Public banks and public water in Vietnam

Since the early 2000s, the Vietnamese government decentralized water supply management and encouraged private sector participation. This shift has led to reduced investment in water supply infrastructure and affected the quality and reliability of services, especially in rural and remote areas, as private sectors often neglect less profitable regions. This chapter analyses the collaboration between the public water operator BEWACO in Ben Tre Province and the Vietnam Development Bank and shows how the collaboration demonstrates several promising aspects, including low-interest rates and long-term loans, which enhance the ability of public water operators to deliver clean and equitable water services and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6.