Dr. Le Thi Kim Thoa

Biography

Dr. Le Thi Kim Thoa is a distinguished expert in Geoinformatics and marine resources. She currently serves as the Deputy Head of the Department of Science, Technology, and External Relations at Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment (HCMUNRE). Concurrently, she holds the position of Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Marine Science, Technology, and Economy Association.

Dr. Thoa earned her Ph.D. in Geoinformatics from the School of Geography at the University of Nottingham, UK, in 2008. Prior to this, she obtained her Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Remote Sensing and GIS from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing in Dehradun, India, in 2000.

Throughout her career, Dr. Thoa has held several key leadership positions, including Deputy Head of the Faculty of Marine Resources Management- HCMUNRE, Director of the Center for Sea and Island Studies, and Head of the Economic Geography and Regional Development Division at Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU-HCM).

Her primary research interests are extensive and interdisciplinary, covering marine resources and environment management, the application of GIS and remote sensing to marine resources management, renewable energy and CCS, microplastics, climate change adaptation and mitigation, urban environmental management, smart and sustainable cities, and WebGIS programming.

Publications

• [2025] Thoa L.T.K et al., The Impact of Plastic on the Ecological Environment: The Pathway of Microplastics and the Control of Microplastic Pollution. Water Air Soil Pollut 236, 684 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08311-5
• [2025] Thoa Thi Kim Le et al., Coastal Erosion and Accretion in Vietnam: Some Case Studies. Book chapter in Coastal Sustainability, ISBN: 978-3-031-75749-5, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-75749-5
• [2023] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Assessing the vulnerability of agriculture to saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta provinces, Journal of Hydrometeorology 2023,755(1),67-82; https://doi:10.36335/VNJHM.2023(755(1)).67-82 [in Vietnamese]
• [2022] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Application of the WQI index to assess the surface water quality of the Bao Dinh river section flowing through Tan An city, Journal of Hydrometeorology, 744,28-38; http://doi:10.36335/VNJHM.2022(744).28-38 [in Vietnamese]
• [2022] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Monitoring sea surface temperature in the Spratly Islands region using MODIS AQUA data. Monograph: The relationship between marine economic development and the protection of Vietnam's sea and island sovereignty. VNU-HCMC Press. pp. 375-386 [in Vietnamese]
• [2021] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Monitoring sea surface temperature in the Spratly Islands region using Modis Aqua data from 2003 to 2019, Journal of Natural Resources and Environment, ISSN 1859-1477, Page 53-55 [in Vietnamese]
• [2021] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Monitoring the change of sea surface salinity in the Bien Dong of Vietnam 2011-2015, Report at the international scientific conference Socio-ecological resilience across Eurasia innovation for sustainability transition. INTENSE Open Science Conference. Online/Tartu, Estonia, 5-7 October 2021
• [2020] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Coastline changes detection from Sentinel–1 satellite imagery using spatial fuzzy clustering and interactive thresholding method in Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan, Vietnam Journal of Hydrometeorology, https://DOI:10.36335/VNJHM.2020(6).1-10
• [2019] L. T. K. Thoa et al., Beach erosion triggered by spatial imbalance of longshore sand transport in Phan Thiet, Vietnam, Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Asian and Pacific Coasts (APAC 2019) Hanoi, Vietnam, September 25-28, 2019 [2018] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Building scientific basis for the term of “positioning resources” and proposing methodology for identifying and evaluating the position’s value of vietnam coastal island systems, Journal of Marine Science and Technology. Vol.18, No.3; 2018:231–240, https://DOI:10.15625/1859-3097/18/3/10756
• [2017] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., An overview the erosion and deposition research results in Vietnam coastal zone, Proceedings of the third International Conference on estuarine coastal and shelf studies – ECSS 2017, pp.329-345. ISBN:978–604–73–5521-1
• [2016] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Some solutions for sustainable economic development of Vietnam's islands in the context of climate change, Journal of Marine Science and Technology; Vol. 16, No. 1; 2016:12-20, https://DOI:10.15625/1859-097/16/1/6426 [in Vietnamese]
• [2015] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Ngo Hoang Dai Long. Identifying and evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of tourism products and services of the high-quality eco-tourism island of Phu Quoc. Proceedings of the scientific conference "Marketing Phu Quoc as a tourist destination", April 21, 2015, Phu Quoc [in Vietnamese]
• [2015] Le Thi Kim Thoa, The importance of Vietnam's islands and archipelagos and the issue of sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea (Bien Dong), Book: The South China Sea (Bien Dong): history, legal aspects, and international relations, Do Tien Sam (Editor), Social Sciences Publishing House, pp. 17-45 [in Vietnamese]
• [2014] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Ngo Hoang Dai Long, Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Vietnam's islands and archipelagos in the South China Sea (Bien Dong) in economic development and ensuring national security, Journal of Science and Technology Development, No. 17, 2014, pp. 113-127 [in Vietnamese]
• [2014] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Ngo Hoang Dai Long, Positional resources of the southwestern sea and island region: potential and prospects, Book "Identifying and promoting the values of sea and island resources for sustainable development in the Southern region" edited by Tran Nam Tien and Pham Ngoc Tram [in Vietnamese]
• [2014] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Ngo Hoang Dai Long, The South China Sea (Bien Dong) issue - Its impacts on Vietnam-China trade relations and the Vietnamese economy, Journal of Chinese Studies, No. 07(155), 2014, pp. 63-77 [in Vietnamese]
• [2014] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Study on livelihood vulnerability of local community in coastal areas of Ben Tre province in the impact of climate change, Asia Pacific Sociological Association (APSA) conference” Tranforming Societies: Contestations and Conuergences in Asia and the Pacific”,15-16 February 2014 in Chiang Mai, Thailand
• [2014] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Ngo Hoang Dai Long. Research and evaluation of the effectiveness of agro-forestry-fishery combination models in Hon Tre island commune, Kien Giang. Proceedings of the 8th National Geography Conference, "Vietnamese geography in the strategy of innovation, integration and development", 2014. pp. 780-189 [in Vietnamese]
• [2014] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Awareness of the community in 3 coastal communes of Ben Tre province on the impact of climate change on local livelihood activities. Proceedings of the Faculty of Geography's scientific conference 2014, "Rational use and protection of natural resources and environment in the Southern region. HCMC, October 2014 [in Vietnamese]
• [2013] Le Thi Kim Thoa, A study on the livelihood vulnerability of people in some coastal communes of Ben Tre province in the context of climate change, Journal of Social Sciences, No. 9 (2013). pp. 65-73 [in Vietnamese]
• [2013] Le Thi Kim Thoa, Adaptive capacity of the coastal community in Ben Tre province in the context of climate change, Thu Dau Mot University Journal, No. 5(12)2013. pp. 72-78 [in Vietnamese]
• [2013] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Potential of positional resources in the southwestern sea and island region. Proceedings of the national conference "Sustainable development of the Mekong Delta - theoretical and practical issues". HCMC, December 2013. ISBN:978604732141-4 [in Vietnamese]
• [2013] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Solutions to enhance the coping capacity of people in three coastal districts of Ben Tre province in the context of climate change. Proceedings of the national conference "Sustainable development of the Mekong Delta - theoretical and practical issues". HCMC, December 2013. ISBN:978604732141-4 [in Vietnamese]
• [2013] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Indigenous knowledge of the coastal community in Ben Tre province in the context of climate change. Proceedings of the national conference "Sustainable development of the Mekong Delta - theoretical and practical issues", HCMC, December 2013. ISBN:978604732141-4 [in Vietnamese]
• [2012] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Tourism development from the geodiversity in Ha Tien – Kien Giang. Proceedings of the 7th National Geography Conference, Serving the socio-economic development strategy of Vietnam's territories and sea and islands, Thai Nguyen University. ISBN:978-604-915-044-9 [in Vietnamese]
• [2012] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., The necessity of including the Sea and Islands course in the undergraduate geography curriculum. Scientific conference "Issues in geography research and teaching". 6/2012 [in Vietnamese]
• [2012] Le Thi Kim Thoa et al., Vietnam's islands and archipelagos in the cause of socio-economic development and ensuring national security. National conference: The South China Sea (Bien Dong): cooperation and development prospects, co-organized by VNU-USSH Hanoi, Political Academy Region III, and VNU-USSH HCMC, Da Nang city, December 12-13, 2012 [in Vietnamese]
• [2007] Le, T. K. T et al.M5 Model Tree applied to modelling town centre area activities for the City of Nottingham. GeoComputation 2007: Proceedings Ninth International Conference on GeoComputation, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland, 3-5
• [2005] Le, T. K. T et al., Town centre modelling based on public participation. CUPUM'05: Proceedings Ninth International Conference on Computers in Urban Planning and Urban Management, University College London, United Kingdom, 29 June - 1 July 2005. Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London.
• [2004] Le, T. K. T et al.,Using information fusion methodologies to develop a town centre index for Nottingham. Proceedings 30th Congress of the International Geographical Union, Glasgow, United Kingdom
• [2004] Le, T. K. T, et al., First Steps in the Development of a Weighted Town Centre Index Model for Nottingham. UDMS'04: Proceedings 24th Urban Data Management Symposium, Chioggia, Venice, Italy

