Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Hydropower Country Notes

Vietnam

Vietnam has abundant hydro resources, particularly in its central and northern regions. Its gross theoretical potential is put at 300 000 GWh/yr, with an economically feasible potential of 75-80 000 GWh/yr. Total installed hydro capacity was nearly 4 200 MW in 2005 and an output of about 18 TWh provided about one-third of Vietnam's power supply. The largest HPPs currently in operation in Vietnam are Hoa Binh (1 920 MW), Yali (720 MW), Tri An (400 MW) and Ham Thuan (300 MW).

Hydropower & Dams World Atlas 2006 (HDWA) reported that a major programme of hydropower development was under way by end-2005, with 20 plants totalling 6 768 MW being constructed for the state corporation EVN, and a further 1 000 MW being built by private developers under BOT or IPP arrangements. Other large amounts of hydro capacity totalling around 4 600 MW, were reported to be under planning.

HDWA also reported that there were 300 small/mini HPPs (up to 30 MW) in operation, total capacity in this category being some 50 MW. A 20 MW plant was under construction at Huong Dien on the river Bo, whilst four small HPP projects, with an aggregate capacity of 56.5 MW, were at the planning stage.