Lao cai, 12 December 2025 – As part of the NOREC-funded project “Cooperation in Experience Sharing and Capacity Building for Sustainable Hydropower Development”, KLORCE organized a field visit to Thac Ba Hydropower Plant (Lao Cai Province) for the two Hydro Lab Nepal exchange staff, Ms. Dikshya Khadka and Mr. Sajal Man Singh.

Thac Ba is one of Vietnam’s first hydropower plant, constructed between 1964 and 1971 with an original installed capacity of 108 MW (upgraded to 120 MW). It remains a key multi-purpose facility in northern Vietnam, providing electricity, flood control for the Red River Delta, and irrigation water for agriculture.

During the visit, the delegation was warmly received by the plant’s management and technical staff. In-depth discussions focused on:

• Long-term operational experience under complex topographic and climatic conditions

• Reservoir sedimentation, downstream erosion, and environmental management

• The role of physical hydraulic modeling in forecasting and proposing technical solutions

For the Nepalese participants, direct exposure to Thác Bà – a landmark hydropower project operating in a mountainous region with intense monsoon patterns similar to Nepal – holds particular value. The visit enables them to compare practices, learn practical lessons on reservoir safety and environmental impact mitigation, and further strengthen professional collaboration between KLORCE and Hydro Lab in the next phases of the project.

KLORCE sincerely thanks the management and staff of Thác Bà Hydropower Plant for their warm hospitality and valuable insights shared during the visit.

Kathmandu, 6 December 2025 – Two representatives from the Key Laboratory of River and Coastal Engineering (KLORCE), Dr. Nguyễn Ngọc Nam (in charge of Planning and Finance) and Dr. Hoàng Đức Vinh (Project Manager), have arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal to attend the NOREC Partner Training Program.

The training course, specially designed by the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC) for key contact persons of NOREC-funded exchange projects, brought together 44 participants from 23 organizations across 10 countries: Nepal (host country), Norway, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Zambia, Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Peru.

Key topics covered during the intensive training included:

• NOREC’s model, principles, and core values

• Ethical guidelines in professional practice

• Project management and knowledge transfer

• Intercultural communication and diversity management

During the program, the KLORCE delegates visited the facilities of their partner, Hydro Lab Nepal. They were warmly welcomed by Mr. Yogesh , Laboratory Manager, and Hydro Lab staff, who led a detailed tour of the hydraulic modeling laboratories and shared valuable experiences on physical hydraulic modeling techniques and best practices.

The delegation also visit Mr. Hải Anh, the KLORCE staff member currently on exchange at Hydro Lab Nepal. The team was delighted to see that Mr. Hải Anh has been provided with excellent working conditions and strong support by Hydro Lab, enabling him to adapt well to both professional tasks and daily life, as well as to the culture and customs of Nepal.

This training and visit mark an important milestone in strengthening project implementation capacity, deepening mutual understanding, and reinforcing the close partnership between KLORCE and Hydro Lab under the NOREC-funded project “Cooperation in Experience Sharing and Capacity Building for Sustainable Hydropower Development.”

KLORCE extends sincere thanks to NOREC and Hydro Lab Nepal for the outstanding organization and warm hospitality. Further updates on the exchange activities will continue to be shared on the official KLORCE website.

Hanoi, 28 November 2025

On 28 November 2025, two participants from Hydro Lab (Nepal), Ms. Dikshya Khadka and Mr. Sajal Man Singh, participated in and delivered a scientific presentation at the Annual Scientific Workshop of the Key Laboratory of River and Coastal Engineering (KLORCE),

The presentation, titled “Physical Hydraulic Modelling for Design Optimization of Dam, Spillway, and Intake Structures: Case Studies from Nepal”, received high appreciation from Vietnamese scientists and researchers for its practical insights and valuable experiences drawn from hydropower projects in Nepal.

Their participation is part of the ongoing professional exchange under the NOREC-funded project “Cooperation for Sharing Experience and Capacity Building in Sustainable Hydropower Development” between KLORCE and Hydro Lab, which began in November 2025.

During their stay in Vietnam, the two Hydro Lab participants have also actively contributed to physical hydraulic modelling experiments on Red River landscape at Hoa Lac experimental facility.

