Raising public awareness of natural disaster preparedness
Competent authorities should work to raise public awareness as well as improve their forecasting capacity against natural disasters in the context of extreme and unpredictable climate change, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong said in a letter penned for the 72nd anniversary of the Traditional Day on Natural Disaster Prevention (May 22).
Severe drought in the Central Highlands (Photo :VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Competent authorities should work to raise publicawareness as well as improve their forecasting capacity against naturaldisasters in the context of extreme and unpredictable climate change, PartyGeneral Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong said in a letter penned forthe 72nd anniversary of the Traditional Day on Natural Disaster Prevention (May22).
Speaking at a ceremony held in Hanoi on May 22 to mark the event, DeputyMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep described thepreparedness against natural calamities as a primary mission for the wholeyear, and asked relevant organisations to raise citizens’ awareness of the workto ensure safety during flood seasons.
Information technology should be deployed to disseminate necessary informationto the community, he said, stressing that it is crucial to prevent naturaldisasters and mitigate their consequences.
Within the framework of the ceremony, the Central Steering Committee forNatural Disaster Prevention and Control and the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP) rolled out a flood-resilient housing design contest.
Previously, the steering committee had also launched the National Week for Natural Disaster Preparedness andControl in Hai Phong city on May 14, aiming to encourage all-level authorities,organisations and people to stand ready for disaster combat.
The communications work has been prioritised with a focus on vulnerable groupslike the elderly, people with disabilities, women, children, and ethnicminority people.
The increasing intensity and devastation of natural disasters have leftcritical losses of human life and assets in Vietnam, thus badly affecting locallivelihoods as well as the country’s sustainable development.
Vietnam recorded historic calamities in 2016 with prolonged drought and salineintrusion in the Mekong Delta region, and floods in the central region thatcaused economic damage worth more than 39.7 trillion VND (1.69 billion USD).Meanwhile, natural disasters left 264 people dead and missing, and cost thecountry some 60 trillion VND in economic losses.
Although natural disasters in 2018 were not as fierce as those in the previoustwo years, they still left 224 people dead and missing, as well as caused 20trillion VND in economic losses. –VNA
Construction of small ponds to store water for irrigation under an official programme has helped farmers in Lam Dong province to cope with the current drought.
The coastal area of Go Cong Dong, a major agricultural hub in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, has taken effective measures against drought and saltwater intrusion into rivers this year.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a ceremony in the northern port city of Hai Phong on May 14 to launch the first-ever National Week for Natural Disaster Preparedness and Control.
Farmers in Ninh Thuan province, which has the largest number of cattle and sheep and goats in the country, are struggling to find natural food for their animals since prolonged hot weather has parched their pastures.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Severe drought in the Central Highlands (Photo :VNA) 
