Preparing for and Responding to Typhoons in Northern Vietnam: A Guide to Safety
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Are you ready when a typhoon strikes?
Every year, from June to October, Northern Vietnam faces powerful typhoons, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, flash floods, and landslides. Provinces like Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Ha Giang, and Cao Bang are frequently hit by severe natural disasters. Imagine: you’re in a small riverside village in Hai Phong, hearing news of an approaching typhoon with winds of level 12 and 100mm of rain. What would you do to protect your family and home?
Statistics show that over the past 70 years, Vietnam has experienced 459 typhoons, with the North always among the hardest-hit regions [VMRCC, 2023]. Typhoon Yagi in 2024 is a painful example, causing nearly 920 billion VND in damages in Cao Bang, with over 2,000 hectares of rice and crops submerged [Wikipedia, 2024]. The good news is, with proper preparation, you can minimize risks and protect your loved ones. This article will guide you step by step to face typhoons safely, from scientific and community perspectives to practical tips you can apply in daily life.
Essential steps before, during, and after a typhoon
Before the typhoon: Preparation is key
Nothing is more important than preparing before the typhoon arrives. In the North, where storms often bring heavy rain (20-120mm, sometimes over 100mm), monitoring weather forecasts from the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting is your first step [NCHMF, 2025]. These bulletins tell you the storm’s strength, landfall timing, and risks of flash floods or landslides. Keep your TV, radio, or weather app on to stay updated.
Reinforcing your home is essential. Walk around your house, check if the roof is secure, and reinforce it with straps or screws if needed. Doors and windows should be tightly locked or boarded up. Trim trees around your house, especially in coastal provinces like Quang Ninh, to prevent them from falling and causing danger. Move motorcycles, gas tanks, and loose items indoors. For farming families in rural areas, harvest crops early or move livestock to sturdy shelters. Fishermen in Hai Phong or Quang Ninh must anchor boats securely and never stay on board during a storm.
Stock up on essentials next. Prepare enough dry food (instant noodles, bread, rice), clean water, medicine, flashlights, battery radios, and warm clothes for at least 7 days. In mountainous provinces like Ha Giang, it can get cold suddenly after a storm, so warm clothes and blankets are a must. Don’t forget to seal important documents like ID cards and land certificates in waterproof bags. A tip: prepare an emergency kit with a flashlight, food, water, and life jackets, ready to grab if you need to evacuate.
Make an evacuation plan as well. Find out the nearest safe shelter, especially if you live in flood-prone areas like Hai Phong or near landslide-prone slopes like Cao Bang. Save emergency numbers (114 for rescue) and practice the evacuation plan with your family so everyone knows what to do. A clear plan helps you stay calm when the storm hits.
During the typhoon: Safety first
When the typhoon hits, the most important thing is to stay safe. Stay indoors, away from windows and doors to avoid broken glass or flying debris. If you’re in a mountainous area like Ha Giang, listen for unusual sounds—breaking trees, rolling rocks, or muddy water—which could signal flash floods or landslides. If you notice danger, move immediately to a safe place, such as a shelter or higher ground.
Prepare for power outages—they’re almost inevitable during storms. Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid fire risks, especially if you have gas tanks at home. If authorities order an evacuation, take your emergency kit and inform rescue teams of your location. Never try to cross flooded areas or go near rivers and streams, as flash floods can sweep everything away in minutes. For example, during Typhoon Yagi in 2024, hundreds in Hai Phong were saved by following early evacuation orders [Wikipedia, 2024].
Track typhoon updates online at:
After the typhoon: Recovery and new risks
The storm passing doesn’t mean all danger is gone. In the North, flash floods and landslides often occur after typhoons, especially in provinces like Ha Giang or Lang Son. Keep listening to the radio or watching TV for weather updates [NCHMF, 2025]. If your area is at risk of flash floods, avoid moving through low-lying areas or near rivers and streams.
Check for safety first after the storm. Don’t touch downed power lines or walk through flooded areas, as the risk of electric shock is high. Before entering your home, check for damage to walls and roofs. Turn off electricity and gas to prevent fires. Clean items soaked by floodwater and discard contaminated food and water. Only use bottled or boiled water until the water supply is confirmed safe.
Support your neighbors—a beautiful tradition in the North. Check if the elderly, children, or struggling families nearby need help. Report damages to local authorities for assistance. After Typhoon Yagi, rescue teams in Cao Bang helped hundreds of households clean up and restore their lives [Wikipedia, 2024].
Prevent disease as well. Floodwater can carry bacteria, so wash your hands often and keep children away from dirty water. In Hai Phong, where flooding can last, cleaning up after the storm is the best way to prevent outbreaks.
Looking at typhoons from different perspectives
Scientific perspective: Knowledge for resilience
Typhoons in Northern Vietnam form from the combination of the northeast monsoon and tropical cyclones from the East Sea. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, storms here usually have winds from level 8 to 13, gusting above level 16, with heavy rain of 20-120mm [NCHMF, 2025]. Climate change is making storms stronger and less predictable, causing severe flooding in provinces like Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, while Ha Giang faces flash floods due to steep terrain.
Scientific understanding helps us prepare better. For example, building dikes in Hai Phong or improving drainage in urban areas can reduce flood risks. In Ha Giang, monitoring river levels and soil stability is an effective way to forecast flash floods. Compared to other regions like Central Vietnam, the North has experience dealing with storms but still needs investment in early warning technology.
Community perspective: The power of solidarity
Responding to typhoons isn’t just an individual task—it requires the whole community. In the North, training programs by the Vietnam Red Cross have taught people how to prepare emergency kits, recognize landslide signs, and evacuate properly [Vietnam Red Cross, 2024]. These sessions not only provide knowledge but also build solidarity.
In rural villages, the tradition of helping each other shines. After storms, people often clean up together, share food, and support struggling families. However, in some rural areas, access to weather information is limited due to lack of internet or radio. Authorities should strengthen early warning systems, like loudspeakers or SMS alerts, to ensure everyone gets timely information.
Practical perspective: Applying lessons to daily life
To respond effectively to typhoons, you need to integrate measures into daily life. In Quang Ninh, install drainage systems around your home to reduce flooding. In Ha Giang, build houses on high foundations or use waterproof materials for long-term protection. Small changes like regularly checking your roof or always having an emergency kit ready can make a big difference.
Compared to other regions, the North has a long history of coping with storms, but a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows only 60% of households in coastal provinces have a complete emergency kit [MARD, 2024]. This highlights the need to raise awareness and encourage regular preparation. A practical tip: make checking your home and stocking up on supplies an annual habit before typhoon season.
Building a safer future together
To cope with typhoons in Northern Vietnam, thorough preparation is key. Before the storm, monitor forecasts, reinforce your home, and prepare an emergency kit. During the storm, stay indoors, avoid danger, and follow evacuation orders. After the storm, check for safety, clean up, and support your community. Lessons from Typhoon Yagi and previous storms show that careful preparation can save lives and significantly reduce damage.
Start today: check your roof, prepare an emergency kit, and share this knowledge with your family and neighbors. Authorities should also invest in early warning systems and storm-resistant infrastructure, especially in mountainous areas like Ha Giang. Together, we can build a safer community, ready to
References:
- National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. (2025). Weather forecasts and typhoon warnings.
- Wikipedia. (2024). Impact of Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam.
- VMRCC. (2023). Key statistics on typhoons in Vietnam over 70 years.
- Vietnam Red Cross. (2024). Disaster preparedness education program.
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. (2024). Survey report on disaster preparedness in coastal provinces.
