According to statistics, the super typhoon Yagi in 2024 left a huge "scar" on the economy with losses of up to 3.3 billion USD. However, 2025 continues to witness unpredictable climate fluctuations with 12 storms and tropical depressions as of November, typically Bualoi, Matmo and most recently Kalmaegi.
Dr Scott McDonald, lecturer in Supply Chain Management and Logistics at RMIT University Vietnam, said that the flood risk map in Vietnam is changing fundamentally. From an economic perspective, natural disasters are no longer random incidents but a systemic risk, directly threatening the continuity of businesses and national infrastructure.
The incident of tourists in Hoi An having to evacuate urgently at the end of October 2025 due to the hydroelectric dam releasing floodwaters, or the memory of the sudden flood discharge in Ha Tinh in 2016, shows a big loophole in the operating process. When the "flood discharge process" becomes an obsession for the downstream area, it not only causes damage to people's lives but also paralyzes local economic activities, especially tourism and agriculture .
Hoi An was submerged in water during the historic flood at the end of October (Photo: DT).
According to experts, to reduce losses, Vietnam needs to shift investment from recovery to prevention, in the spirit of sustainable development (ESG).
Firstly, in terms of technology, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in early warning is a strategic investment. These systems are capable of integrating real-time data, helping to provide warnings 48-72 hours in advance, the “golden time” to help businesses and localities activate backup plans, protect goods, people and supply chain infrastructure.
Second, there is a need to change the way reservoir operations are run. Instead of releasing water after an incident, authorities need to adopt a proactive water management strategy based on meteorological forecasts. This requires accurate data integration and more flexible decision-making mechanisms.
In addition, engineering solutions such as dikes and reservoirs need to be supplemented with “natural infrastructure”. Citing environmental expert Brad Jessup (University of Melbourne), Dr. McDonald emphasized that restoring watershed forests and wetlands is a long-term economic and ecological investment that helps absorb and slow down flood flows much more effectively than purely technical measures.
Vietnam is among the countries with the highest flood risk in the world , so disaster resilience should be considered an important indicator of national competitiveness.
Dr. McDonald proposed the establishment of a National Flood Risk Management Authority with the role of “conductor” with unified coordination authority, tightening land use planning, banning housing development in high-risk areas and mobilizing international funding for climate adaptation programs.
In a context of increasingly frequent climate extremes, delays will cost not only money but also lives and development opportunities. Vietnam needs a proactive strategy, combining modern technology with nature-based solutions, to create a “shield” to protect the economy in the next decade.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/chuyen-gia-quoc-te-viet-nam-can-chien-luoc-phong-ngua-thien-tai-kieu-moi-20251128091716173.htm
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