ASIAN DISASTER REDUCTION CENTER
Visiting Researcher Mr. VU Thanh Liem

Kobe, JapanAugust 2008

Contents:
1. Natural disaster in Vietnam.
2. Measures for natural disaster prevention,response and mitigation in Vietnam.
3. Objective of the Visiting Research andExpected output

VIETNAM
Vietnamislocated

attheSoutheast of Asia, with 333.000 km2
of the total natural area and3200km of coastline.

Population: 84 million (2006’s statistics)
Population density: 226 capitas/km2
Urban population: 27 %Rural population: 73 %

NATURAL TOPOGRAPHYThe Northern Vietnam is divided byhigh mountain ranges located in
Northwest-Southeast direction. The
topographical elevation lowers fromthe Northwest to the Southeast andto the sea side. Delta areas of theRed River, Thai Binh river and thecoastal area have low naturalelevation.
2. Central and Highlands region haselevation sloping from the West tothe East, with the Truong Son range
in the West and low-land having sanddunes in the coastline area.
3. The Southern Vietnam has relatively
flat topography with low elevation.
1.

MAIN RIVER SYSTEMS IN VN
Vietnam has 14 main river systems. Riverdensity is 1,5 – 2 km/km2. There are 2river systems sharing international basins.

MAIN RIVER SYSTEMS IN VIET NAM
Northern river systems: Redriver and Thai Binh riverBasin area in VN: 86.660 km2(51% total basin).
Crossing 23 provinces and cities.
Flood season: May to Sep.

River in the Central
 River in central of Vietnam is sort riverand flood coming very fast.
 Flood season:
 Thanh Hoa – Ha Tinh: June to Oct.
 Q.Binh – Binh Thuan: Sep. to Dec
 Disaster management in central isdifficulties work

River in the Southern
The Mekong river system: Large basin area.
 High river network density.
 Flood reason: Oct. – Sep.

Natural Hazards in Vietnam
Relative Frequency
HighMedium

Low

Flood (river)
TyphoonInundation
Flash flood

Hail rain
Drought
Landslide, erosion
CycloneSea surge
Fire
Deforestation
Salinity intrusion

Earthquake
TsunamiFrost

TYPICAL DISASTERS IN VIET NAM

River Flooding
Flash floods
Typhoons
Storm Surges
Not included in map:
• Droughts• Salt water intrusion• Forest fire

SERIOUS DISASTERS 1945 - 2007
Historical flood event of 1945 on the Red river system.
 Historical flood event of 1971 on the Red river system
 Flash floods in Lai Chau Province 1996
 Linda Storm 1997
 Flooding in Central Vietnam 1999
 Xangsane Typhoon 2006
 Flooding in Mekong River 2000, 2001,2002
SERIOUS DISASTERSLinda Storm (2 Nov. 1997)- On 2 November 1997 the center of Typhoon Linda hit
the southern tip of Vietnam (the area from Bac Lieu
Province to Ca Mau Province) with wind velocities of
75 to 102 km/h (Beaufort Scale 9 to 10).
- On 3 November 1997, Typhoon Linda moved westand northwest, away from Viet Nam, towards the Gulfof Thailand, at a speed of 20 km/h.

No. of people killed:
778
No. of people missing: 2123
No. of people injured: 1232
Economic loss: $US 593 Mil

SERIOUS DISASTERS

Flooding in Central provinces 1999
In November 1999, severe floods
occurred in the Central
Provinces from Quang Binh toBinh Dinh

More than 600 people were killed
or reported missing and the value of the loss ofproperty was approx. $US 300 Mil.

SERIOUS DISASTERS

Flooding in Mekong River
In November 2000, the Mekong River Delta suffered the harshest
flooding in over 40 years.
Losses:No. of people killed: 481(of which 335 were children)
Households affected: 888,000
Economic Loss:
US$ 280 Mil.

