LocationsNew Roads, Stronger Bridges, Safer Lives: Communities Prepare for Storm Seasons
March 6, 2026
In Lao Cai province – where storms strike without warning, the rhythm of life often changes with rains. Hence, community preparedness is not just a precaution – it is a lifeline. And as the 2025 stormy season began with alarming intensity, that truth became clearer than ever.
The first storm, Wutip, formed unusually early in June over the East Viet Nam Sea. That was a rare phenomenon, as early-season storms typically develop near the Philippines. It caused record-breaking precipitation in Viet Nam’s central and highland regions.
As global warming accelerates, natural disasters are becoming more unpredictable and more severe. No one knows exactly how strong or how long they will be, but everyone knows precisely that their consequences will be devastating.
Preparedness is no longer a choice – it is a necessity. And no one understands that better than the communities living on the frontlines.
Paved Roads, Planted Hope
The condition of the road before being repaired in May 2025
That spirit of preparedness is evident in Gia Thuong hamlet, Phuc Khanh Commune, Lao Cai province, where even a short, narrow dirt road used to represent a serious risk during heavy rains.
In this remote area, the road had long been the only access for 46 families. Whenever the rains came, it turned to mud - slippery and dangerous for everyone.
“A lot of people and vehicles slipped on this road, especially elderly and kids,” said Vi Thi Lan, who lives alongside it. “After Yagi flood in 2024, mud was all over the road. We had to clean it ourselves to get by.”
But in July 2025, the villagers finally saw their hope materialise. With technical and financial support from the project funded by the Australian Government, they excitedly came together to build a new 150-meter concrete road through the cash-for-work scheme.
“It’s not a long road,” said Phung Van Phu, the village head. “But it makes travelling safer and gives us hope, especially the elderly, who no longer worry about falling every time it rains.”
A Canal Reclaimed, A Harvest Restored
Elsewhere in Lao Cai, the effects of previous storms still lingered - but so did the community’s determination to recover.
Back in September 2024, Typhoon Yagi buried over 15 hectares of rice fields in Dong Mong 1 under thick layers of mud.
“100 households lost everything and faced the fact that they could not maintain their livelihoods as the 1.3-kilometre irrigation canal had been completely blocked,” Hua Thi Nhiem, former deputy chair of Phuc Khanh Commune, recalled.
For nearly a year, families had to switch to short season crops such as corn or sweet potatoes while looking for assistance to restore soil quality and access to water to continue rice cultivation.
“Luckily, we are receiving great support to return to normal,” Nhiem shared excitedly. Through another cash-for-work initiative, dozens of residents joined hands - earning VND 250,000 per day, to clear the canal and bring water back to the rice fields.
“I’m more than happy, because for all of us here – in Dong Mong 1 – our livelihoods depend on rice cultivation. Without it, we do not have enough rice for daily consumption,” shared Ms. Nim – the villager.
A Bridge Over a Fast-Flowing Stream
In another part of Gia Thuong Commune, this small yet fast-flowing stream turned into a constant fear whenever it rained. Children could not cross. Adults had to take a detour far away.
But in July 2025, a new concrete bridge was built – sturdy and much higher than the water underneath. Community members co-financed labour and materials. More than infrastructure, it is an assurance that people on both sides of the stream no longer face risks when going to the centre of the commune for work or school, even in rainy weather.
Stocked and Ready: Equipment for Emergency Response
While improved infrastructure plays a critical role, Lao Cai’s readiness also depends on how well communities can respond when storms strike.
Ahead of the third storm of 2025, community warehouses in Phuc Khanh, Xuan Hoa, and Bao Yen Communes were fully stocked with boats, generators, chainsaws, rubber boots, tents, helmets, and other essential disaster-response equipment. These were provided prior to the 2025 storm season and are prepositioned in key strategic locations of the communes, ready for life-saving activities.
Hoang Van Do, chief of the local disaster response team in Phuc Khanh, recalled the last Typhoon Yagi: “Last year, we had to build wooden boats ourselves just to evacuate people. But it was late. We saved lives but lost most of their belongings.”
But everything is set to change this year. “We can respond more effectively when floods come, not only to evacuate people but also to move their belongings to safety. But honestly, we hope we never have to use them,” Do shared.
In addition, 10 community-based disaster preparedness training sessions were held across the communes, equipping residents with lifesaving skills - from first aid to evacuation drills and interpreting early warnings.
In Lao Cai province, these efforts - from cash-for-work activities and rehabilitating public infrastructures to increasing community disaster response capacities through human-centered approaches - are implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Lao Cai Red Cross, with financial support from the Government of Australia through the Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
To an End - and a Beginning
No one wishes for storms to come. But here in Lao Cai, one of the flood-prone areas of Viet Nam, communities are now better prepared when heavy rains and storms approach. Life has resumed, and residents are more proactive and united - ready to face the next storm with greater confidence, calm, and care.
More than a paved road, a cleared irrigation canal, a newly built bridge, and an emergency kit, it is a whole community actively responding to the upcoming stormy season, with fewer losses.
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