Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep called for risks to be identified, forecast and flagged early, with action taken before they escalate into disasters. He made the call at a rally in Hanoi on October 13 marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and ASEAN Day for Disaster Management 2026.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Hanoi National University of Education and international members of the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership co-hosted the event. This year’s theme, “Resilience starts at home”, stresses each household’s role in preparing for disasters, cutting risks and building resilience.
Recent experience, including the Quang Trung Campaign, shows that success depends on coordinated efforts by the political system, armed forces, authorities and the public, backed by international partners, Hiep said. Nationwide contests such as “Ring the Golden Bell” and “School Ambassador” help students learn through interactive activities while building disaster response skills.
A competition on teaching materials for disaster prevention and climate change adaptation expanded from two universities of education in 2025 to four in 2026, drawing thousands of teachers who will pass safety knowledge to future generations.
Disaster-resilient school models have been built and are becoming examples of proactive preparedness, helping lay a foundation for safe and sustainable communities able to withstand future natural hazards.
Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said shifting climate conditions and overlapping hazards mean disaster risk reduction must be integrated with climate response, water security, social welfare and economic growth. She called for a shift to proactive forecasting and risk management, prevention and reduction of risks, and resilience as an investment in sustainable development.
To protect Vietnam’s development gains, Tamesis set out four priorities: turning early warnings into early action, scaling up anticipatory action, building resilience into development processes, and putting people and communities at the centre.
Participants heard lessons from the armed forces’ role in the Quang Trung Campaign and watched a video about it. The event honoured the winning teams in the teaching materials competition, and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam received the Prime Minister’s certificate of merit for its contribution to disaster risk reduction.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
