One year after Typhoons Bualoi and Matmo caused devastating floods and landslides across northern Viet Nam, communities in Thái Nguyên and Cao Bằng provinces are rebuilding stronger and improving their resilience to future disasters.

On 2 October 2026, a joint delegation from the Australian Embassy, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, has visited Thái Nguyên province.

Australia’s Development Counsellor Ms Naomi Cook and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam Ms Francesca Nardini, officially opened a new disaster-resilient house for Ms Hoàng Thị Liên in Đồng Hỷ commune, built with support from the Australian Government.

The house is one example of a number of recovery initiatives supported through Australia's partnership with UNDP following the disaster, which inundated more than 200,000 homes and caused an estimated VND 4,300 billion in losses across Thái Nguyên province. The program, in response to Vietnam’s request, has focused on helping poor and vulnerable households recover while strengthening community resilience to future disasters.

The house opening formed part of a joint visit to review progress and results achieved through Australia-supported recovery and resilience-building efforts in affected communities. The delegation also met local families, authorities and disaster response teams to see how investments in housing, livelihoods, infrastructure and emergency preparedness are helping communities recover and build resilience. The delegation talked with a group of community volunteers who have been trained and equipped to respond to disasters in the future, and met the leader of Thai Nguyen Provincial People’s Committee, Mr Nông Quang Nhất.

Safer homes, vital infrastructure and stronger communities
The opening of Ms Hoàng Thị Liên's new home was a powerful example of how resilient recovery can help reduce future disaster risks while supporting vulnerable households.

Ms Liên, 76, lost much of her home during the 2025 floods, when floodwaters reached approximately 1.5 metres. When the delegation last visited Thái Nguyên in May, construction of her disaster-resilient house had only recently commenced. Five months later, the delegation joined Ms Liên and her family to officially open the completed home, which now provides a safer place to live and greater protection from future flooding.

This is one of 20 new resilient houses completed and 100 houses repaired under the Australia-UNDP project. In addition, 1,340 households received cash assistance, three community infrastructure facilities such as roads have been constructed, and support for ten local cooperatives is well underway.

In Bến Đò Hamlet, Linh Sơn Ward, the delegation visited a newly constructed 300-metre community road serving around 200 households and providing access to nearly three hectares of agricultural land. The improved road is strengthening local connectivity and access to livelihoods, while the rehabilitation works also created cash-for-work opportunities for affected community members, including women.

The delegation also met with the Linh Sơn Ward Disaster Response Team to learn how project-supported training and equipment are strengthening local preparedness and emergency response capacity.

Australian Embassy Vietnam’s Counsellor Development Cooperation Naomi Cook said: "Australia is proud to partner with Viet Nam and UNDP to support families affected by last year's floods. From resilient housing and restored livelihoods to stronger local preparedness, this partnership is helping communities recover while reducing future disaster risks."
"Today we celebrated the opening of a new home for Ms Liên and her family, but this house represents something much bigger. It demonstrates how recovery support can help communities not only rebuild after disasters, but become safer and more resilient to future shocks."

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam Francesca Nardini said: “Resilient recovery is not simply about rebuilding what was damaged. It is an opportunity to reduce future risks and strengthen the capacity of communities to withstand disasters. The results in Thái Nguyên demonstrate what can be achieved when timely international support is combined with strong national and local leadership and the active participation of affected communities.”

Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Director General, Viet nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) said: “The experience in Thái Nguyên demonstrates the importance of linking disaster response, resilient recovery and disaster risk reduction, while ensuring that the needs and participation of local communities remain at the centre of recovery efforts. Restoring homes, livelihoods and essential infrastructure must go hand in hand with strengthening local preparedness and response capacity.”

Media contacts 
UNDP: Ms Phan Huong Giang; Mobile: +84 948 466 688; Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org

Australian Embassy : Ms Le Trang; Tel: +84 24 3774 0216; Email: Trangle.Nguyen@dfat.gov.au