The KLORCE Annual Scientific Workshop 2025 featured key discussions on:

• Restoration of degraded and polluted water bodies (Nhue–Day River basin);

• Urban flood early warning systems using IoT and AI;

• River mouth and coastal protection solutions;

• Hydraulic performance of Piano Key Weirs.

The active involvement and contribution of the Hydro Lab participants have further strengthened scientific collaboration between Vietnam and Nepal in river and coastal engineering as well as sustainable hydropower development.

KLORCE warmly thanks Ms. Dikshya Khadka, Mr. Sajal Man Singh, Hydro Lab, and NOREC for making this meaningful international exchange possible.

Hanoi, 17 November 2025 – The Key Laboratory of River and Coastal Engineering (KLORCE) has officially kicked off the exchange program with Hydro Lab Pvt. Ltd., Nepal, opening a new chapter in international cooperation for sustainable hydropower development.

The project, titled “Cooperation in Experience Sharing and Capacity Building for Sustainable Hydropower Development”, is fully funded by the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC). Under the program, KLORCE and Hydro Lab will exchange young professionals under 35 years to learn from each other, share expertise, and jointly implement project activities. The first exchange round commenced in November 2025.

On the morning of 17 November 2025, KLORCE held a warm welcome ceremony for two Hydro Lab participants: Ms. Dikshya Khadka and Mr. Sajal Man Singh. The event was attended by KLORCE Director Prof. Le Van Nghi and leaders from the Human Resources, Planning, Finance, and Equipment Departments. In his remarks, Prof. Le Van Nghi highlighted the significance of the project in fostering international collaboration and assigned Dr. Hoang Duc Vinh to mentor the Nepalese participants throughout their stay. The mentorship will focus on physical hydraulic modeling experiments as well as the application of remote sensing and GIS technologies.

Following the ceremony, the two Hydro Lab participants were given a comprehensive tour of KLORCE’s facilities, including laboratories for physical hydraulic modeling, river dynamics, coastal and offshore dynamics, and island engineering.

During their time in Vietnam, Ms. Dikshya Khadka and Mr. Sajal Man Singh will be based at KLORCE’s Hydraulic Research Center. They will actively participate in the ongoing physical modeling project on the Red River landscape and flood discharge at the Hoa Lac Experimental Facility, contributing directly to practical research that supports sustainable hydropower solutions.

The welcome ceremony not only served as an opportunity for both sides to get acquainted but also reaffirmed the long-term commitment between KLORCE and Hydro Lab under NOREC’s support. The project is expected to deliver tangible benefits by enhancing the professional capacity of young researchers and promoting sustainable hydropower practices between Vietnam and Nepal.

On 31 October, 2025, KLORCE assigned Mr. Le Hai Anh, a researcher from the Hydraulics Research Center, to undertake a professional exchange program at Hydro Lab Pvt. Ltd. in Kathmandu, Nepal, as part of the project “Collaboration for Experience Sharing and Capacity Building in Sustainable Hydropower Development.”

During his first week at Hydro Lab, Hai Anh received a warm welcome from Dr. Meg Bahadur Bishwakarma (Managing Director), Dr. Umesh Singh (Head of Research Department), and Mr. Laxman K. Pariyar (Head of Finance and Accounting). Dr. Umesh personally guided Hai Anh to meet staff members working at Hydro Lab and visit key facilities, including the physical modeling laboratory, pumping system area, sediment laboratory, geotechnical laboratory, and the model fabrication workshop.

In the initial meeting, Dr. Umesh Singh also provided a detailed overview of the ongoing and upcoming research projects at Hydro Lab, explaining their technical aspects. The two sides further exchanged insights on the research activities that Hai Anh has been undertaking at KLORCE, setting the stage for closer collaboration in the weeks ahead.

During his initial period at Hydro Lab, Hai Anh was assigned to assist in the preparation of the physical model testing site for the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project in Nepal. He also familiarized himself with new surveying instruments, such as total stations and automatic levels, commonly used in Nepal. In addition, Hai Anh reviewed the comprehensive physical model test report of the Solu Dudhkoshi Hydropower Project, gaining further insight into Hydro Lab’s research and experimental methodologies.