The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will offer a credit of 53.2 million U.S. dollars to help Vietnam upgrade water supply and sanitation infrastructure in its central region.

Under an agreement signed here Thursday between the ADB and the State Bank of Vietnam, the money will be used to improve water and sanitation utilities in eight small and medium towns of five central and central highlands provinces of Binh Thuan, Dac Nong, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Phu Yen.

About 13,300 households will benefit from improved and expanded water supply services, 105,000 ones from upgraded drainage and wastewater treatment works, and 30,700 ones from improved solid waste management and good hygiene practices.

The project on improving water and sanitation utilities will be implemented over five years to December 2011.