Hanoi:The government has officially approved a national disaster prevention and control plan for the period from 2026 to 2030. This strategic plan is designed to enhance the country's capacity in disaster prevention, response, and recovery, while also addressing climate change, minimizing disaster-related losses, and fostering sustainable socio-economic development. Additionally, the plan aims to contribute to national security and defense.
According to Socialist Republic of Vietnam Government News, the plan includes improvements to the legal framework, mechanisms, and policies related to disaster prevention and control. It emphasizes strengthening information and communication efforts to disseminate relevant laws and raise public awareness of natural disasters. The goal is to ensure that local authorities, agencies, organizations, and households are well-informed and equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills for disaster preparedness and prevention.
A significant aspect of the plan involves increasing the automation rate at meteorological, water-level, rainfall measurement, and upper-air wind observation stations to over 95 percent, while flow measurement stations are expected to reach over 40 percent automation by the decade’s end. Additionally, the plan calls for the review and updating of high-risk areas on warning maps, installing monitoring systems in vulnerable regions, and equipping fishing vessels with communication systems for enhanced connectivity.
The plan also prioritizes upgrading disaster prevention and control infrastructure through investments in multi-purpose projects benefiting multiple regions and sectors. This includes upgrading dike systems, reservoirs, dams, storm shelters, mooring facilities, and infrastructure to control riverbank and coastal erosion, flooding, drought, and saltwater intrusion.
Vietnam is recognized as one of the most disaster-prone countries globally, experiencing a wide array of natural hazards such as typhoons, tropical storms, floods, droughts, saltwater intrusion, landslides, and forest fires. Over 70 percent of the population is vulnerable to these natural hazards, with the rural and urban poor being particularly at risk.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reports that throughout 2025, Vietnam faced a series of severe natural disasters, characterized by abnormal factors surpassing historical records. In the East Sea, 15 storms and 6 tropical depressions were recorded, breaking previous records. Between January 1 and December 24, 2025, disasters resulted in 468 deaths or missing persons, 741 injuries, and the destruction or damage of over 353,000 houses. The total economic damage was estimated to exceed VND 98.677 billion (US$3.86 billion), posing significant challenges for recovery and reconstruction efforts.