The historic central city of Hue was recently hit by severe flooding. (Photo: Vietnam Government News)
Vietnam’s 15th storm of the year, Typhoon Koto, has hit with force, worsening living conditions for communities already battered by months of flooding. Official data shows that storms since January have caused an estimated 3.2 billion USD in damages. While climate change and shifting environmental conditions are widely cited drivers, experts argue that gaps in the country’s climate adaptation policies have also played a significant role.
Rebuilding over prevention leaves adaptation gaps, experts say
November is typically the tail end of Vietnam’s rainy season. Yet in recent weeks, major tourist destinations such as Hoi An and Nha Trang were submerged for days, while the historic central city of Hue recorded more than 1,700 millimeters of rainfall in just 24 hours. Even Ho Chi Minh City and the northern capital Hanoi were unable to escape severe flooding.
