Proceedings of the 19th IAHR-APD Congress 2014, Hanoi, Vietnam

ISBN xxx-xxxx-xx-x

HYDRODYNAMIC FLOW AND SALINITY INTRUSTION IN THE RED RIVER DELTA, VIETNAM

TRAN VIET ON (1), NGUYEN CAO DON (1) *, NGUYEN MINH HANG (1) & THI VAN LE KHOA (2)
(1)
Thuyloi University, Hanoi, Vietnam,
* ncaodon@gmail.com

(2)
Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi, Vietnam
tvlkhoa@hunre.edu.vn

ABSTRACT: The Red River is second largest river in Vietnam and one of the five largest rivers on the of East Asia
coast. Its catchment covers parts of China and Vietnam. The Red River Delta (RRD) of Vietnam is the second biggest
delta in Vietnam and is the cradle of the Vietnamese nation. The delta is the flat plain formed by the Red River and
its distributaries joining in the Thai Binh River in northern Vietnam. It is an agriculturally rich area and densely
populated. By the rich natural resources and favorable natural conditions, RRD has become an area of active
economic development and high population density. In the RRD, there are important economic activities. Water
supply to irrigation is mostly from the river network system. However, due to water fluctuation and salinity
intrusion constrain, water supply to agriculture is limited. In this paper, we simulate hydrodynamic flow and
salinity intrusion in the entire Red River system. River flow and water levels fluctuates very much depending on
tidal condition and upsteam reservoir operation. Salinity intrusion into the river system is serious, especially during
dry seasons. The average intrusion in some main river from its mouth can be dozens of km. Structural measures
should be proposed to minimize the effect from salinity intrusion while maximizing water intake capacity of some
intakes for irrigation during dry seasons.

Keywords: Red River Delta; Hydrodynamics; Salinity intrusion; Numerical models.

1. INTRODUCTION

The Red River Delta, RRD, (Figure 1) is bounded by an

area with coordinate from 20 023' to 25030' North and from
1000 to 107010' East. It is bordered to the North by
Yangtze River and Pearl River basin of China, to the West
by the Mekong River basin, to the South by the Ma River
basin and to the East by Gulf of Tonkin. RRD of Vietnam
is from 20023 'to 23022' North and from 102 010 'to 107 010'
West.

RRD in Vietnam covers 51% the total 169,020 km 2 area of

the basin, accounting for 86,720 km 2. Particularly,
coverage of Red River delta and Thai Binh River delta are
143,700 km2 and 12,680 km 2 respectively. The flat plain
area comprising Tich and Boi River is 12,640 km 2.
Figure 1: Map showing the Red River System (RRS)
The Red River is the second largest river (after Mekong
River) flowing through territory of Vietnam to the East
Sea. The river is formed by three major tributaries: Da, Lo
and Thao River. The Thai Binh River is also formed by
three tributaries: Cau, Thuong and Luc Nam River. Two
rivers are interconnected by Duong and Luoc River to
form the RRD. In the basin, there are structures such as
bridges, culverts, etc., constructed to regulate flow; most
of them were constructed about 30-40 years ago, causing
low operation efficiency due to their degradation. In
addition, the increasing water demand for socio-
economic development and healthy ecosystem
maintainence has produced excessive load of discharge
capacity of the system.

