25 Mar 2025
By huy
By partnering with local labour and adhering to strict regulations, MangLub Vietnam ensures credible and impactful mangrove conservation in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.
Hi, I’m Thanh Huy, a storyteller, and my friend Gia Huy, a musician and guitarist from Hồ Chí Minh City. In December 2024, we set out on a six-week, 400 km walking journey from Hồ Chí Minh City to Vietnam’s southern tip of Cà Mau, driven by a desire to connect with environmental conservation projects in the Mekong Delta. Our goal was to learn firsthand how communities protect their land and livelihoods amidst the challenges of climate change.
On our fifth day, we arrived at the ancient but rural province of Trà Vinh. Long-forgotten Nguyễn Dynasty architecture once thrived along this now quiet but powerful Cổ Chiên river coastline. You can almost see a straight river passage towards the Southeast, lined by paddy fields along the way.
And where there’s coastlines, there’s mangrove forests. Trà Vinh is known to have brilliant mangrove aquaculture initiatives. I am expecting to meet some here.
I asked around and got a name — MangLub Vietnam — a social enterprise making a real impact through mangrove restoration. And so we went to pay a visit to their location.
We were warmly welcomed by Thy, MangLub Vietnam’s COO, and were amazed to learn that the entire team is made up of talented and passionate women. Talking with Thy, we were inspired by her openness, deep knowledge of mangrove reforestation, and strong dedication to supporting Trà Vinh’s ecosystem.
From the moment I arrived, I knew this was more than just a company; it was a powerhouse of passion, credibility, and a genuine commitment to conservation.
By working closely with local communities and following strict regulations, they restore biodiversity, create jobs, and raise environmental awareness. With over 716,000 trees planted, MangLub is strengthening coastal resilience and driving lasting change in the Mekong Delta.
MangLub Vietnam’s mission is straightforward: mitigate climate change with nature-based solutions. But it’s not just planting mangrove trees. Thy and her team built an ecosystem of education, technology, and sustainable livelihoods for the local communities that helped plant the trees.
It seems like a well-nurtured CSR idea. The more trees planted, the better. But like the resilient mangroves themselves, Manglub Vietnam had to adapt for survival. Rather than setting fixed internal targets, they plant primarily based on ever-changing customer needs and government regulations of the day.
Over time, they’ve grown their business organically, mainly through word-of-mouth. That’s why they have planted over 716,000 trees now, — truly a testament to their credibility and the trust they’ve built by strictly adhering to governmental regulations.
Once, Trà Vinh lost almost 14,000 hectares of mangrove to shrimp farming. Now, Manglub is waging a full-scale battle to reforest this lost ecosystem. When they meant full-scale, I was genuinely impressed by what exactly that meant.
At first, I thought growing a forest was just about planting trees and moving on. I had no idea how much more time and effort one can still put in to ensure the trees survive.
Mangrove trees take about 10 years to mature. So, Manglub makes their clients raise a 10-year commitment — companies and the government must stay involved to nurse the trees they have planted for a decade.
At the end of the decade, Manglub will measure the final tree survival rates. If the rate is above 80%, the plantation is handed back to the government, and companies receive certification for their contribution. If not, replanting occurs within 6 to 12 months. This transparent, accountable process builds confidence among stakeholders and guarantees a thriving ecosystem.
Education is at the heart of MangLub Vietnam’s mission. MangLub also collaborates with local schools, taking students to real mangrove forests to learn about sustainability through interactive games and expert-led discussions.
They organize experience tours and online courses to raise awareness about the importance of mangrove ecosystems. These tours take place in safer planting zones, such as river banks and mudflats, and with the help of professional guides.
They told me visitors can’t visit more challenging planting zones such as river islands, which can only be handled by more experienced planters.
One of the most captivating aspects of MangLub’s approach is their reliance on local labor for planting and nurturing seedlings. Before coming here, I never realized how much traditional knowledge plays a role in successful reforestation—things even professionals and scientists might not know.
