Vietnam's QPT strengthens communities' resilience against disasters

Disaster prevention and support for people’s livelihoods

Since its establishment, the Vietnam Disaster Prevention Community Fund (QPT) has implemented a wide range of activities, from building disaster prevention infrastructure, providing clean water, supporting livelihoods, and protecting the environment, to delivering emergency relief and promoting community education.

According to Mrs. Ha Thuy Hanh, Deputy Director of QPT: "The fund has constructed solid two-story community centers in areas frequently affected by storms and floods. To date, 25 provinces and cities have benefited from these initiatives, with 14 community centers, 20 medical stations, and 88 schools built, at a total cost of over 320 billion VND."

In addition, the fund has supported the construction of 25 clean water facilities, including water treatment plants and pipeline systems for many villages and communes; provided plastic tanks and PVC water storage pipes to store water during the dry season, with a total cost of over 161 billion VND, helping 13 localities improve their domestic water supply.

With the motto “No student left behind because of disasters,” the “For a green future” program has awarded scholarships and savings books to 1,200 students severely affected by floods, with a total funding of 6.5 billion VND.

The fund has also placed strong emphasis on protecting mangrove forests, with more than 339 hectares planted in five provinces, creating a green belt to prevent erosion and saltwater intrusion, protect ecosystems, and improve coastal livelihoods.

Since 2016, QPT has implemented a flood and rain early warning project by installing community-based rain gauge stations and automated flood warning towers. The project has delivered significant results in supporting communities and local authorities in responding to natural disasters.

3 phases of commune-level disaster response: Solutions from the QPT 

Disaster prevention and control at the commune level, as proposed by the Vietnam Disaster Prevention Community Fund (QPT), is organized into three phases: before, during, and after a disaster.

Before a disaster, commune authorities develop detailed disaster prevention and control (DPC) plans tailored to local topography and population characteristics. For example, in coastal communes, plans are drawn up to evacuate residents to safe locations in the event of a storm, while in riverside areas, zones with high flood risk are identified and lists of households requiring evacuation are prepared. At the same time, training sessions and drills are organized to equip residents with response skills, such as practicing evacuation procedures when a storm approaches.

During a disaster, the commune assigns a 24/7 duty team to monitor information from higher authorities and promptly handle emergencies. If necessary, evacuation orders are issued immediately according to the plan, moving residents to safe locations such as schools or community centers. In parallel, on-the-spot response measures such as securing houses, reinforcing dikes, and safeguarding property, those are carried out to minimize damage.

"After a disaster, local authorities and the community quickly visit and assist affected families, helping them overcome the consequences and rebuild their lives. Military forces, disaster response task forces, and local residents are mobilized to clean up, repair houses, and restore essential infrastructure. Damage assessment and reporting must be carried out to propose appropriate support measures, enabling the community to resume production as soon as possible," Mrs. Hanh said.

Financial resources for disaster prevention and control must be approved and allocated appropriately based on each locality's specific needs and risk levels. This will ensure that lower-level authorities have sufficient funding to implement their planned activities effectively.

To ensure effective decentralization and delegation of authority, the Vietnam's Government and relevant ministries have reviewed and guided the revision of legal documents. To date, the Government has issued 31 decrees on decentralization and delegation, including important ones in the fields of agriculture and environment, such as Decree No. 136/2025/ND-CP and, most recently, Decree No. 200/2025/ND-CP, focusing on clarifying responsibilities across different levels.