Vietnam makes efforts to minimize natural disaster risks
As one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, Vietnam has undertaken efforts to minimise risks from natural disasters and adapt to climate change.
Hanoi (VNA) –⛦ As one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, Vietnam has undertaken efforts to minimise risks from natural disasters and adapt to climate change, including issuing policies and developing infrastructure in recent years.
Efforts from the Party, the State and Government at all levels have helped reduce remarkable damage caused by natural disasters over the years.
According to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the death and missing toll from 2011-2015 fell 53 percent, to an average of 226 persons per year from 478 persons between 2006-2010.
Natural disaster-related damages averaged 13.65 trillion VND (660 million USD) a year in the period, 32 percent lower than the annual average of 976 million USD in the previous five-year period.
The Government allocated over seven trillion VND (315 million USD) in aid and over 47,000 tonnes of rice to support affected localities.
High-risk localities have devised preventive measures, including running drills.
In the contest of increasingly severe and unpredictable natural disasters, experts have urged more long-term measures, including establishing a national coordination centre for preventing and responding to natural disasters and a warning system for natural disasters, including earth quakes.
More investment is needed for programmes on natural disaster prevention and control, particularly urgent projects and search and rescue work.
Communication work needs to be promoted to help the public understand the complicated development of climate change and new risks such as nuclear power.
Emergency funds should be set up to pay for the settlement of natural disaster consequences.
In 2015 alone, Vietnam experienced five storms and the worst drought in six decades along with severe saline intrusion.
As consequences, 154 people died or went missing and 127 others were injured, thousands of houses collapsed and millions of hectares of crops were damaged. Total estimated costs exceeded eight trillion VND (360 million USD).
In the first nine months of this year, natural disasters caused the deaths and missing of 125 people, and injured 266 others. Over 3.5 thousands houses collapsed or were swept away and hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops were damaged.-VNA
Vietnam is urged to strengthen the role of women in climate change adaptation and natural disaster risk management, heard a roundtable workshop held in Hanoi on September 5.
A workshop on enhancing vulnerable groups’ capacity of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation was held by the Association for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in Quang Binh.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
Flood in HCM City (Source: VNA)
