Climate Change in the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is Vietnam’s rice bowl, since it is the main source of food for the country’s 90 million inhabitants. However, rice farming is severely threatened by the progressive salinization of the water and the land in the Mekong Delta. The construction of hydraulic infrastructures upstream, coupled with a decrease in rainfall, has reduced the river flow, allowing tides to penetrate as far as 40 miles inland. Water-intensive rice paddies are poorly placed in regard to this pervasive salt, and the growing problem of climate change: the United Nations identifies the Mekong Delta as one of the areas most exposed to rising sea levels in the world.

Viviane Dalles met small-scale producers in the Mekong Delta, whose lands are threatened by the impact of climate change. She observed their everyday lives and highlighted their living conditions and uncertain future.

LFI:Could you describe the motivation behind your project? Do you have a personal connection to the Mekong Delta?
Viviane Dalles:I worked in South-east Asia when I started my career. I was based in India and then in Thailand. At that time, I didn’t have the opportunity to explore Vietnam. Years later, I read about this issue and, thanks to a grant from the French Ministry of Culture, I was able to go there.

What do you want your images to evoke in the viewer?
The public are unaware of the issues resulting from climate change in that part of the world, because it is very difficult to work as a photographer or journalist in Vietnam. My aim was to describe the situation by photographing the daily lives of the locals, and by offering a glimpse into the changes that are decisive for the future of the Mekong Delta and its population.

What is your opinion on the future of the area?
If the level of water continues to rise, they will have to turn to shrimp farming; or if they can grow rice, they will use more pesticides to produce three harvests a year. Farmers are under a lot of pressure, and don’t have a choice. They cannot really do what they want on their own land. They definitely need more financial support.

Why did you prefer black and white photography for this project?
I actually started the project in colour; but once I was out there in the field, I realized it was not appropriate. Vietnam is a country where the colours are amazing. It’s very difficult to describe this sensitive project in colour: I realised that the subject was losing out in favour of the beauty of the landscape. In black and white, it’s more straightforward; you focus on the meaning of the photograph.
Apart from this reason, I’ve been thinking about going back to black and white film for years. At the end of 2020, I set up my own lab at home. I’m looking forward to doing more work with my analogue camera. (Interview: Danilo Rößger)

Introduction text and all images on this page: © Viviane Dalles
Equipment: Leica M6, Summicron-M 50 f/2 Asph, Summicron-M 35 f/2 Asph