In Vietnam, climate change brings more intense storms and flooding. This new circumstance is compelling the nation to reconsider how we approach flood management. The country, which normally sees an average of a dozen storms each year, suffered a catastrophic succession of storms in 2025. Climate experts like Horton have called this event a “clear harbinger” of global warming.
Ocean temperatures are now nearly 1 degree Celsius (33.8 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than they were prior to the industrial era. This warming has greatly increased the severity of storms and extreme weather events. In the process, we are now experiencing unprecedented inundation that turns our roadways into waterways and endangers hillsides from coast to coast.
The cost of these natural disasters has been staggering. Floods frequently devastate agriculture, fisheries, and manufacturing, adding to the vicissitudes that plague Vietnam’s economy. In 2025, damages from an increased frequency of extreme weather events totaled $1.4 billion. This shocking statistic highlights the serious need for intervention, adaptation, and innovation.
Vietnam plans to grow into a high-income country by 2045—its ambition sliding under major challenges. Our nation and neighbors are struck hard by the disastrous effects of climate disruption. Vietnam projects that it will have to spend $55 billion to $92 billion in the next 10 years to just cope with the effects of climate change much less prevent and adapt.
Over three-quarters of Hanoi’s surface—including a large swath of its low-lying, highly urbanized city center—lie underneath this flooding danger. This statistic highlights the urgent challenge that our cities will continue to face as climate change continues to ramp up. Federal and state governments have responded to the crisis by promising more than $6 billion to build early-warning systems and move communities away from flood-prone areas.
Yet Vietnam is spending billions to cope with the onslaught of climate extremes. This action is a critical piece of the country’s larger plan to fight climate change. This investment is essential for protecting vulnerable populations, including the approximately 18 million residents in its two largest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The Sun Group continues to spearhead the new township project in Nha Trang. This groundbreaking project will be the world’s first truly “sponge city.” Not only is this creative design going to have 60 hectares (148 acres) of wetlands for stormwater treatment and flood reduction,
Anna Beswick, an expert in climate resilience, emphasizes the importance of forward-thinking strategies:
“If we plan based on past experience, we won’t be resilient in the future.”
This impression could be heard all over Vietnam. National Adaptation Needs Authorities admit that the flood management approach we’ve used historically is insufficient to address the mounting challenges created by climate change. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and planning for future uncertainties, Vietnam aims to protect its citizens and bolster its economy against the growing threat posed by climate change.