SERIOUS DISASTERS“Xangsane typhoon 2006”
One of the most violent typhoon in the last 20years in Vietnam (Beaufort scale 12, gusting
Beaufort scale 13-14)
Formed in the East sea of the Philippine(26/9/06) landed to Da Nang AM 1/10/06
Stable track, intensity and high movement
speed (20km/h).
Broad affected area of strong wind (QuangTri - Quang Ngai)


Dead:
66 persons
Missing:
2 persons (by flood)
Injury:525 persons
Collapsed houses:
19.736 houses
Damaged houses:
273.744 houses
Sunk and damaged boats: 878 boats
Total economic loss estimated:
650 million US$

Natural disaster in 2007




In 2007, natural disaster occurred severely, especially in central
provinces, there were: 07 typhoons, 03 tropical depressions,
 08 floods and 57 whirlwinds
which caused seriously damages in terms of human lives, state and people
property.
Particularly, in Northern Center provinces, there were big floods after thestorm No. 2 on August 7th. After storm No. 5 Lekima, there were also big
floods in provinces from Ninh Binh to Quang Binh.
Late Oct. and early Nov., heavy rain occurred all over Central provinceswith the rainfall mostly from 200-400mm, particularly 500-600mm or even700-800 in some places.

Track of typhoon 2007’ year
Total damage of 2007:- Dead people: 462 peoples- Missing people: 033 peoples- Injured people: 856 peoples- Total economic loss: 720mil. US$1918

1306

1108

10 09

BAO SO 3 PABUK (0706)_Th.08
07

405

2425

204

523060504071722
BAO SO 4 FRANCISCO (0713)_Th.09
07

06

03

02

06

08

12

16

29

13
14

BAO SO 5 LEKIMA (0714)_Th.09

630

03

30

15

SEPAT (0708)_Th.08

01

04

7

BAO SO 1 TORAJI (0701)_Th.07

03
Td_Th.10

02

01

25
23
05

03

BAO SO 2 _Th.08
22
21
Td_Th.11

20

19

BAO SO 7 HAGIBIS (0724)_Th.11

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

3400
3200
3000
2800
2600
2400
2200
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
1990

persons

Human loss recorded from 1990 to 2007

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

199319921991

1990

106 USD

Economic loss recorded from 1990 to 2007
8007006005004003002001000MEASURES FOR NATURAL DISASTER
PREVENTION, RESPONSE AND
MITIGATION IN VIETNAM
In 16th November 2007, the Prime Minister issued
the Decision No.172/2007/ QD- TTg on approving
the National Strategy for natural disasterprevention, response and mitigation to 2020.

NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION,RESPONSE AND MITIGATION TO 2020RESPONSIBILITIES AND SOLUTIONS
1.
2.

General responsibilities and solutions
Responsibilities and solutions for each region(5 regions)1. General responsibilities and solutions••••

Complete the system of laws, policies and mechanisms
Complete organizational and management structure
Socialization and Human resources development
Financial resources• Raise community’s awareness• Develop science and technologies•••

Consolidate dyke and reservoir system
Enhance the search and rescue capacity
Improve international cooperation and integration

2. Responsibilities and solutions for each region
a. The Northern plains and the North Central
The approach applied for the area: “The responsibility is to preventand control floods; additionally, active in preventing and responding
to drought, sea surge”
Enhance flood-prevention capacity for river dyke system

Continue constructing reservoir systemImprove the flood discharge capacity for river bed

Implement programs such as restoring and upgrading sea dykes,
plantation of watershed forest and protective forest.

2. Responsibilities and solutions for each region (Cont.)b. The Central Coast, South East and Islands
The approach applied for the area: “Proactive in prevention,avoidance and adaptation to develop”
Plan residential, industrial and tourism areasShift the crop and animal husbandry structurePromote research and suggest solutions on preventing the rivermouth area extension, enhancing flood discharge and combining withwater trafficStrengthen and upgrade dykes, preserve natural sand dune; buildreservoirs, afforest; build parking space for boats and ships

