Hanoi (VNA) – The Earth experienced ♏its strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades on May 10, with Vietnam directly in its path.
Classified at Level 5, the storm has produced dazzling auroras but also posed a risk of disrupting satellites and power grids as it is expected to linger until the end of this week.
Asso. Prof Ha Duyen Chau, former Director of the Institute of Geophysics at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, said geomagnetic storm negatively affects human health as it strongly impacts the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Studies have shown potential increases in heart rate and blood pressure, especially among the elderly. Additionally, white blood cell counts may decrease during a storm, potentially contributing to the spread of certain diseases like cholera, plague, influenza, typhoid and meningitis. However, it is important to note that healthy people are generally unaffected. The most susceptible include those with neurological or cardiovascular diseases, or sensitive to magnetic fields. Symptoms can range from fatigue, restlessness to death in extreme cases.
Asso. Prof Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Institute of Geophysics, said Vietnam now has four stations dedicated to monitoring magnetic variations and geomagnetic storms, supporting research and forecasting. They are located in Phu Thuy, the outlying district of Gia Lam; Sapa in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai; Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong; and the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu.
However, only the Phu Thuy and Da Lat stations are able to transmit data directly to the institute and international monitoring networks.
The institute plans to upgrade geomagnetic and ionospheric data collection stations with modern digital magnetometers to enhance the quality of research and storm forecasting, he said, adding that it will collaborate with Japan to repair the magnetic field recording equipment at the Bac Lieu station./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has recently issued an official dispatch requesting preparations in response to a tropical depression which is likely to strengthen into a storm and cause flooding.
Talim, the first storm to hit Vietnam this year, was about 140km east-southeast of Mong Cai, the northern province of Quang Ninh, with a velocity of 89-117km per hour as of 4am on July 18, reported National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
Talim, the first storm to hit Vietnam this year, made landfall along Vietnam's border with China and weakened into a tropical depression at about 4pm on July 18, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).
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Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
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Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
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The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
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The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
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Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
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According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, this is considered a decisive factor in the development of nations. It is seen as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for Vietnam to become prosperous and powerful in the new era of the nation’s rise.
Vietnam’s demographic advantage, including a youthful population of 100 million in a “golden age”, further bolsters its ambitions. Its dynamic workforce, with a natural inclination toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is a key asset in attracting private investment to innovation-driven sectors.
Vietnam views sci-tech as a decisive factor in national development and a key tool for achieving sustainable development goals, and is ready to boost sci-tech cooperation with Venezuela for mutual prosperity.
