News

Vietnam rethinks its flood strategy as climate change drives storms and devastation

The Sun Chronicle · last updated

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam is rethinking how it copes with floods after a year of relentless storms collapsed hillsides and left vast parts of cities under water.

From mapping high-risk areas to reimagining “sponge cities” that can absorb and release water naturally, Vietnam is investing billions to adapt to what experts call a new era of climate extremes. Under a national master plan running through 2030, the government has pledged more than $6 billion to build early-warning systems and move communities out of danger.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAmx? D>2==6C 4:E:6D =:<6 ‘:?9 :? 46?EC2= ‘:6E?2>[ E96D6 :562D 2C6 E2<:?8 D92A6] sC2:?286 ?6EH@C<D 2C6 6IA2?5:?8[ 7=@@5 32D:?D 2C6 36:?8 42CG65 2?5 C:G6C32?<D EFC?65 :?E@ 8C66? DA246D E92E 42? 23D@C3 2?5 E96? 5C2:? @77 27E6C 962GJ C2:?D]k^Am

kAmp? @?D=2F89E @7 DE@C>D E9:D J62C 92D F?56CD4@C65 E96 FC86?4J @7 E92E H@C<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^EJA9@@?\C282D2\49:?2\6d73dd`c4674ga_5eheb43d32f`ebe7hQm#282D2k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^G:6E?2>\DE@C>\EJA9@@?\3F2=@:\A9:=:AA:?6D\b332fbbbf4ef33ee`ffb46f5ge3e7e4fRiOiE6IEl%JA9@@?Ta_qF2=@:Ta_562E9Ta_E@==Ta_C:D6DTa_E@Ta_aeTa_:?Ta_’:6E?2>TarTa_H:E9Ta_>2?JTa_>:DD:?8[\|@C6Ta_’:56@DU2>AjE6IElw62GJTa_C2:?Ta_2?5Ta_DEC@?8Ta_H:?5D[:?E@Ta_{2@DTarTa_DE2E6Ta_>65:2Ta_C6A@CE65]QmqF2=@:k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^EJA9@@?\>2E>@\G:6E?2>\7=@@5:?8\ah7bac52e`24cadcc3ha`256bdc552_aQm|2E>@k^2m — 6249 42CG65 :ED @H? A2E9 @7 CF:?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^G:6E?2>\7=@@5D\C64@C5\C2:?72==\bcha6afcg4gd_cbhahcb7a`3d57d_fh2Qm#64@C5 C2:?72==k^2m EFC?65 DEC66ED :?E@ C:G6CD 2?5 D6?E D=@A6D D=:5:?8[ H:E9 32C6=J 2?J E:>6 7@C E96 =2?5 E@ C64@G6C 36EH66? DE@C>D]k^Am

kAmpD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^EJA9@@?\<2=>268:\E:?@\A9:=:AA:?6D\62DE\D2>2C\f_6h32eh4ae`7`2hgc7c_fg75ecbah4gQm%JA9@@? z2=>268:k^2m H2D 82E96C:?8 DEC6?8E9 @? :ED A2E9 E@H2C5 ‘:6E?2> E9:D H66<[ D4:6?E:DED H2C?65 :E >2J ?@E 36 E96 =2DE] xEVD 2 8=:>AD6 @7 E96 4@F?ECJ’D 4=:>2E6 7FEFC6 — H2C>6C D62D 7F6=:?8 DE@C>D E92E 7@C> 72DE6C[ =:?86C =@?86C[ 2?5 5F>A 962G:6C C2:?[ 9:EE:?8 E96 A@@C6DE 4@>>F?:E:6D 92C56DE]k^Am

kAm“’:6E?2> 2?5 :ED ?6:893@CD 2C6 @? E96 7C@?E =:?6D @7 4=:>2E6 5:DCFAE:@?[” D2:5 q6?;2>:? w@CE@?[ 2 AC@76DD@C @7 62CE9 D4:6?46 2E r:EJ &?:G6CD:EJ @7 w@?8 z@?8]k^Am

k9amr=:>2E6 492?86 :D C6D92A:?8 ‘:6E?2>’D DE@C> D62D@?k^9am

kAm$4:6?E:DED D2J E96 DF446DD:@? @7 DE@C>D 32EE6C:?8 ‘:6E?2> :D ?@E 2 7=F<6 3FE A2CE @7 2 3C@256C D9:7E :? 9@H DE@C>D 3692G6 @? 2 H2C>:?8 A=2?6E] ‘:6E?2> FDF2==J 7246D 23@FE 2 5@K6? DE@C>D 2 J62C[ 3FE E96 a_ad 4=FDE6C H2D 2 “4=62C D:8?2=” @7 8=@32= H2C>:?8[ D2:5 w@CE@?]k^Am

