship, which flows endlessly like the Mekong River.”
“The Mekong Delta’s climate defences are failing” by Nhung Nguyen May 7, 2025.
Infrastructure projects to keep out seawater in southern Vietnam have been plagued by failures. Experts say the country must shift from hard fixes to nature-based solutions.
“In Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, elusive ‘ghost rice’ holds key to climate resilience” by Le Quynh May 5, 2025.
A rare plant with ancient roots could help farmers adapt to climate extremes – if it survives long enough.
Environment
“What a giant stingray says about the Mekong” by Mint May 21, 2025.
It took a dozen men to load Boramy, a giant stingray, onto the scales. At just under 300kg, she is the biggest freshwater fish ever weighed. She was the fourth giant stingray recorded in the area in the past few months. She swam away tagged.
“Southeast Asia’s fisheries show resilience despite decades of overfishing warnings: study” by Keith Anthony Fabro May 14, 2025.
Overfishing in Southeast Asia’s coastal waters is a long-standing concern, but recent research suggests a more optimistic outlook, with 43 per cent of marine stocks classified as underfished – 3.6 times higher than the global average.
“In Laos, coffee agroforestry needs more than just the shade” by Konlaphat Siri May 12, 2025.
Agroforestry is gaining ground as a way to protect coffee crops from extreme weather, but smallholders say they need more than advice—they need a better price.
“Q&A: How Southeast Asia can seize the renewable energy opportunity” by Soraya Kishtwari May 12, 2025.
Southeast Asia needs to scale-up its renewables. IEEFA’s Grant Hauber explains how the region can unlock investment and cut volatility.
“Elevated expressways weighed amid tight sand supply in Mekong Delta” by Truc Dao May 12, 2025.
The Ministry of Construction is considering developing elevated expressways in the Mekong Delta as an alternative to roads built at ground level, amid concerns over shortages of sand for ground leveling and environmental risks.
“Mekong Communities at Risk as Arsenic Levels Soar in Northern Thai Rivers, Researcher Found” by Thongsavanh Souvannasane May 4, 2025.
Arsenic levels up to 19 times higher than safety limits have contaminated rivers feeding into the Mekong, putting downstream communities across Southeast Asia at risk.
Geopolitics
“New Lao-Thai Mekong bridge to open soon, promising economic lift for region” by The Star May 21, 2025.
A 1,350-metre bridge linking Borikhamxay province in Laos and Bueng Kan province in Thailand across the Mekong River is now 98 per cent complete.
“Vietnam and Thailand elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership” by VietNamnet May 17, 2025.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that both leaders had reached consensus on several major strategic directions, including elevating the existing Strategic Partnership to the highest level of diplomatic cooperation.
“Environment ministry, Vingroup shake hands to improve urban air quality” by VNA May 15, 2025.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) and the Vingroup Joint Stock Company on May 15 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in urban air quality management and improvement, and green growth.
“Mekong–ROK Forum Marks Decade of Development, Charts Path Forward” by Mekong Institute May 14, 2025.
In a celebration of over 10 years of regional development work, Mekong Institute (MI), sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, convened the first-ever Mekong–ROK Cooperation (MKC) Forum.
“Experts discuss strategic approaches to energy transition in Vietnam” by VNA May 8, 2025.
Lecturers, researchers, and policymakers in Hue focused on analysing the challenges Vietnam is facing due to climate change, particularly in the central region, which frequently suffers from extreme weather events such as storms, floods, droughts, and sea level rise.