It will be the first stage of a 1.5km, 115 billion VND (5.5 millionUSD) embankment along Cua Dai beach, which is expected to be completedbefore the rainy season starting in October.
Vicechairman of Hoi An City's People's Committee, Nguyen Van Dung, said thefirst stage would protect beachfront from Vinpearl Hoi An resort toPusionalya resort.
Erosion has come closer to themain section of the 1.5km road connecting the beach with Hoi An,threatening dozens of resorts. Rising sea levels have already washed a20-hectare area of Cua Dai beach away.
Localauthorities have also approved a project to plant 140ha of Nipa palmalong the Thu Bon river to protect the city from sea erosion and reducesand drift.
Claude Balland, general manager ofVictoria Hoi An resort, said he spent thousands of dollars annually toprotect resort foundations from erosion.
"The beachonce stretched 200m, but now it has narrowed to a few metres. We haveto hire a beach beside our resort to serve tourists," Ballard said.
He said the resort had proposed to build a 200munderwater dyke at a cost of 2 million USD with four other resorts –theSunrise, Golden Sand and Palm Garden - but the plan fell through becauseone resort did not agreed.
Cua Dai beach, which is5km from Hoi An's old quarter, is a favourite location for touristsvisiting the UNESCO-recognised ancient city.-VNA