Natural disasters have caused $1.3bn in damage across Vietnam so far this year

Storms and floods have struck the Southeast Asian country repeatedly in 2025, inflicting heavy damage despite the government's extensive mitigation efforts.

"The people and government of Vietnam have been making great efforts, but in many cases, the damage has gone beyond the people's capacity to cope," Hiep said.

According to official statistics, Vietnam has endured 20 types of natural disasters this year, including 11 storms—six of which made direct landfall and caused severe destruction.

These disasters have left 238 people dead, nearly 400 injured, and damaged or destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes, large areas of crops, and thousands of public facilities such as schools, hospitals, and roads.

The total losses, estimated at VND35 trillion, already equal about half of the total damage recorded in 2024. 

Hiep noted that the figure does not include car repair expenses in flood-hit urban areas.

"In disaster-affected localities like Hanoi or Thai Nguyen, repairing a flooded car can cost around VND20 million [$760]. If you multiply that by the number of affected vehicles, the additional losses easily reach tens of trillions of dong," he said.

Hiep estimated that the economic impact of natural disasters has reduced Vietnam's GDP growth rate by about 0.2 percentage points, compared to a 0.4-point reduction in 2024.

He stressed that flood-hit communities urgently need food, clean water, filters, essential household goods, and assistance for rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods.

The government is drafting a special resolution to guide nationwide recovery efforts, but Hiep acknowledged that domestic resources alone will not be enough.

"We have reported to the prime minister that international organizations are ready to support Vietnam," he said.

"Today's meeting helps us identify key needs and the most efficient ways to deliver aid quickly and accurately."

Representatives from embassies and international organizations at the meeting expressed sympathy with Vietnam and reaffirmed their commitment to assist the provinces hardest hit by recent storms and floods.