Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sci. Vu Cao Minh: Harvesting every drop of rain to revive the stone mountains

No one believed that water could be retained on barren stone mountains. Yet, through tireless effort and an unshakable belief in the power of science, Assoc. Prof. Vu Cao Minh and his research team have achieved what once seemed impossible.

 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sci. Vu Cao Minh (far left) and the research team receive the Tran Dai Nghia Award on May 16. Photo: Minh Duc

The "cliff-side rainwater harvesting reservoir technology" developed by a group of scientists including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sci. Vu Cao Minh, Dr. Vu Van Bang, and Engineer Nguyen Chi Ton (from the Institute of Earth Sciences), a solution combining geological and hydrological science which was successfully tested in 2002 in Dong Van (Ha Giang). This breakthrough has been honored with the 2025 Tran Dai Nghia Award.

"Anature-basedsolution for water-deficientregions”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Cao Minh was born in 1957 in Hanoi and graduated in Hydrogeology from Hanoi University in 1980. After working as a researcher at the Institute of Geology, he earned his PhD from the University of Greifswald (Germany) and returned to Vietnam to continue his work at the Institute of Geology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

With over 50 years dedicated to hydrogeology and environmental science, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Cao Minh, former researcher at the Institute of Geology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has never ceased to wrestle with the pressing issue of clean water access for people living in mountainous regions.

Sharing about the motivation behind pursuing the hanging reservoir project, he said that before beginning the research, he and his colleagues faced a real challenge: the ethnic communities in the rocky highlands were experiencing severe water shortages for daily use.

In the early 2000s, the limestone plateau of Ha Giang was gripped by a literal drought. Water became a luxury, pushing the lives and health of local people into a very difficult situation.

In communes such as Giang Chu Phin, Can Chu Phin, Lung Pu, Sung Mang, Sung Cha, Ta Lung, Thuong Phung, and Son Vi in Meo Vac district, the image of residents, young and old alike, having to travel tens of kilometers down to the Nho Que river or neighboring Yen Minh district to carry back water containers became a haunting reality. Whenever the rain stopped, life seemed to pause as well, because there was no water available for either daily living or the small-scale farming they depended on.

 Hanging reservoir in Giang Chu Phin commune, Meo Vac, Ha Giang

From this reality, a big question arose: Is it possible to “hold” water on the mountain? The answer gradually took shape after field surveys. He and the research team observed that rainwater tended to gather along small streams, following fractures and rock faces. So, if these flows could be safely captured in reinforced reservoirs placed in the right locations, there could be “lakes” on the mountain.

After nearly a year of surveys, learning from the experiences of local people, and careful monitoring and data analysis, he and his team identified a suitable water source that matched the population distribution characteristics of the highland region.

“To develop a scientific and technological solution, it may only take a few scientists. However, to bring a verified solution into practical production and scale it up requires contributions from many people. Specifically, this project has benefited from the active involvement of numerous specialists,” shared associate professor Dr. Vu Cao Minh.

READY TO ACCOMPANY YOUNG SCIENTISTS

“This water source mainly appears during the rainy season with a relatively abundant flow, and is commonly found near scattered residential areas. Therefore, we studied, designed, and implemented methods to collect and store this water during the rainy season for use in the dry season,” he explained.

In May 2002, the first “heart” water reservoir with a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters was successfully constructed in Sa Phin commune, Dong Van district. In Meo Vac district, the Ta Lung hanging reservoir, which is ten times larger than the initial “heart” reservoir, was built at an altitude of 1,200 meters).

From these first “hearts,” the government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) later approved the construction of dozens of hanging reservoirs across the Ha Giang limestone plateau.

These hanging reservoirs, positioned mid-mountain to collect groundwater within the rock walls, have helped local people overcome the “water thirst” that lasts 6–8 months each year on the plateau, which stands more than 1,000 meters above sea level.

By 2024, 125 hanging reservoirs had been built across the rocky highlands, with 31 more under construction. These reservoirs have helped meet the basic need for domestic water in remote mountainous areas, contributing to social stability, national security, and enhancing the ecological landscape.

“Every technology may become outdated over time as society progresses. However, the rock-face rainwater harvesting reservoir technology, though implemented over 20 years ago, continues to prove its effectiveness. Later assessments by international scientists have also confirmed the strong water-supply potential of this source,” shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Cao Minh.

Emphasizing the growing demand for domestic water including for livestock in the context of global climate change, Dr. Minh expressed hope that the government will pay greater attention to advanced technologies for enhancing water availability in upland reservoirs, such as anti-evaporation and water recharge methods. He also called on donors and investors to join the government in supporting water access projects in highland areas.

“Although most of us are well into our later years, we are always ready to accompany young scientists and work alongside local officials to improve water access for highland communities—helping to ensure water security and provide better living conditions for ethnic minorities in the mountains, so they can progress hand in hand with the rest of the country,” he affirmed.

Prof. and Academician Tran Dai Nghia was a dedicated and highly respected scientist who played a pivotal role in uniting and mobilizing scientific and technological associations across the country. He actively laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), where he served as its first President.

The Trần Đại Nghĩa Award, a prestigious honor granted by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, is held every three years to recognize outstanding scientists both domestic and international for exceptional research in natural sciences and technology. The fields celebrated include mathematics, mechanics, information and computer science, physics, chemistry, life sciences, earth sciences, marine science, environmental science, and energy, among others…

“With a spirit of innovation and the aspiration for national advancement, we hope the Trần Đại Nghĩa Award will continue to serve as a powerful source of inspiration and encouragement for younger generations of Vietnamese scientists—contributing to a prosperous people, a strong nation, and helping elevate our country's standing on the global map of innovation and creativity,” expressed Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Cao Minh.