Hanoi (VNA) - Experts have warned of more severe weather conditions this year, p🍌articularly a drought and heat wave.
Le Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecast Centre, said more severe weather conditions have been forecast for this year, which may intersect or clash with each other, with damaging results.
Houses and crops could be seriously damaged and the lives of people would be affected, he said.
Hai said the Central Highlands, the southern and northwest regions may experience a severe drought.
The weather will start becoming hotter earlier and will last from April till August, he said. The average temperature across the country will increase by 1-1.5 degrees Celsius compared with the average temperature of previous years.
Unusual weather conditions are also likely to occur, such as higher rainfall during the dry season and lower rainfall during the monsoon, he said.
Last year witnessed a similar situation when many central coastal provinces faced a 50-70 percent rain shortage during the rainy season, while record rains were seen in localities such as Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai during the dry season.
The deputy director also warned the El Nino phenomenon would continue to affect the country in the first half of this year. Hot and dry weather was likely in the Central Highlands and the southern region in June and in the southern coastal provinces in August.
Since 2015, Vietnam has been suffering from the impact of El Nino – likely to be the longest one in the last six decades – with nearly 40,000ha of agricultural land rendered inadequate water for production due to a massive drought across the central region, the Central Highlands and the southern region. The weather pattern also caused a water shortage that affected tens of thousands of people’s daily life.
“In the latter half of the year, people should stay alert against more storms, and if the La Nina phenomenon follows right after El Nino, it will have the opposite effect of El Nino, resulting in more rain, flooding and the risk of landslides,” he said.
Nguyen Duc Hoa, the deputy head of the centre’s Medium and Long-term Hydro-Meteorological Forecast Office, warned residents to take precautions against hailstorms and whirlwinds, which often start in March and last till October.-VNA
Crippling drought and saline intrusion are forecasted to continue damaging the south-central, Central Highlands and southern regions in April due to the devastating El Nino phenomenon.
The Mekong Delta has been hit a double blow of prolonged drought and salt intrusion due to the impacts of El-Nino, as well as low water supplies from underground and the upper river.
The Mekong Delta should promptly increase connectivity among its localities to create policies and mechanisms in order to ensure national food security, said Tran Huu Hiep, head of the Southwestern St
A workshop was held in Dak Lak province to discuss measures to prevent drought and promote sustainable development of key industrial crops in the South East and Central Highlands regions.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
In 2005, Nghe An had 570 captive bears, the largest number in Vietnam. Thanks to efforts by local authorities, forest rangers, and rescue forces, the number has fallen to just 15.
Severe drought in Ben Tre province (Photo: VNA)
