In the first phase from now till 2010, the project will benefit 800,000 people in 120 communes or 15 percent of the rural population in the four Red River provinces of Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh and Hai Duong.

Most of US$50.1 million that the WB provides in soft loans for the first phase will be invested in building safe water supply systems, and the remainder will be used to raise public awareness of the need to live a hygienic life and to get involved in monitoring the project's progress.

The second phase will continue from 2008 till 2013 to benefit 1.5 million people in 240 communes in the remaining eight Red River Delta provinces.