The Mekong River offers vast aquatic resources. In the lower reaches of the Mekong River alone, people catch up to 4.5 million tonnes of aqua-products per year. However, for the last two to three years, aquatic resources have been exhausted as there's no more flooding during the flood season in the Mekong Delta.
For other households in Hong Ngu Town including Le Quoc Phong and his wife, feeding ducks or working as hired labour are temporary livelihoods they can find while waiting for the floods in desperation. Day by day, Phong still tries his luck, but nothing seems to change.
The Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development has revealed that the Mekong Delta region experienced at least at one major flood beyond level three every two years before 2011.
There were also consecutive years with major floods lasting for four to five months. The Mekong Delta region suffered three consecutive years of major flooding from 2000 to 2002. The year 2000 witnessed a record flood with the water levels rising as high as 5.06 metres. However, between 2003 and 2009, the floods have been below average levels. Last year saw even lower water levels during flood season, with the highest reading being only 2.17 metres.
