Hanoi, Mar 4 (IANS): Vietnam is experiencing its most severe drought in almost a century, and farmers have adopted measures to save their crops amid the water shortage, the media reported on Friday.

In the south in particular, low rainfall has forced farmers in Hau Giang province in the Mekong Delta, which provides much of the country's rice, to drill groundwater wells to source water, EFE news reported.

In Hau Giang alone, 11 groundwater wells have been drilled at a cost of 16 billion Vietnamese dong ($720,000).

The dire situation with the drought and saltwater intrusion has not been seen in a century, said Lu Vang Hung, chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

In Tien Giang province, 13,000 people are suffering from lack of water in Tan Phu Dong district.

The province has already opened 19 public drinking water taps for people living along the coast, and authorities are considering investing $3 million to set up a pipeline crossing the Tien river to divert water from My Tho City to Tan Phu Dong district.

The drought has also decreased the water level of the Red river near the capital Hanoi.