The article discusses the extent of illegal sand mining in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, a major sand mining hotspot in Southeast Asia. It quantifies the illegal sand mining rate by comparing the actual volume of sand mined with the allowable rate set by the provincial government. The volume of illegally mined sand decreased from 16.7 Mm³/year in 2013 to 15.5 Mm³/year in 2018-2020. An increase in the allowable rate of sand extraction from 11.5 Mm³/year to 15.1 Mm³/year reduced the volume of illegally mined sand. The study highlights the environmental impacts of sand mining, including increased channel incision, bank instability, lowered riverbeds, reduced flood frequencies, and increased saltwater intrusion. Illegal mining persists due to weak regulation, limited resources, and the involvement of organized crime. The study also shows that the volume of sand illegally mined in the Mekong Delta ranged from 10 Mm³/year in 2015 to 26 Mm³/year in 2018. The study used data from Gruel et al. to calculate the illegal sand mining budget for each province in the Mekong Delta. The results show that illegal sand mining was most prevalent in the vicinity of Tan Chau town near the Cambodian border and around Tra Vinh city. The study also found that illegal sand mining was widespread along the Hau River from Long Xuyen to Can Tho. The study concludes that illegal sand mining continues to be a problem in the Mekong Delta, and that scientific research is needed to assess the allowable rates of sand extraction and the volume of sand reserve. The study also highlights the need for sustainable sand mining practices to minimize environmental degradation.The article discusses the extent of illegal sand mining in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, a major sand mining hotspot in Southeast Asia. It quantifies the illegal sand mining rate by comparing the actual volume of sand mined with the allowable rate set by the provincial government. The volume of illegally mined sand decreased from 16.7 Mm³/year in 2013 to 15.5 Mm³/year in 2018-2020. An increase in the allowable rate of sand extraction from 11.5 Mm³/year to 15.1 Mm³/year reduced the volume of illegally mined sand. The study highlights the environmental impacts of sand mining, including increased channel incision, bank instability, lowered riverbeds, reduced flood frequencies, and increased saltwater intrusion. Illegal mining persists due to weak regulation, limited resources, and the involvement of organized crime. The study also shows that the volume of sand illegally mined in the Mekong Delta ranged from 10 Mm³/year in 2015 to 26 Mm³/year in 2018. The study used data from Gruel et al. to calculate the illegal sand mining budget for each province in the Mekong Delta. The results show that illegal sand mining was most prevalent in the vicinity of Tan Chau town near the Cambodian border and around Tra Vinh city. The study also found that illegal sand mining was widespread along the Hau River from Long Xuyen to Can Tho. The study concludes that illegal sand mining continues to be a problem in the Mekong Delta, and that scientific research is needed to assess the allowable rates of sand extraction and the volume of sand reserve. The study also highlights the need for sustainable sand mining practices to minimize environmental degradation.