1
Dry flow in the basin, normally from November to May, is gravity acceleration, g = 9,81 m/s2; is dymanic
is lower than mean values. The stream flow decreases coefficient.
rapidly from December to January, and are stable from
December to April. Subsequently, because of rainfall, the Mass transport equation (for salinity
flow is increased again in the end of April and May. computation)
Hence, it is needed to put the dry stream flow from Diffusion equation or one-dimensional solute
December to April and probably May into consideration conservation equation:
during the water extraction process. In the dry seasons,
the rainfalls hold about 20 25% the annual rainfall and
AC QC C
concentrate in November, April and May. The stream ( AD ) AKC C 2 q
flow in December to March is feed by groundwater and t x x x
where:
reservoir; consequently, the lowest annual flow is mostly
C: concentration of solute; D: spread coefficient; A:
in March (53% in Hoa Binh, 52% in Yen Bai, 45% in Phu
cross section area; K: linear decomposition coefficient; C2:
Ninh, 49% in Thac Buoi, 57% in Chu and 63% in Son
concentration of solutes in the source; q: Source/Sink
Tay), or probably in February and April. The dry
flow; x: horizontal direction; t: time
discharge modulus is 4.9 l/s.km 2 in the flat plain.
Above equations are solved by finite difference
Potential monthly dry flow in the Northern region in
method and solutions are approximated by implicit
many years is 1200 m 3/s; particularly, in the basin is 811
scheme.
m3/s; without reservoir supply, the flow in the driest
month in the Northern region is about 745m 3/s;
specifically, in the basin is about 495m 3/s (95%-frequency 3. MODEL SETTINGS
dry years). There were several related studies carried out
The Red River network is schematized into a model with
on the study area, such as the works of Chau, 2008; Thuc,
cross sections, hydrological boundaries; water extraction
2005; Phuc, 1992; Lu, 2001; Huynh, 1999; Huong, 1999;
structures boundaries (pumping stations, offtakes), etc.
Ha, 2001, 2004. However, many of them focused on a
Inputs are particular characteristics of the system such as
part of the study are or a part of the problem being
cross and longitudinal sections of main stream and
considered.
tributaries; hydrological boundaries including water level
This study aims to simulating hydrodymanic flow and
and discharge in control and affluent points; water
salinity intrusion in the river system in order to support
extraction in sluices; bridges, culverts, dams, etc., in the
water planning and flow regulation for irrigation
river network. The outputs of the model are stages,
development in the RRD.
discharges, flow velocities, salinity concentrations (along
the flows). Simulation of the Red River System (RRS) was
2. METHODOLOGY
done in MIKE11 (DHI) comprises the entire RRD and
Unsteady flow in open channel can be simulated by de parts of the Cau, Thuong and Luc Nam Untitled
Rivers (Figure 2).
Saint Venant equation, including continuity and 2380000

momentum equations : 2370000

Continuity equation: 2360000

2350000

Q A 2340000
q
x t 2330000
Kinhmon 0-35450
2320000
Song Cam 0-1
795 2076.5
Song Thai Binh 0-90970

2310000 Song Lach Tray 0-22

2300000

2290000

2280000
Momentum equation: Song Tra Ly 0-59300
2270000

2260000

Q Q2 z QQ
( ) gw g 2 0 2250000

t x W x C RW 2240000

2230000

2220000
where: Z is water level (m); t is calculation duration (s); Q 2210000
is discharge (m 3/s); X is coordinate (along the flow, m);
560000 580000 600000 620000 640000 660000 680000 700000 720000
W is wetted area (m 2); q is additional discharge along the
Figure 2: Schematization of the Red River network
main flow (m 3/s); C is Chezy coefficient, calculated by
formula: C = Ry/n; n is roughness coefficient; R is 3.1 Hydraulic boundaries
hydraulic radius (m); y is hydraulic coefficient, y=1/6 ; g

2
 3.1.1 Upper boundary of the model:
Upper boundary of the model is the discharge variation
with time Q(t) at the below points:

+ At Son Tay in Red River: Son Tay hydrological station

in the Red River gauges the integration of streams: Da,
Thao and Lo River. As a result, discharge variation in
Son Tay is chosen as main input of the problem, and
stream variation is chosen to assess the drought in the
basin;

Figure 4: Total water supplied to irrigation

3.1.3 Lower boundary of the model

Lower boundary of the simulation is water stage
variation with time Z(t) at Hon Dau station applied to the
9 river mouths of RRD (Figure 2). Salinity boundaries at
river mouths are also interpolated between salinity
measured in the gauging stations and Hon Dau.

