From October 20–23, 2026, the international research symposium Mangrove Horizons – Mangrove Symposium 2026 took place across Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Lao Dung and UEH Mekong (Vinh Long) under the theme “Integrating Coastal Data, Community Knowledge and Restoration Practice”. Over four days, researchers, experts, practitioners, partner organizations and local community representatives from Vietnam and abroad came together to connect scientific research with on-the-ground mangrove restoration in the Mekong Delta.
Mangrove Symposium 2026 at a Glance
- Dates: October 20–23, 2026
- Locations: University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Cu Lao Dung and the Women4Mangrove Living Lab, and UEH Mekong in Vinh Long
- Theme: Integrating Coastal Data, Community Knowledge and Restoration Practice
- Organizers: ISCM, Women4Mangrove, UEH and the University of Zurich (UZH)
- Participants: Vietnamese and international researchers, experts, practitioners, partner organizations and the Cu Lao Dung community
Who Organized the Mangrove Horizons Symposium?
The symposium was jointly organized by the Institute for Smart City and Management (ISCM), Women4Mangrove, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and the University of Zurich (UZH), with funding from UZH’s Leading House Asia Pacific.
Its goal was to foster dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration between scientific research and practical mangrove restoration. The partnership builds on earlier exchanges, such as the University of Zurich field visit to the Cu Lao Dung mangroves in August 2026.
Four Days, One Journey from Research to Practice
Day 1 – International Research Workshop at UEH, Ho Chi Minh City
The symposium opened with presentations and academic discussions at UEH. Participants shared research findings, field experience and interdisciplinary perspectives on coastal resilience, climate adaptation and mangrove restoration, from coastal data and modelling to how community participation can grow into long-term community stewardship.
Day 2 – Restoration Sites, Community Awards and Khmer Culture in Cu Lao Dung
On the second day, delegates travelled to Cu Lao Dung to visit mangrove restoration sites. They then joined the award ceremony of the W4M Community Innovation Challenges & Rewards, which recognized community-led initiatives for mangroves and local livelihoods.
The programme continued with a visit to a Khmer pagoda, an exchange on tourism models linked to forest conservation (learn more about the Cu Lao Ecological Agriculture and Community Tourism Cooperative), and an evening of cultural exchange featuring traditional Khmer dance performances.
Day 3 – Hands-On Field Learning at the Women4Mangrove Living Lab
Day 3 moved from the meeting room to the mudflats. At the Women4Mangrove Living Lab, field activities focused on:
- Restoration techniques and mangrove planting;
- Dialogue with local communities on indigenous knowledge, livelihoods and restoration challenges;
- A boat-based field observation of the coastal ecosystem, connecting direct observation with local knowledge and experience.
Many of the techniques discussed in the field come from the community’s own work, including the 2nd Mangrove Planting Campaign in Cu Lao Dung, where residents planted 1,610 mangrove apple trees to protect eroding riverbanks.
Day 4 – Co-Designing Future Research Priorities at UEH Mekong, Vinh Long
On the final day at UEH Mekong in Vinh Long, researchers, experts and partners discussed and co-designed future research priorities across five themes:
- Climate adaptation
- Restoration ecology
- Community governance and participation
- Environmental education
- Data sharing
“Mangrove Horizons” Exhibition: From Roots to Horizons
Throughout the four days, an art and photo exhibition featuring mangrove apple forests offered a visual and emotional view of coastal ecosystems and the people who live with them.
The exhibition follows a single seedling. It begins in the canopy and the mud, where fruits and propagules hang from the branches and breathing roots rise from the tidal flats. Then come the hands: women in conical hats fill soil bags, lay out thousands of seedlings and wade into tidal water to set young trees beside bamboo stakes. Next is the working delta, where fishers row along the forest edge and boats return at dawn loaded with bundles. Here the forest is not scenery; it is livelihood, food, shelter and home.
“As you look, ask yourself: who is missing from these pictures, and who needs to be in the room?”
Photographs and contributions came from the Women4Mangrove project, the “Strong Roots, Strong Women” project, photographer Truong Phu Quoc, Pham Thi Dieu My, Mangrove Horizons, the University of Zurich, UEH and ISCM.
Why Connecting Science and Community Knowledge Matters for the Mekong Delta
More than an academic gathering, Mangrove Symposium 2026 connected Vietnamese and international researchers with the organizations restoring mangroves on the ground and with the local communities who depend on them.
By bringing scientific data, local knowledge and practical experience into one conversation, the symposium laid the groundwork for joint research and practical action toward resilient coastal ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods in the Mekong Delta. Read more about mangroves as nature’s coastal shield and why women are at the heart of mangrove conservation, or see what the community has achieved so far in the Women4Mangrove Phase 1 summary.
Thank You to Our Partners and the Cu Lao Dung Community
The Organizing Committee sincerely thanks all participating researchers, experts, partners and the Cu Lao Dung community for their valuable contributions and support. Together, we are connecting knowledge and practice for resilient coasts and thriving mangrove communities. 🌱
Learn More
🌐 GEDSI Mekong: https://gedsimekong.org
🌐 Women4Mangrove: https://women4mangrove.com
📘 Facebook: Women4Mangrove
💼 LinkedIn: Women4Mangrove
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