Vietnam Rethinks Flood Response as Climate Extremes Intensify

In 2025, Vietnam faced an onslaught of powerful storms that left a trail of destruction across the country. Typhoons Ragasa, Bualoi, and Matmo carved their own paths of ruin, with record rainfall turning streets into rivers and triggering devastating landslides. The economic toll has been severe, with extreme weather costing the country an estimated $1.4 billion that year.

Recognizing the urgent need to adapt, the Vietnamese government has pledged over $6 billion to build early-warning systems and relocate communities out of high-risk areas. This is part of a national master plan running through 2030 to help the country cope with the new era of climate extremes.

In smaller cities like Vinh, these ideas are already taking shape. Drainage networks are expanding, flood basins are being carved, and riverbanks are being transformed into green spaces that can absorb and drain excess water. The goal is to create "sponge cities" that can naturally manage heavy rainfall.

Experts warn that the succession of storms battering Vietnam is not a fluke, but rather a sign of a broader shift in global weather patterns. With ocean temperatures nearly 1°C warmer than before the industrial era, storms are carrying more moisture and causing more destruction. Vietnam's two largest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are particularly vulnerable as they have lost much of their natural flood-absorbing capacity due to rapid urbanization.

As the country works to build resilience, it faces a daunting challenge. Vietnam estimates it will need to spend between $55 billion and $92 billion this decade to manage and adapt to the impacts of climate change. But with the stakes so high, the government is determined to transform its cities and protect its people from the growing threat of extreme weather.