kAm~462? H2E6CD 2C6 ?@H ?62C=J ` 568C66 r6=D:FD Wbb]g 568C66D u29C6?96:EX H2C>6C E92? 367@C6 E96 :?5FDEC:2= 6C2] $@ DE@C>D 42CCJ >@C6 >@:DEFC6]k^Am

kAm%96 64@?@>:4 E@== 92D 366? D6G6C6 7@C ‘:6E?2>[ 2 56G6=@A:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^G:6E?2>\64@?@>J\4=:>2E6\EC256\>6<@?8\_efbb`a_b4dh4e`535e5c_4_c22d5h`5Qm4@F?ECJ E92E H2?ED E@ 364@>6 C:49 3J a_cd]k^2m u=@@5D C@FE:?6=J 5:DCFAE 72C>:?8[ 7:D96C:6D[ 2?5 724E@C:6D — E96 324<3@?6 @7 :ED 64@?@>J] $E2E6 >65:2 6DE:>2E6 6IEC6>6 H62E96C 92D 4@DE E96 4@F?ECJ S`]c 3:==:@? :? a_ad]k^Am

kAm’:6E?2> 6DE:>2E6D :E H:== ?665 E@ DA6?5 Sdd 3:==:@?–Sha 3:==:@? :? E9:D 564256 E@ >2?286 2?5 252AE E@ E96 :>A24ED @7 4=:>2E6 492?86]k^Am

k9am’:6E?2>’D 4:E:6D 2C6?’E 3F:=E 7@C 4=:>2E6 D9@4<Dk^9am

kAmp3@FE `g >:==:@? A6@A=6[ ?62C=J 2 7:7E9 @7 ‘:6E?2>’D A@AF=2E:@?[ =:G6 :? :ED EH@ 3:886DE 4:E:6D[ w2?@: 2?5 w@ r9: |:?9 r:EJ] q@E9 2C6 @? C:G6C 56=E2D E92E @?46 D6CG65 2D ?2EFC2= 3F776CD 282:?DE 7=@@5:?8] qFE 2D 4@?4C6E6 DAC625 @G6C H6E=2?5D 2?5 72C>=2?5D[ E96 4:E:6D =@DE E96:C 42A24:EJ E@ 23D@C3 5@H?A@FCD]k^Am

kAmu=@@5:?8 :? w2?@: :? ~4E@36C =:?86C65 7@C ?62C=J 2 H66< :? D@>6 ?6:893@C9@@5D] %96 4:EJ @7 @G6C g >:==:@? 92D @FE8C@H? :ED :?7C2DECF4EFC6 2?5 :ED 4@=@?:2=\6C2 5C2:?286 DJDE6> 72:=65 2D DEC66ED EFC?65 :?E@ 3C@H? 42?2=D] |@E@C3:<6D DAFEE6C65 :? H2:DE\566A H2E6C 2?5 E96 #65 #:G6C’D =6G66D H6C6 E6DE65]k^Am

kAm’686E23=6 D6==6C s2?8 %9F2?VD 9@>6 7=@@565 <?66\566A[ DA@:=:?8 96C DE@4<] w6C ?6:893@C9@@5 FD65 E@ 92G6 D6G6C2= A@?5D[ 3FE E96J H6C6 7:==65 :? E@ 3F:=5 9@FD6D 2?5 C@25D] }@H E96 H2E6C 92D ?@H96C6 E@ 8@]k^Am

kAm“(6 42?’E 277@C5 E@ >@G6[” D96 D2:5[ “$@ 6G6CJ E:>6 :E C2:?D 92C5[ H6 ;FDE H2:E 2?5 9@A6]”k^Am

kAmx? `hge`hhe[ E96 564256 4@:?4:5:?8 H:E9 ‘s@: |@:’ 64@?@>:4 C67@C>D E92E F?=62D965 2 4@?DECF4E:@? 3@@>[ w2?@: =@DE ?62C=J EH@\E9:C5D @7 H2E6C 3@5:6D :? :ED 7@FC 4@C6 FC32? 5:DEC:4ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 DEF5J 3J zJ@E@ &?:G6CD:EJVD r6?E6C 7@C $@FE962DE pD:2? $EF5:6D]k^Am

kAmq6EH66? a_`d 2?5 a_a_[ :E =@DE H2E6C 3@5:6D DA2??:?8 E96 2C62 @7 agd D@446C 7:6=5D[ DE2E6 >65:2 92G6 C6A@CE65]k^Am

kAm|@C6 E92? E9C66\BF2CE6CD @7 w2?@:’D 2C62 — :?4=F5:?8 >F49 @7 :ED 56?D6=J A@AF=2E65 4@C6 — :D 2E C:D< @7 7=@@5:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 a_ac DEF5J] u=@@5:?8 :? E96 4:EJ 42?’E 36 D@=G65 3J 3F:=5:?8 >@C6[ D2:5 w@?8 }8@4 }8FJ6?[ =625 2FE9@C @7 E96 DEF5J 2?5 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 6?8:?66C 2E E96 y2A2?6D6 4@?DF=E2?4J }:AA@? z@6:]k^Am