Research Projects

• [2020-2023] Marine Coastal And Delta Sustainability For Southeast Asia (MARE), Funded by ERASMUS+ (EACEA), Project Leader.
• [2020-2023] Research on erosion characteristics, proposing solutions for mangrove forest restoration in the Southwestern coastal area, Ministry-level (MONRE), Project Leader.
• [2020-2023] Study on the occurrence of rip currents in the South Central coastal region (Doi Duong beach), Ministry-level (MONRE), Principal Member.
• [2017-2020] Research to identify causes and propose solutions to limit erosion for the Mekong Delta river system, State-level project, Member.
• [2014-2016] Positional resources of the Kien Giang sea and island region, VNU-level project, Project Leader.
• [2013-2017] Investment project to establish a collection and research room for social sciences on sea and islands, State-level project, Project Leader.
• [2011-2013] Responding to saltwater intrusion and flooding by communities in Ben Tre province, VNU-level project, Project Leader.
• [1998-1999] Using remote sensing imagery and GIS to monitor land use change in HCMC, University-level project, Project Leader.

Research Interests

• Marine resources and environment management
• Application of GIS and remote sensing to marine management
• WebGIS programming
• Renewable energy, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
• Microplastic pollution
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Smart and sustainable cities
• Marine economy

Teaching

• Applied GIS / Applied Remote Sensing
• WebGIS Programming / Cartography
• Marine Economics / Place Marketing
• Law and Policy of Sea and Islands
• English for Specific Purposes (ESP)

Postgraduate Supervision

• [2025] Tran Thanh Vu, Urbanization in Vung Tau city using RS & GIS (MSc. Student)
• [2025] Tran Quynh Dieu, Developing a tourism WebGIS page for Ba Ria city (MSc. Student)
• [2024] Nguyen Van Chung, Urbanization in Tan An city using RS & GIS (MSc. Student)
• [2017] Nguyen Minh Hieu, Livelihood vulnerability in Long An (MSc. Student)
• [2015] Ngo Hoang Dai Long, Marine and island eco-tourism in Ha Tien (MSc. Student)