The workshop gathered over 70 delegates from various departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, representatives from flood-prone provinces such as Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Binh Dinh, as well as experts from research institutes, universities, and international development organizations.
This event is part of Phase 2 of the “Zurich Community Resilience Asia (ZCRA)” project, funded by the Z Zurich Foundation (Zurich Insurance Group – Switzerland). The project, implemented from 2024 to 2027, spans 18 communes/wards across Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Binh Dinh, Hue, and Can Tho, aiming to strengthen climate resilience for vulnerable communities and support local authorities in effectively implementing disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies.
Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Director General of VDDMA
In his opening remarks, Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Director General of VDDMA, emphasized:
"Climate change is making floods and inundations in Vietnam increasingly extreme. In 2024 alone, storms and post-storm floods caused hundreds of deaths and missing persons, with economic losses reaching tens of trillions of VND. Applying science and technology in flood risk management has become more urgent than ever."
At the workshop, participants shared practical experiences from successful technology-based models, such as early warning systems, flood warning databases, and decision-support tools in disaster risk management. It also provided a platform for local authorities to raise their needs and propose tailored solutions.
Ms. Dang Thi Huong, Deputy Head of the Disaster Response and Recovery Department (VDDMA)
Ms. Dang Thi Huong, Deputy Head of the Disaster Response and Recovery Department (VDDMA), delivered an overview of flood risks and damage reduction efforts in Vietnam. Other presentations included: Experiences in early warning systems in Hue City; A decision-support tool for flood response in Dien Bien Province; Flood risk management practices in mountainous communities in northern and central Vietnam.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Deputy Director of the National Key Laboratory on River and Coastal Engineering, presented a flood response decision-support tool developed for Dien Bien Province.
Through this workshop, the organizers hope to promote science- and technology-based initiatives in disaster prevention and control while sharing practical lessons that help build safer, more climate-resilient communities across Vietnam.