kAm“(6 42?’E 4@?EC@= E96 H2E6C[” D96 D2:5[ A@:?E:?8 E@ $:?82A@C6’D D9:7E 7C@> 4@?4C6E6 42?2=D E@ 8C66?6C C:G6C32?<D E92E D=@H 2?5 9@=5 DE@C>H2E6C :?DE625 @7 CFD9:?8 :E 2H2J]k^Am

k9amp 8=@32= AC@3=6> H:E9 =6DD@?D :? ?2EFC6k^9am

kAm%96 :562 @7 56D:8?:?8 4:E:6D E@ “=:G6 H:E9 H2E6C” :D 82:?:?8 EC24E:@? 8=@32==J[ :?4=F5:?8 :? ‘:6E?2>]k^Am

kAmr:EJ @77:4:2=D 2?5 C6D:56?ED :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4=:>2E6\492?86\=2<6D\36?82=FCF\:?5:2\H2E6C\C6DE@C2E:@?\b5d7dcg552c`fe2hced673bhc_`_ca`cQmx?5:2’D q6?82=FCF 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@ D2G6 E96 4:EJ’D C6>2:?:?8 =2<6Dk^2m[ H9:=6 y@92??6D3FC8 :? $@FE9 p7C:42 :D ECJ:?8 E@ C6DE@C6 :ED yF<D<6: #:G6C]k^Am

kAm’:6E?2>VD C646?E 7=@@5D 92G6 DA2C<65 2 H:56C 4@?G6CD2E:@? 23@FE 9@H 4:E:6D D9@F=5 562= H:E9 DE@C>D]k^Am

kAm%96 7@C>6C 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6 @7 &C32? 2?5 #FC2= !=2??:?8[ }8@ %CF?8 w2:[ E@=5 E96 DE2E6\CF? ?6HDA2A6C w2?@: %:>6D E92E E96 4:EJ >FDE =62C? E@ =:G6 H:E9 962GJ C2:?72== 2?5 25@AE =@?8\E6C> DEC2E68:6D] tFC@A62? 3FD:?6DD 2DD@4:2E:@?D 92G6 FC865 ‘:6E?2>’D 7:?2?4:2= 42A:E2= w@ r9: |:?9 r:EJ E@ 25@AE 2 “DA@?86 4:EJ” 2AAC@249]k^Am

kAm#62= 6DE2E6 56G6=@A6CD 92G6 72465 4C:E:4:D> :? DE2E6 >65:2 7@C :>AC@A6C 3F:=5:?8 AC24E:46D[ DF49 2D 3F:=5:?8 @? =@H\=J:?8 =2?5 @C C@25D F?4@??64E65 E@ DE@C> D6H6C DJDE6>D 2?5 EC62E:?8 H2E6C 3@5:6D 2D “=2?5D42A6 762EFC6D” C2E96C E92? H2JD E@ 5C2:? DE@C> H2E6C]k^Am

kAm$@>6 @7 ‘:6E?2>’D 3:886DE AC@A6CEJ 56G6=@A6CD 92G6 368F? E@ 252AE] x? E96 4@2DE2= E@FC:D> 9F3 @7 }92 %C2?8[ E96 $F? vC@FA :D 3F:=5:?8 2 ?6H E@H?D9:A >@56=65 2D 2 “DA@?86 4:EJ” H:E9 H6E=2?5D 4@G6C:?8 e_ 964E2C6D W`cg 24C6DX[ 56D:8?65 E@ DE@C6 2?5 C6FD6 C2:?H2E6C E@ C65F46 7=@@5:?8 2?5 23D@C3 962E]k^Am

kAmr:EJ A=2??6CD >FDE 244@F?E 7@C 7FEFC6 4=:>2E6 C:D<D[ D2:5 p??2 q6DH:4<[ H9@ DEF5:6D 4=:>2E6 252AE2E:@? 2E E96 {@?5@? $49@@= @7 t4@?@>:4D]k^Am

kAm“x7 H6 A=2? 32D65 @? A2DE 6IA6C:6?46[ H6 H@?’E 36 C6D:=:6?E :? E96 7FEFC6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm—k^Am

kAm%96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD’ 4=:>2E6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@G6C286 C646:G6D 7:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE 7C@> >F=E:A=6 AC:G2E6 7@F?52E:@?D] p! :D D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== 4@?E6?E] u:?5 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^23@FE^DE2?52C5D\7@C\H@C<:?8\H:E9\@FED:56\8C@FAD^QmDE2?52C5Dk^2m 7@C H@C<:?8 H:E9 A9:=2?E9C@A:6D[ 2 =:DE @7 DFAA@CE6CD 2?5 7F?565 4@G6C286 2C62D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^5:D4@G6C^$FAA@CE:?8\p!Qmp!]@C8k^2m]k^Am

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.