Community awareness in disaster prevention shifts toward proactive, early, and long-term preparedness

This was a key highlight shared at the mid-term review conference on the implementation of the project “Enhancing Community Awareness and Community-Based Disaster Risk Management by 2030” for the 2021-2025 period. The event was jointly organized on the morning of October 31 in Da Nang by the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority, in collaboration with the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper, the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Environment, and UNICEF.

Changing the mindset in disaster response

Viet Nam is among the countries most heavily affected by natural disasters, experiencing more than 20 types of severe and frequent events each year. In 2025 alone, strong storms, extreme rainfall, and consecutive floods caused severe inundation across many provinces in the Central and Northern regions. In this context, the country’s disaster prevention and control efforts have made significant progress, driven by the Government’s strong leadership, the coordinated engagement of the entire political system, and the proactive spirit of local authorities.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Le Trong Dam, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Viet Nam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper, emphasized that Decision No. 553/QD-TTg dated April 6, 2021, issued by the Prime Minister approving the Scheme on “Enhancing Community Awareness and Community-Based Disaster Risk Management until 2030,” is a major policy initiative. It concretizes the Government’s direction of shifting from passive response to proactive prevention, from emergency relief to sustainable risk management.

After nearly five years of implementation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has closely coordinated with relevant ministries, sectors, and local authorities, with strong support from international organizations and active participation from local communities. The Scheme has effectively spread the spirit of proactive disaster preparedness at the grassroots level, significantly improving the capacity of officials and communities in disaster risk management.

According to reports, all 63 provinces and cities nationwide (now reorganized into 34 provincial-level administrative units after consolidation) have issued and implemented their plans for the 2021–2025 phase, integrating community awareness and disaster prevention into socio-economic development plans.

During this period, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with localities and international organizations, organized more than 743,000 training and communication sessions involving over 8.4 million participants, along with 1,176 drills engaging more than 180,000 people. Millions of residents, students, and local officials have been equipped with knowledge and practical skills to respond effectively, contributing to minimizing losses caused by natural disasters.

Communication and outreach activities have been implemented vigorously and creatively through various media channels, including newspapers, websites, and social platforms such as Facebook, Zalo, and YouTube pages under the “Disaster Prevention Information” initiative, creating a strong positive ripple effect.

The VDDMA has also collaborated with the National Agricultural Extension Center to develop community livelihood models in multiple provinces, helping local people adapt to climate change and proactively prevent disasters. Pilot initiatives such as the Sabo dam in Son La, early landslide warning systems in Yen Bai, and the nationwide application of VNDMS and PDMS monitoring systems have significantly improved disaster risk management efficiency.

International cooperation and the application of science and technology in community-based disaster risk reduction have been strengthened, contributing to enhanced capacity, resource mobilization, and modernization of Vietnam’s disaster prevention and control efforts.

Thanks to concerted efforts, community awareness has significantly shifted - from passive response to proactive prevention, from “reacting when disasters occur” to “mitigating risks before they strike.” This transformation lays a solid foundation for Viet Nam to move toward a safe, resilient, and sustainable society in the face of natural disasters.

Continuing intersectoral cooperation to raise awareness

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Tran Gia Khanh from the Department of Planning and Finance under the Ministry of Education and Training emphasized that Viet Nam currently has over 25 million students who play a crucial role as the country’s future generation. Therefore, equipping them with knowledge and skills on disaster response and climate change adaptation from an early age is essential.

Recognizing this importance, the Ministry of Education and Training has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to integrate disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and environmental protection content into various subjects across all educational levels, as well as into teacher training programs.

“Teaching materials have been developed, reviewed, and applied for high schools and secondary schools, and are being expanded to primary and tertiary levels. At the same time, the training of core teachers has been implemented systematically, helping educators become ‘inspirational ambassadors’ in teaching and guiding disaster prevention skills. Through these lessons, students not only acquire knowledge but also develop proactive attitudes and a sense of responsibility, contributing to building safe and resilient communities in the face of natural disasters,” Mr. Khanh said.

Regarding intersectoral coordination, Colonel Pham Hung, Deputy Head of the Disaster Prevention Division under the Vietnam National Search and Rescue Department (General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army), noted that the Ministry of National Defense has directed its units, particularly the National Search and Rescue Department, to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in monitoring climate, weather, and disaster developments, thereby promptly advising the Government on response measures and recovery efforts.

He emphasized that during major storms, the close cooperation between the two ministries has proven highly effective, helping to minimize losses, ensure public safety, and enable the Government to deliver timely and well-targeted disaster responses.

However, delegates also candidly pointed out several challenges in implementing the Project: human and material losses remain high; communication and training activities are uneven due to limited funding; many local officers are overburdened with concurrent tasks; and communication materials are still insufficiently engaging and not yet tailored to regional characteristics.

Building on the achievements of the 2021-2025 period, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has called on localities to stay aligned with the objectives of the 2026-2030 phase of the Program. Key priorities include finalizing technical guidelines, strengthening capacity for local officials and rapid response teams, and diversifying training methods through online platforms, 3D simulations, and digital learning materials. At the same time, localities are urged to enhance communication efforts and mobilize community participation in disaster prevention, response, and recovery, while leveraging resources from the state budget, the Disaster Prevention Fund, private enterprises, and social organizations.

In addition, local governments should intensify education and awareness campaigns on disaster risk reduction, ensuring that community members, especially vulnerable groups, are actively involved in preparedness, response, and recovery activities at the commune level. Communication strategies should be tailored to local contexts to maximize engagement and effectiveness.

Furthermore, resource mobilization and coordination between state budgets, the Disaster Prevention Fund, private sector contributions, and community initiatives are essential to sustain and scale up efforts to enhance disaster awareness and resilience in the coming years.