Figure 3: Stream variation gauged in Son Tay 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

+ From 1988 to 2006, flow at Hoa Binh gauging station in
Da River and dry flow in Son Tay were under serious
influence of Hoa Binh and Thac Ba reservoir. Analysis
of stream variation at Son Tay has shown that in 2002-
2003 when the annual flow approximating frequency
P=85% and the driest period in December, 2002 to
April, 2003 (Figure 3) should be selected as simulation
time for salinity intrusion prediction due to sea level
rise. Data are offered by Institute of Water Resources
Planning;
+ At Ben De in Hoang Long River;
+ At Ba Tha in Day River;
+ At Gia Bay in Cau River;
+ At Cau Son in Thuong River;
+ At Chu in Luc Nam River;
+ Salinity in the upper boundaries is considered as
0;
+ Water demand is calculated with frequency p=85%.
Validation for the model is implemented when water
extraction system is operated to supply witer-spring crop
in 2003. River mouth of stream flows are selected as
lower boundaries of the simulation. Data on stage of all
the river mouths are based on measurements of Hon Dau
station. In addition to data measured in the gauging
stations used as boundary conditions, data of gauging
stations in rivers inside the system are also used for later
validation. Results of MIKE 11 simulation are compared
with actual gauging data to calibrate and define
parameters of hydraulic model. Some gauging stations
used for validation and calibration are selected as listed
in table 1, comprising 3 discharge and stage gauging
stations and 41 stage gauging stations. Discharge gauging
stations are Hanoi, Son Tay and Thuong Cat.
Table 1: Gauging stations along the stream flow
No. Station River Location

3.1.2 Water extraction boundaries along the stream 1 Hanoi (Q,H) Red 71.757
flow
2 Thuong Cat (Q,H) Duong 3.647
Water extraction boundaries are comprised
3 Ben Ho Duong 32572
pumping discharges and culvert discharges. Low water
volume extraction points are clustered into a 4 Hung Yen (H) Red 132.6
representation in the simulation with corresponding total 5 Trieu Duong (H) Luoc 6.421
extraction discharge. Boundaries along the simulation are
6 Nam Dinh (H) Nam Dinh 5.133
discharge variation Q(t) supplying irrigation in the Red
delta. Water use boundaries in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, 7 Quyet Chien (H) Tra Ly 4.814
Thai Binh and Nam Dinh are irrigation demand of 8 Truc Phuong (H) Ninh Co 4.239
winter-spring crop (Figure 4).
14 Ba Lat (H) Red 224.731

15 Pha Lai (H) Thai Binh 461

16 Cat Khe (H) Thai Binh 8.418

17 Phu Luong (H) Thai Binh 23.922

18 Ba Tha (H) Day 61.347

19 Phu Ly (H) Day 131.675

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 No. Station River Location Red River Tra Ly River
Time Salinity
Km 10 Km 22 Km 32 Km 10 Km 22 Km 32
20 Ninh Binh (H) Day 168.768
Max 16.78 5.13 0.53 20.17 6.52 0.78
Hoang
21 Hung Thu (H) 0.0 12/2006 Average 11.58 2.32 0.23 14.36 3.44 0.37
Long
Min 7.34 0.57 0.09 7.84 1.52 0.1
Hoang
22 Gian Khau (H) 60.7 Max 17.4 6.51 2.86 19.73 8.64 3.5
Long
1/2007 Average 7.98 1.86 0.84 11.1 2.73 1.22
4.1 Salinity intrusion and gauging system Min 1.92 0.15 0.12 3.86 0.18 0.12
Max 20.46 0.26 0.17 18.3 0.34 0.12
The research site is under serious impacts of tide; during
2/2007 Average 10.65 0.18 0.14 10.49 0.2 0.1
the dry season, without sluice gates, salinity is intruded
Min 1.25 0.15 0.12 1.54 0.12 0.08
into rivers far inland from the coast. Level of effect is
Max 13 0.31 0.17 20.18 0.26 0.17
depended on upstream flow and tide level. There are 22
3/2007 Average 6.57 0.19 0.14 10.05 0.2 0.14
salinity gauging stations in the RRS. The measurements
Min 0.87 0.12 0.1 0.46 0.17 0.12
are not continuous, time is inconsistenly between stations
Max 10.12 0.26 0.17 13.5 0.31 0.2
cause limitation in analyzing and developing salinity
4/2007 Average 4.78 0.17 0.11 6.22 0.21 0.1
map. Distribution of gauging stations is listed in table 2.
Min 0.38 0.1 0.07 0.28 0.16 0.07

