In the face of increasingly severe climate impacts, authorities and residents in the provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh have proactively developed plans and implemented effective measures to minimise damage caused by natural disasters. These efforts are integral to the sustainable socio-economic development strategies of both provinces.
Unusual natural disasters
After just one night of heavy rain in late May 2025, over 2,250 hectares of unharvested spring rice, more than 2,000 tonnes of harvested rice, and thousands of livestock and poultry were submerged in floodwater in the Ha Tinh districts of Cam Xuyen, Ky Anh, and Huong Khe.
Bui Van Tinh, a lifelong resident of Cam Due Commune in Cam Xuyen District—accustomed to flooding in the downstream area of Ke Go Reservoir for decades—was still shocked by the speed of the rising waters. “The flood came too fast; we couldn’t react in time. Who would have thought floods would strike in the fourth lunar month, the driest time of the year?”
Tran Duc Thinh, Chief of Office at Ha Tinh’s natural disaster management agency, explained that the flood season typically begins in August and ends in November. In recent years, however, floods have become more frequent and intense, rising quickly and receding slowly, leading to prolonged inundation in low-lying areas and adversely affecting socio-economic activities.
These extreme weather patterns are not unique to Ha Tinh. Across the north central region, climate change has led to a noticeable increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. In October 2022, a historic flash flood in Ky Son District (Nghe An) lasted only three hours but claimed one life, swept away 56 houses, damaged hundreds more, and caused an estimated 200 billion VND (7.6 million USD) in property damage.
Lo Van Thoong of Hoa Son Village, Ta Ca Commune, recalled: “In just a few dozen minutes, a torrent of soil and rocks surged down, sweeping away everything. Fortunately, the flood occurred during daylight, giving people a chance to escape. It was the most terrifying flood I’ve ever witnessed.”
In addition to such historic floods, the north central provinces also experience a range of abnormal weather phenomena each year, including cold spells, severe and harmful cold, extreme heat waves, whirlwinds, lightning, hailstorms, and widespread heavy rainfall triggered by storms—all of which result in significant loss of life and property.
From 2020 to 2024, natural disasters caused over 4.4 trillion VND (168 million USD) in damages in these localities, killing 58 people, flooding tens of thousands of homes, and destroying hundreds more.
According to Le Duc Cuong, Deputy Director of the Central Regional Hydrometeorological Station, the region was affected by 16 cold air masses in 2024, including three particularly severe ones. It also experienced indirect impacts from three typhoons, which brought heavy rainfall. Notably, saltwater intrusion in the downstream Ca River (Nghe An) exceeded historical records.
Forecasts for 2025 anticipate increasingly complex weather patterns, especially from May onwards, with widespread heatwaves expected. Two to three tropical storms or depressions are likely to affect Nghe An and Ha Tinh, particularly in September and October.
Leaders in Nghe An and Ha Tinh acknowledge that quantitative forecasting of rain, flash floods, and landslides in narrow areas remains limited. To proactively respond to unpredictable climate impacts, local authorities have prepared evacuation plans for coastal residents, those in flood-prone zones, landslide areas, and regions downstream from reservoirs and dams.
Living safely with floods
In response to erratic weather conditions, residents of Nghe An and Ha Tinh have adapted from “living with floods” to “living safely with floods.” Community cultural houses that double as storm and flood shelters, as well as flood-resistant homes, have become widespread. These structures offer optimal solutions for residents during storm and flood seasons.
Chau Nhan Commune, in Nghe An’s Hung Nguyen District, is a low-lying area where over half the households live outside the Ta Lam dyke. During peak floods—such as those in 1978, 1988, 2002, and 2010—entire rooftops were submerged, forcing residents to seek refuge on the dyke, bringing with them motorbikes, rice, livestock, and poultry.
However, since the construction of flood shelters, residents no longer need to evacuate during the rainy season. Instead, they now prepare food in advance, move valuables to higher ground, and stay in elevated shelters until floodwaters recede.
Pham Van Hoan, a resident of Phu Xuan Village and one of the first to build a flood shelter, said: “We received state support to build a flood-resistant shelter. Normally, we live in the ground-level house, but during storms, we move everything to the upper floor, where we stay until the water recedes. This has protected our lives and property for years.”
Chau Nhan Chairman Le Khanh Quang noted that the commune currently has nearly 70 flood shelters, each costing just 30–70 million VND (1,100–2,600 USD)—affordable for rural households. Since these shelters were built, residents have felt more secure during storm seasons, enabling them to stabilise their livelihoods and escape poverty.
In Ha Tinh, beyond mobilising resources to support over 10,000 low-income households in building sturdy, flood-resistant homes, the province has constructed 105 community cultural houses that also serve as storm shelters. These not only provide venues for cultural activities and socio-economic development, but also act as safe havens during floods and disasters.
Tho Ba Re, Deputy Chairman of Ky Son District, shared: “Drawing from past disasters, we now assess high-risk areas for landslides, flash floods, and heavy flooding before each storm season and develop corresponding disaster response plans. To enhance flood preparedness, the Nam Mo River embankment project was completed in March 2025, and the Son Ha Village resettlement area in Ta Ca Commune is now finished. These are key infrastructure projects that play a vital role in safeguarding hundreds of households in disaster-prone areas.”
This proactive approach extends beyond Ky Son. In recent years, numerous strategic projects have been launched across Nghe An. A notable example is the restoration and upgrade of the North Nghe An irrigation system—one of the province’s two major irrigation networks—which was inaugurated in March 2024. The project supplies water to more than 28,000 hectares of farmland across five districts and towns, benefiting nearly one million residents. Upon completion, the area receiving stable irrigation will increase by 9,164 hectares, while waterlogging will be reduced across 15,000 hectares.
“Natural disasters are inherently complex and unpredictable. Therefore, in 2025, Nghe An must uphold the principle of ‘proactive prevention, timely response, and swift, effective recovery,’ with prevention as the top priority,” emphasised Nguyen Van De, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Province.
