JAPAN, 2018

ASIAN DISASTER REDUCTION CENTER
Visiting Researcher Program(FY2017B)
Viet Nam Country Report 2017

ADRC visiting researcher
PHAM HONG THANH
Disaster Management Policy And Technology Center (DMPTC)
Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority.

This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC member
countries. The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADRC.
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the maps in the report also do
not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the ADRC.

2VIET NAM

I. GENERAL INFORMATIONSOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
Conventional long form
Conventional short form
Government type
CapitalAdministrative divisions:::::Socialist Republic of Vietnam
VietnamCommunist stateHanoi
59 provinces (province, singular and plural) and 5
municipalities (capital, singular and plural)

Vietnam is located in eastern Indochina, and borders with China, Lao, PDR andCambodia. Narrow strip of land is 329,241 square kilometers in area. Southern part has theMekong Delta and plains, whilst the central area is composed of mountains and slopes. Northis mountainous and hilly, except the Red River Delta in the south. Tropical climate in thesouth and temperate in the north, with rainy season from April to October. In the mountains
annual precipitation sometimes rise up to 4000mm. From October to March is dry season. Outof 95,6 million people, 86 percent are the Kinh. The population includes 53 other ethnic
minority residents.

3II. DISASTERS IN VIETNAM

1. Background
Vietnam is one of the countries worst affected by natural disasters and climate changes(there were 20/21 types of disasters in 2016, with exception of tsunami).
Natural disasters, in particular storms, floods, droughts, flash floods and landslides are
increasing in intensity and frequency, causing severe human and economic losses: Over thepast 20 years, disasters caused 10,800 dead and missing persons, and an economic loss to the
GDP of: VND 28,000 billion (1÷1.5% of GDP).

Dead and missing persons

Economic loss (USD million)4

2. Typical Regional Disasters

2.1. Region 1: Northern Mountainous (Flashfloods, landslides, damaging cold, snow,
frosts and heavy rains)
Flashfloods and landslides in Aug. 2017 in Son La, Yen Bai, Dien Bien, Lai Chau caused
44 dead and missing persons and an economic loss of VND 1,190 billion (~52 million USD).
2.2. Region 2: Northern plain Region and Northern Central Region (Flood,typhoons, inundation, drought, saline intrusion, damaging cold and heavy rains)- Flood in 1945 broke 79 pieces of dyke, innudating 160,000 ha of productive land.
- Flood in 1971 broke 16 dyke points, innudating 200,000 ha of productive land.
2.3. Region 3: Mountainous Areas in Northern and Central Central Region(Heating, flashfloods, landslides and damaging cold)Flashfloods in Sept. 2002 in Ha Tinh caused 53 dead and missing cases, 111 injuries.
2.4. Region 4: Central Coastal Region (Heavy flooding, inundation, superstorms,water surging, saline intrusion, coastal and river erosion, heavy rains)
Flood in 2016 caused 134 deads, inundated 1,200 houses.
2.5. Region 5: Major Urban Areas (Inundation due to heavy rains and floods, tidal
waves, heavy storms and whirlwinds and tornadoes)
Inundation in 2008 caused 22 deads and an economic loss of VND 3,000 billion.
2.6. Region 6: The Central Highlands, Mountainous Areas in Southern Central
Region, Southeast Region (Heating, drought, floods, flashfloods, landslides and inundation)
Drought in 2015 – 2016 caused water shortage in 115,000 households, and damages to15,000 ha non-productive land, 28,000 ha of paddy fields, and 140,000 perenial trees.
2.7. Region 7: MeKong Delta (Typhoon, flood, inundation, tidal flooding, storm
surging, drought, saline intrusion, coastal and river erosion, whirlwind, tornadoes andthunderbolts)
Saline intrusion in 2015 caused water shortages in 342,000 households, and damages
to 216,000 ha of paddy rice.
2.8. Region 8: Islands (Storms and superstorms)
Storm Chanchu in 2006 sunk 13 ships, 5 ships were lost, causing 266 dead andmissing persons.

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3. Extreme Events
3.1. Storms: at level 12 or above in the East Sea of Vietnam are trending up
In period 2004-2017 (60 events), increasing by 1.71 times from that in period 1990-2003(35 events). Special, there were 16 storms in 2017

3.2. Out of season rains and flooding and extraordinary rains (are increasing infrequency)- 8/2015 Flooding in Hoanh Bo, Quang Ninh 1,557mm.
- 11/2008 Flooding in the downtown of Hanoi 597 mm/day.
- 10/2016 Flooding in Dong Hoi, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh 949mm.
- 11/2016 Water release from Ba Ha HydroPower Dam, Phu Yen Qreliease: 11.500m3/s
and rain 1,022mm.