Table 2: Salinity gauging stations in the Red River system 5/2007 Max 11.05 0.25 0.17 12.61 0.34 0.14
(Source: Vietnam Academy of Water Resources and Thuyloi
No. Name of river No. of station
University, 2010)
1 Red 1 Results show salinity beyond 1.0 reaches to 22th km or
2 Tra Ly 2 32th km from river mouth. For instance, in the Tra Ly
River, salinity beyond 1.0 occurs at 32th km the river
3 Ninh Co 1
from mouth when upstream reservoirs stop releasing
4 Day 1
water.
5 Luoc 1 The calibration process is towards to define a
6 Kinh Mon 1 rational roughness coefficient fitting the calculation and
7 Kinh Thay 5 real gauging. The calibration of parameters is carried out
8 Van Uc 2
by trial-and-error method.
Salinity simulation is comprised two models:
9 Da Bach 1
hydraulic model and salinity intrusion model;
10 Rang 1 consequently, the validation and calibration of the
11 Lach Tray 1 simulation is implemented through two steps.
12 Moi 1 Calculation of validation and calibration of
13 Thai Binh 1 model is implemented for dry periods from 1/12/2002 to
31/1/2003 and from 1/2 to 30/4/2003, covering winter-
14 Gua 1
spring sowing. Control points are gauging stations in:
Hanoi, Thuong Cat, Pha Lai, Hung Yen, Phu Ly, Nam
Currently, salinity gauging implementation at one cross
Dinh, Gian Khau, Trieu Duong and Truc Phuong.
section does not show horizontal and vertical salinity
For the problem of salinity intrusion, because of
variation while water extraction is occured at different
the salinity gauging data are not continuous, we use
depths. Annually, salinity is varied seriously seasonally.
visualization method to evaluate the model results. For
During the dry seasons, salinity is high due to low water
stage and discharge, Nash/Sutcliffe (1970) index is ussed
level in the stream; the maximum value is normally in
to evaluate the error between the calculation and
January to March, and the minimum is normally in July
gauging.
and August.
Results of validation and caliration acquiring the
Salinity surveying result of Vietnam Academy for Water
requirement are expressed in NASH coefficient. The
Resources from Dec, 2006 to May, 2007 in a baseline
maximum and minimum values are 0.99 and 0.7 in
surveying project: Salinity measurement in Red River
validation and 0.96 and 0.68 in calibration respectively.
delta show the highest salinity in 22 th km of Tra Ly River
Calculation results of some gauging stations are shown in
6.52 , the highest mean is 3.44 and the lowest peak
figures from 5 to 14.
is 1.52 in December, 2007 when reservoirs store water.
In January, the highest salinity at 22 th km in Tra Ly River
is 8.64 , the hishest mean is 1.22 and the lowest peak
is 0.18 :