For example, mangroves should be planted when there’s water, but not too high; the mud is soft and easier to tread, unlike dried mud, which is harder to work with. By engaging local workers who have generations of experience with these landscapes, MangLub not only improves plantation success rates but also empowers the community, giving them a sense of ownership over the forests they help create.
To date, they have planted an astonishing 716,512 mangrove trees across 183 hectares, featuring diverse species like Sonneratia Caseolaris, Rhizophora Apiculata Blume, Sonneratia Alba, and the vulnerable Intsia Bijuga, which is listed on the IUCN Red List. Each species was carefully chosen to support the region’s biodiversity and fortify coastal resilience against erosion.
I was completely blown away when I heard about their success. If you’ve been following my journey, you might remember that I was already impressed when another reforestation project planted 80,000 trees. But MangLub? They’ve planted 10 times that amount! It’s hard to wrap my head around the scale of their work.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to visit their nursery or planting site yet, but that’s definitely on my list. Seeing their efforts firsthand and witnessing the forests they’ve nurtured is something I can’t wait to experience.
Mangrove forests are critical for environmental stability and community well-being. When mangroves thrive, biodiversity flourishes, attracting various species of fish, birds, and other wildlife. This increase in biodiversity translates into enhanced livelihoods for local people, who benefit from improved fishing and ecotourism opportunities.
However, the journey isn’t without challenges. The Mekong Delta is heavily affected by land erosion, posing a significant threat to mangrove sustainability. Yet, mangroves are surprisingly resilient to salinization, showcasing their adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
An inspiring feature of MangLub Vietnam is that its workforce predominantly comprises women. Their leadership drives the project forward with determination, empathy, and resilience.
“MangLub is a women-led social enterprise dedicated to mangrove reforestation. Beyond the physical labor, we navigate strict regulations and work to gain local support—all to ensure our efforts are truly credible and deliver real, lasting results. Despite the challenges, we remain committed to restoring Vietnam’s mangrove forests.” – Thy, MangLub Vietnam
MangLub Vietnam stands out because it goes beyond traditional CSR-driven reforestation. Instead of relying on one-time donations, they focus on securing long-term commitments from companies willing to support mangrove restoration for a decade or more. This forward-thinking approach ensures financial stability, allowing them to plan large-scale projects with confidence.
By aligning their work with government policies and maintaining strict transparency, they have built credibility with both authorities and corporate partners. This trust enables them to scale their impact, proving that sustainable reforestation is possible when business and conservation go hand in hand.
For other mangrove projects in Southeast Asia, MangLub’s model is a powerful lesson: long-term partnerships, regulatory trust, and financial sustainability are key to real, lasting environmental impact.
MangLub Vietnam’s impact is spreading in the most beautiful way—through the voices of those who believe in it. No flashy marketing, just genuine stories and real change. To me, it’s more than planting mangroves; it’s planting hope, nurturing a future where the next generation grows up knowing how to protect the land that gives us life.
My journey through the Mekong Delta has become more than just discovering nature—it’s a journey of hope, resilience, and incredible people making a difference. MangLub Vietnam’s thriving mangrove forests are proof that real change is possible when passion meets action. They’re not just planting trees; they’re growing a movement, empowering communities, and reshaping the future of conservation.
If you ever find yourself in Trà Vinh, drop by MangLub Vietnam at 540C Phan Đình Phùng Street, Ward 6, and see their work firsthand. Or visit www.manglubvn.com to learn more about how you can be part of this movement.
And this is just Day 5 of my 50-day walking journey across Vietnam’s Mekong Delta! If I’ve already encountered something this inspiring, imagine what’s next. Here’s a little hint: we’ve been deep in the mangroves, but now it’s time to step beyond the shore. The next story takes us to the ocean—stay tuned!
MangLub Vietnam is restoring mangroves to combat climate change and support communities. Based in 540C Phan Dinh Phung Street, Ward 6, Tra Vinh, MangLub Vietnam focuses on mangrove reforestation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods. You can reach out to them at www.manglubvn.com
huy, from Vietnam, is Ecocupid’s web developer. He is currently riding his bicycle all around Southeast Asia doing crazy stuff, learning about various cultures and discovering emerging environmental projects for EcoCupid’s platform.
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