3.3. Droughts
Year 2009-2010

Southern Central region

2010-2011

The Central Highlands

2014-2016

Southern region

73.4. Heating- Year 2015: In areas of Northwestern and Central regions, the temperature reached 42
degrees in as long as 40 days.
- Year 2017: In areas of Northern region, the temperature rose to 42.5 degrees, in 4 days
(history:38.7 degrees in year 1994)

3.5. Flashfloods
Trending up:
1990: 4 events
2000, 2010:

14 events

2016: 29 events

2013 flashflood in Lao Cai

Flashfloods and landslides on 02-03/8/2017 in
Son La, Yen Bai, Dien Bien, Lai Chau
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3.6. River and coastal erosions
Since 2010, erosion has been speeding up and become more severe, with significant
socio-economic implications, At the time being, there are:

In total: 2,057 points/2,969 km.
+ River bank: 1,857 points /2,227 km.
+ Coastal bank: 200 points/469 km.

9Of which:- Northern region: 562 points /470 km.
+ River bank : 528 points/444 km.
+ Coastal bank : 34 points/26 km.
- Central region: 817 points/1,279 km.
+ River bank : 720 points/1,127 km.
+ Coastal bank : 97 points/152 km.
- Southern region: 678 points /947 km.
+ River bank : 609 points/657km.
+ Coastal bank : 67 points/291km.

10II. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
1. OPPORTUNITIES
1.1. Disaster prevention and control are receiving due attention and guidance from theParty and the State. Party Resolutions and Guidance introduce a number of major politicalguidance on disaster prevention and control.
1.2. The legal and regulatory framework is consistently established for disasterprevention and control nationwide: The Law on Disaster Prevention and Control, andregulatory guidelines, the National Strategy on Disaster Prevention and Control…

1.3. Scientific and technological breakthroughs and applicability in disaster prevention
and control.

Remote sensing

Remote observations

New construction materials and technologies

Boat and ship surveillance111.4. Vietnam is integrating intensively and extensively into many international andregional fora as well as practical and effective activities in disaster prevention and control.

2. CHALLENGES
2.1. The climate change continues to be a challenge, with increasing extreme andextraordinary disasters, in terms of intensity, space, time and irregularity.

The coverage of innudation when the sea level rises 100 cmth(5 IPCC report, 2013)

2.2. The impacts of socio-economic development- Rapidly growing population and economy, with increasing needs to be secured fromdisasters.

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- Disaster prevention and control are not well integrated in to socio-economicactivities; which increases exposures and even new disaster risks.

2.3. Upstream water use
CHINA- Hydropower- Water transfer- Industry

PDR LAOS- Hydropower- Irrigation/agriculture

THAILAND- Irrigation/ agriculture- Water transfer- Hydropower- Industry

CAMBODIA- Irrigation/ agriculture- Girdle shaped dyke
- Hydropower- Flood sewage- Tonle Sap lakeinterventions- Fishery- Industry- Population

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III. KEY INDICATIVE MEASURES
1. Strengthen State administrative and regulatory capacity and oversight ofdisaster prevention and control at all levels
1.1. Improve the system of legal and regulatory documents, policies, strategies andplans.
1.2. Strengthen the apparatus, building capacity in the oversight and execution ofdisaster prevention and control.
1.3. Develop and operate the National, Regional and Local Disaster ResponsivenessCommanding Centers.
2. Strengthen capacity of the system of disaster prevention and control structures

2.1. Strengthen and upgrade river dykes for climate change resilience.
2.2. Upgrade and repair irrigation reservoirs.
2.3. Build storm shelters for ships and boats.
2.4. Build and make arrangements for the implementation of the Overall Program on
Prevention and Control of Flashflood and Landslides in Mountainous Provinces.

142.5. Develop and make arrangements for the implementation of the Overall Programon Disaster Prevention and Control in the Central Region.
2.6. Develop and make arrangements for the implementation of the Overall Programon Disaster Prevention and Control in the Mekong Delta Region.
2.7. Develop and Implement the Project on the Prevention and Control of River andCoastal Erosion and Integrated Coastal Area Management.
2.8. Complete the plantation of upstream protection forests and coastal protection
mangroves.
2.9. Develop and implement integrated disaster risk management projects in riverbasins.
2.10. Conduct diagnostic studies and identification of complicated disaster risks.
2.11. Implement community based disaster risk management.
2.12. Develop the specialized hydrometeorological observation networks for disasterprevention and control; the disaster prevention and control work observation and monitoring
system.
2.13. Develop and implement the projects on installation of disaster early warning
systems.
3. Strengthen disaster forecasting and warning
3.1. Review and develop zoning of disaster risks and calibration of disaster risk levels.
3.2. Improve and moderize the network ofhydrometeorological observation networks forearthquakes and tsunami.
3.3. Develop the network of towers for
multiple disaster warning services in combination
with local radio broadcasting services
3.4. Improve the quality of disaster
forecasting and warning.
4. Strengthen capacity in search and rescue

Marine Rescue Viet Nam

Rehearsal of safe flood release in
Dakrong Hydropower Plant, 201615

5. Strengthen communication and community awareness raising

The campaign of swimming lessons fordisaster prevention and control in Vinh
Bao - 2017

The campaign on disaster awarenessraising in Cau Giay Upper-secondary
School (Hanoi) - 2017

6. Strengthen scientific and technological application and international
cooperation

7. Reinforce inspection, supervision and scrutiny

OBJECTIVES: By 2025, basically be pro-active in disaster prevention and control andadaptive to the climate change, gradually develop a disaster-safe society.

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