Table 3: Characteristics of salinity gauging at some stations in Red Tra

Ly River

4
 Figure 5: Computed vs. measured discharges at Hanoi station
Figure 10: Computed vs. measured water levels at Nhu Tan

Figure 6: Computed vs. measured water levels at Hanoi station

Figure 11: Computed vs. measured water levels at Phu Le

Figure 7: Computed vs. measured discharges at Thuong Cat station

Figure 11: Computed vs. measured water levels at Dinh Cu

Figure 8: Computed vs. measured water levels at Hung Yen (left)

and at Nam Dinh (right) stations

Figure 12: Computed vs. measured sanlity at Nhu Tan

Figure 9: Computed vs. measured water levels at Ba Lat station

Figure 13: Computed vs. measured sanlity at Phu Le

5
 system is usually serious, especially during dry seasons.
The average intrusion (1 salinity) in some main river
from its mouth can be dozens of km. For instance, the
intrusion in Day River is 15 km, Red River (22 km), Tra
Ly River (16.5 km), Thai Binh River (16.2 km), etc.
Structural measures should be proposed to minimize the
effect from salinity intrusion while maximizing water
intake capacity of some intakes for irrigation during dry
seasons.

6. REFERENCES

Nguyen Lan Chau, 2008. Assessing the impact of the

Figure 14: Computed vs. measured sanlity at Ba Lat reservoir system of Tuyen Quang and Thac Ba, Hoa
Binh on dry flow regime at downstream of the Red
From the above results, it can be seen although there are
differences between calculation and gauging in some
areas, especially in places being affected by tide,
computation results fitted well with the gauged data.
Regarding the above analysis, a set of parameters chosen
is acceptable and can be used to simulate hydrodynamic
flow and salinity intrusion in the entire Red River.

The distances from specific river mouths with salinity

concentration having values of SAL=1 and SAL=4 are
listed in Table 4.

Table 4: Salinity intrusion in the system

Salinity intrusion
No. River name from river mouth (km)
SAL=1 SAL=4

1 Day 15.2 10.2

2 Ninh Co 22.8 18.5
3 Red 21.9 17.8
4 Tra Ly 16.5 12.2
5 Thai Binh 16.2 12.1
6 Van Uc 18.4 13.6
7 Lach Tray- Lai Vu 11.4 6.7
8 Cam-Kinh Thay 16.8 13.2
9 Kinh Mon 10.9 7.8
10 Da Bach 20.1 11.8

5. CONCLUDING REMARKS

The Red River System is a large and complicated river

system in Northern Vietnam. The hydrodynamic
simulation for the RRS requires modern calculation
techniques and suitable data. This study aims to
simulating river stages and salinity intrusion into the
river systems. However, data on salinity in the system is
insufficient and inconsistent causing obstacles in
applying model in water quality research. Results of
calculation provide a comprehensive view of stage and
salinity variation in the entire river.
Based on the validation and calibration, set of parameters
are acceptable for the simulation and can be used to
simulate hydrodynamic flow and salinity intrusion in the
entire Red River system. Salinity intrusion into the river
River and proposed solutions to ensure downstream
water levels. Outline research, 2008-2010. In
Vietnamese.
La Thanh Ha, Research on slat intrusion in Delta of Red -
Thai Binh River using mathematical model, Journal of
Atmospheric, July 2004 No. 523. In Vietnamese.
La Thanh Ha, 2001. Assessment of flood diversion and
reuse in Day River flood diversion areas and propose
solutions to flood emergency, Flood Prevention
Program 1999 - 2001 by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development. In Vietnamese.

6
Figure 4.1 Stage variation in the Red River, scenario respecting to water supply frequency p=25, 50 va 85%
Ha Thanh Huong, Application of numerical model for
saltwater intrusion downstream Van Uc River,
Journal of Hydrometeorology, September 1999, No.
465. In Vietnamese.
Le Bac Huynh, Declining water resources at downstream
of river basins and the management problems,
Journal of Atmospheric, May 557, 2007. In Vietnamese.
Trinh Dinh Lu, Study on evaluating the impact of Hoa
Binh reservoir to regulate saltwater intrusion in
estuaries of Red and Thai Binh rivers, 2001. In
Vietnamese.
Tran Van Phuc, Influence of Hoa Binh reservoir to
salinity intrusion at downstream of Red River - Thai
Binh rivers, 1992. In Vietnamese.
Tran Thuc (2005), Computing technology and large flood
forecasting system for the Red River - Thai Binh. In
Vietnamese.