Risk Assessment of Using Construction Materials in the Southwest Region of Vietnam – Proposed Solutions

Abstract

The Southwest region of Vietnam holds a particularly critical position in the nation’s socio-economic development, with substantial investments being directed towards transportation, civil, and industrial infrastructure. Nevertheless, its distinctive natural conditions—characterized by a fluvial landscape, humid tropical climate, recurrent saline intrusion, flooding, and severe storms—pose considerable challenges to the utilization and management of construction materials. This study examines the principal risks associated with construction materials in the region, including supply shortages, the detrimental effects of saline intrusion on structural durability and service life, constraints in the application of embankment soil, and the adverse impacts of natural hazards on both material quality and structural performance. On this basis, the paper proposes a set of management and technical measures, together with strategic orientations for the development of sustainable construction materials, with a view to enhancing resilience, prolonging structural longevity, and mitigating negative environmental impacts in the context of climate change.