Long term
Co-operation, promotion and long-term research development between the Institute of Marine Environment and Resources (IMER/VAST) and the Institute of Pacific Geography (PGI-FEB-RAS) and the Pacific Institute of Oceanography VIIl' ichev (POI), Far Eastern Sub-Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Exchange and build capacity for river basin research on coastal processes, coastal hazards, continental-marine interactions, and the use of Remote Sensing and GIS technologies in delta geospatial research and coastal areas, strategies for managing and mitigating the impacts of climate change in coastal zones.
During 2019-2020

• Assess the sedimentary processes on coastal of the Red River Delta;
• Assess coastal hazard types in the coast of Red River Delta.

This research has been carried out in the East and Southwest of Cat Ba Islands, where distributes coral reef ecosystems. Assess sediment types, minerals composition, heavy metals, and gases in the sediment. The results were determined the sediment supply from marine, continental sources and in place.
The gases in the sediment with N2, CH4, CO2, O2 reflect exchange between atmosphere and sediment, there is no anormality from deep sediment, except CH4 at some stations were high concentration. Thirteen metals in the sediment were analysed, with a high concentration of Cu and As were over ISQGs but lower than Vietnamese Standards (QCVN 43:2017/BTNMT), the remaining metal concentrations were lower than ISQGs.

The project has carried out the study of gas geochemistry in sediments in the Cat Ba coastal areas, mineral composition, sediment types, and heavy metals, terrestrial ecological landscapes in rocky islands by drone, diving and surveying underwater where there is a coral reef ecosystem. These results determined the supply sediments, As and Cu in surface sediment were higher than the ISQGs but lower than QCVN 43:2017/BTNMT. The gases in the sediments reflect the exchange source from the atmosphere, no gas anomalies are detected from deep in the sediment.

- Publications:
2.    Nguyen Huy Hoang, Bui Van Vuong, Evgenii Egidarev, Vasiliy Zharikov, Le Anh Xuan, Lai Thi Bich Thuy, Nguyen Thi Mai Luu, Nguyen Dac Ve, Duong Thanh Nghi, Dang Hoai Nhon, 2020. Major Characteristics of Surface Sediments Within the Shallow Water of the Cat Ba Island, North Vietnam. VNU Journal of Science: Earth and Environmental Sciences 36 (4), 67-79.
3.    Dang Hoai Nhon, Nguyen Manh Ha, Tran Duc Thanh, Do Cong Thung, Tran Dinh Lan, Ron Johnstone, Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, 2020. An assessment of heavy metal contamination in the surface sediments of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Environmental Earth Sciences 79 (18), pp.1-13.
4.    Dang Hoai Nhon, Tran Duc Thanh, Lai Thi Bich Thuy, Bui Van Vuong, Nguyen Dac Ve, 2019. Distribution of mineral compositions in surface sediment in the Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam. Proceeding of the Third National Marine Geology, p. 80-91. Publishing House for Sciences and Technology, Ha Noi.
5.    Dang Hoai Nhon, Nguyen Van Thao, Tran Duc Thanh, Nguyen Dac Ve, Bui Van Vuong, Lai Thi Bich Thuy, Bui Thi Thanh Loan, Hoang Thi Chien, Duong Thanh Nghi, Renat Shakirov, 2021. Chapter 4.7 Mineralogical features of sediments in the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam. In R.B. Shakirov, M.G. Valitov, N.S. Lee, N. Hoang, P.V. Phach: Geologic-geophysical and oceanographic research of the Vietnam offshore and coast (on results of the RV “AKADEMIK M.A. LAVRENTYEV” cruise 88 and coastal surveys 2010-2020). GEOS, Moscow, pp.140-150 (Russian laguages).
- Reports
+ Study sedimentary processes on Red River coasta area
+ Study harzards in Red River coastal area
+ Assess effects of heavy metals in surface sediments on the environment of Cat Ba Islands.

This result can be used in the assessment of anthropogenic effects on coral reef ecosystems in the Cat Ba archipelago managed by Cat Ba National Park.