Vietnam’s largest hydropower reservoir is running at a critically low level of 85.05 metres as of June 10, 2024, Tuoi Tre has reported→view source.
While officials insist generation remains unaffected, comparisons with 2023 data suggest the plant has just 3 days of full-capacity generation remaining before hitting its operational floor — underscoring the fragility of the energy supply heading into peak demand season.
Key details:
- Current level (2024): 85m, just 5m above dead level (80m), and 32m below normal high (117m).
- Historical context (2023): At 102m in June 2023, the plant had 13 days of generation left at full capacity before reaching 80m.
- Back-of-envelope estimate (2024): 5m of usable head equates to ~3 days of continuous maximum output (1,920 MW).
- Operational changes: The current low level is partly due to embankment removal for the plant’s expansion, combined with seasonal dry conditions.
Though technically still above the dead level, the margin for error is now slim. Without incoming floods or reduced drawdown, the plant could soon need to throttle output — just as summer electricity demand surges.
This moment highlights the increasing vulnerability of Vietnam’s hydropower system to climate variability, infrastructure strain, and coordination challenges — with implications for both energy security and economic stability.
In 2023, it was estimated that power cuts cost the economy US$1.4 billion.
See also: Electricity in Vietnam 2025: Pricing, Supply & Sources