2. Responsibilities and solutions for each region (Cont.)c. The Mekong River Delta
The approach applied for the area: “Live together with floods ”
Planning to control floodConstruction of residential clusters and infrastructure for the population toflood resistanceProactively take advantage of floodsEnhance international cooperation with countries in Mekong basin

2. Responsibilities and solutions for each region (Cont.)
d. Mountainous areas and Central Highlands
The approach applied for the area: “Proactively prevent natural disasters”
 Define and map areas highly prone to flash floods, landslides
 Establish warning and communication systems
 Strengthen the international cooperation in natural disasters forecasting,warning
e. Offshore areas
The approach applied for the area: “Proactively prevent and response ”
 Build management system for pelagic fishing boats and ships
 Establish communication system
 Strengthen the cooperation with other countries and border localities in region

NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION,RESPONSE AND MITIGATION TO 2020

ACTION PLAN
Focus on implementing objectives and programs up to2020 as the follow:
Non-structure measures Structure measures1. Non-structure measures Complete system of legal documents
 Complete the organization’s structure andmechanism
 A program of master plan making and reviewing A program of capacity building, forecasting andwarning Improve the communities’ awareness Develop forests and protect upstream forests
 Improve the management capacity

2. Structure measures



A program to build and upgrade structures for disastermitigation and preparedness in line with each region‘sfeatures
A program to build reservoirs in upstream
A program to expand apertures of bridges and sluices forroad and railway transportation
A program to build works for land slide preparedness
A program to upgrade the dike system
A program to construct works for ships and boats sheltersfrom storm
A program to develop communities coming over flood andpreparing for storm

Objective of theVisiting Research and Expected outputObjective of the Visiting Research and Expected output
 Research on the facts leading to Natural Disasters withspecial reference to typhoons, floods, inundations,droughts, landslides, Tsunami, earthquakes, etc. and thecounter measures taken in Japan
 To study how the: Activities for education, information dissemination, community awarenessraising on disaster prevention, response and mitigation.
 The community participation in formulating legal documents, in planning,
managing and monitoring the implementation of programs, projects atlocal level.
 International Cooperation works disaster prevention, response, mitigation,
preparedness at central and local administrative levels; Application of high-technology to disaster forecasting and warning,disaster reduction and establishment of disaster information system…

Organizations Chat for Disaster
Prevention and Mitigation

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKFOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN VIETNAMGOVERNMENTNATIONAL COMMITTEEFOR SEARCH and RESCUECENTRAL COMMITTEEFOR FLOOD
and STORM CONTROLSEARCH and RESCUECENTERPROVINCIAL COMMITTEEFOR FLOOD
and STORM CONTROLMINISTRIES COMMITTEEFOR FLOOD
and STORM CONTROL

DISTRICT COMMITTEEFOR FLOOD
and STORM CONTROLCOMMUNE COMMITTEEFOR FLOOD
and STORM CONTROLORGANIZATION CHART OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF SEACH AND RESCUEORGANIZATION CHART OF
THE CCFSC

GOVERNMENT

Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control - Vietnam (CCFSC)

Provincial Committees
for Flood and Storm
Control and Search
And Rescue(63 provinces and cities)

Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural
Development (MARD)

Government OfficeVice Chairman

Ministry of Defense
Vice Chairman

ChairmanDistrict Committees
for Flood and Storm
Control and Search
And Rescue

Ministry ofPlanning andInvestment

Ministry ofFinanceMember

Ministry of
Natural Resources
And Environment

MemberMemberCommune Committees
for Flood and Storm
Control and Search
And Rescue

Ministry ofTransportation
Member

Ministry ofLabor, Invalid
and Social Affair

Ministry ofForeign Affair

Ministry ofScience andTechnology

Ministry ofConstruction

Ministry of
HealthMemberMemberMemberMemberMemberInstitute ofGeophysics

Ministry ofIndustry
and Trade

MemberMember

Ministry of
Cultural,Sport,Tourism

Viet Nam
Red Cross

MemberMemberViet Nam
Television
MemberRadioThe Voiceof Vietnam
MemberDDMFC
Member

NHMC
MemberHCM
CYU
Member