When departing the project (in 2003-2005), Vietnam Bridge and Road Association selected the Son Chau dike, Son Dinh commune (Cho Lach) for the plantation with an area of 1,000 m2; the eroding road in Luong Quoi commune (Giong Trom): 500m2; and dyke in Thoi Thuan commune (Binh Dai district): 1,000 m2 and downstream of Ba Lai dam: 500m2. The objective of the project is to study, assess the Vetiver abilities of tolerance and erosion prevention for constructions, dikes, and irrigation in three regions: fresh, brackish, and saline soil conditions.

The results proved that Vetiver could develop well in all three areas fresh, brackish, and saline; In fresh areas, the highest growth rate was 45 – 60 days of after planting; Brackish: 60 – 75 days and saline: 75 – 90 days, going through those periods, Vetiver kept growing steadily. Vetiver has a high level of toleration to droughts, acidity and salinity up to 8 – 10‰; Vetiver works well at preventing soil erosion, enhancing soil moisture and fertility, but it is not resistant to erosion at the river foot (Son Chau dikes).

The project results were approved and ranked ‘good’ by the provincial Science and Technology Council, and the provincial People’s Committee. But the more important thing was its practicality, which may be translated into real life. Mo Cay Nam, Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Ben Tre pioneered in planting Vetiver grass to protect some places: rural roads, bridge abutments, road slopes.
According to many studies, the use of Vetiver to prevent erosion in constructions, irrigations may help to save 10% – 20% of the budget, while the effect is equivalent to other materials. Therefore, the team recommended the transport and irrigation sectors applying Vetiver grass against the erosion of slope roads, dikes, abutments; and propagating the materials to plant on a wider scale at locals.

Representatives of the Vietnam Bridge and Road Association was coming to check Vetiver growth at the project site.