Fishing in Vinh Xuong Commune in An Giang Province

Nguyen Quoc Hung, a farmer in Tan Hiep A Hamlet, An Giang Province said the flooding season should have started a month ago. The water often helps prevent saltwater intrusion, supply alluvial soil and helps clean the land. People can also go fishing for additional money.

"August is coming to an end and yet the water is strangely low," he said. "Everyone is worried."

People in Tinh Bien, Chau Phu and Tan Châu districts, where there are many fishermen, are ready but have recently accepted that they wouldn't be able to make any money.

"Water levels this year are even lower than last year. My family has four members, we are day labourers and earn additional money during flood season but the waters haven’t arrived," local Nguyen Van Tam said.

Many people decided to go further upstream, to the Cambodian border, to go fishing.

Farmers and fishermen are not the only one worry about the flooding. Even people working at traditional craft villages that make fishing nets or fish traps are also waiting for the waters.

Pham Phuoc Phong, owner of a fishing net manufacturer, said, "Our business depends on the amount of fish in the river. But these past years, aquaculture resources are on the decline. We’re still lucky to have customers from other provinces."

Le Minh Tam who makes fish traps said the cost of a trap now was just VND14,000-15,000 (63-68 US cents), a drop of 20% compared to last year, but they are struggling to find customers.

According to An Giang Centre for Hydro‑Meteorological Forecasting, the water level will rise very slowly. The Mekong River Commission reported that the water level only has only increased from the upstream to Cambodia's Kratie Province because of severe drought across the region. The water will go to other dry areas first before reaching downstream.