Hydro-meteorology: Green data in the new era

Over 2,800 hydro-meteorological stations nationwide

After 80 years of development and growth, Viet Nam’s Hydro-Meteorological (H-M) sector has consistently played a frontline role in disaster prevention, ensuring national security, defense, and socio-economic development. Entering a new era, with climate change and digital transformation presenting unprecedented challenges, the sector is undergoing significant innovation, aiming for green, modern, and sustainable development.

Currently, a network of 2,807 H-M stations and observation points across the country, operated by over 2,600 staff, engineers, and experts, forms a crucial foundation for providing timely, early, and remote information for forecasting, disaster warning, and economic planning. In recent years, Viet Nam’s forecast quality has approached the advanced level in the region, with reliability reaching 70-80% for extreme weather events.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has designated Viet Nam as the Regional Support Center for Extreme Weather Forecasting and Flash Flood Warning in ASEAN, marking a milestone that affirms the credibility and capability of Viet Nam’s hydro-meteorological sector on the international stage.

During the 2020-2025 period, despite facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasingly evident impacts of climate change, and the demands of deeper international integration, the H-M sector achieved significant progress. The policy and legal framework for hydro-meteorology has been gradually completed, with 34 legal documents issued, including the Sector Development Strategy to 2030 with a vision to 2045, and the Sector Modernization Project to 2030. The national H-M station network has been expanded, automated, and integrated with advanced technologies, including satellites, radar, remote sensing, AI, and big data.

Digitizing hydro-meteorological archive

Looking toward 2025-2030, the Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration (VNMHA) has identified three strategic breakthroughs: modernization, digitization, and a high-quality workforce. Digital transformation is considered the key to ushering the sector into the era of green data and smart governance. VNMHA aims to complete the national H-M database, ensure seamless connectivity with ministries, sectors, and localities; digitize all hydro-meteorological archives; increase specialized computing capacity tenfold compared to 2020; and provide 100% of Level 4 online public services.

These efforts are not only about upgrading technology but also about creating a foundation for predictive, impact-based, and proactive decision-making. By fully integrating data from observation networks, remote sensing, and AI-driven modeling, Viet Nam aims to provide precise and timely information to protect communities, support sustainable development, and strengthen resilience to climate extremes. The move toward comprehensive digitization will transform meteorological data into actionable knowledge for agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, and environmental protection, solidifying the sector’s role as a cornerstone of national security and socio-economic stability.

The H-M sector is also shifting its focus from “phenomenon-based forecasting” to “impact-based forecasting,” applying artificial intelligence to analyze and warn about natural disasters such as storms, flash floods, and landslides, aiming to minimize risks to communities. At the same time, efforts are underway to improve the legal framework, socialization mechanisms, and commercialization of H-M products and services, encouraging participation from businesses, organizations, and individuals in the meteorological data ecosystem.

Another critical focus is building a highly skilled workforce. The sector prioritizes training professionals proficient in advanced technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT; implementing tailored incentive programs to attract and retain top talent; and optimizing the organizational structure to ensure efficiency, modernity, and operational effectiveness.

Additionally, Viet Nam’s H-M sector continues to deepen international cooperation, enhance information sharing, participate in regional and global forecasting networks, and gradually affirm Viet Nam’s position as one of Asia’s dynamic hydrometeorological centers.

Building on 80 years of tradition, with a spirit of innovation and aspiration, Viet Nam’s H-M sector is steadfastly pursuing green and sustainable development, becoming the nation’s trusted guardian of the skies and actively contributing to the goals of digital government, a digital economy, and a society resilient to all natural hazards. 

On the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of Agriculture and Environment Day and the 1st National Patriotic Emulation Congress, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is organizing a series of events running from July to December 2025.