Environment

Xuan Thuy National Park in northern Ninh Binh Province was awarded the title of ASEAN Heritage Park on March 22, marking a major milestone in Vietnam’s efforts to protect critical wetland ecosystems.

Cuc Phuong National Park has unveiled Vietnam’s first rewilding action plan, aiming to restore wildlife populations and rebuild ecosystems at the country’s oldest protected area.

A rare pygmy slow loris has been discovered in Lam Dong Province and safely returned to the wild after being handed over to authorities by a local resident.

A venomous snake species first discovered in China last year has now been recorded in Vietnam, expanding its known range beyond a single protected area.

A decomposed 10 metre whale has washed ashore in Nghe An, with authorities coordinating its removal and burial in line with local customs.

Hanoi is accelerating 10 urgent flood-control projects worth about VND 5.579 trillion (around USD 212 million), aiming to boost drainage capacity citywide ahead of the 2026 rainy season.

Vietnam will launch a nationwide campaign promoting energy efficiency and green lifestyles in response to Earth Hour 2026, with a kickoff event in Hanoi expected to draw more than 2,000 participants.

Southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, is entering a widespread heatwave, with temperatures in some areas expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

A weak cold spell is set to affect northern Vietnam from March 20, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms, while heat intensifies in the south.

Vietnam and Belgium have approved a project to treat dioxin-contaminated soil, marking a major step in addressing the long-term environmental and human impacts of war.

A 3.5-metre reticulated python found in a Danang neighbourhood has been safely captured and released back into the wild, authorities said.

Chu Mom Ray National Park in Quang Ngai Province has, for the first time, captured clear images of a hornbill and an otter using camera traps.

Three earthquakes measuring up to 3.8 magnitude struck Quang Ngai Province within two hours on March 17, with no damage reported but tremors clearly felt by residents.

Water levels on the Da River downstream of Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant have dropped sharply, exposing wide sandbanks and allowing residents to walk far into the riverbed.

Danang authorities have declared a natural disaster emergency in several villages of Hung Son Commune after land subsidence and landslide risks were detected, including a hillside collapse.

Thousands of tonnes of household waste have accumulated in several communes in Danang City after a local waste treatment plant suspended operations.

Heat is set to intensify across parts of Vietnam from April, while storm and tropical depression activity this year is expected to remain near the long-term average.

Authorities in Gia Lai Province have approved a project aimed at helping coastal communities adapt to climate change.

Northern Vietnam is expected to see sunnier and warmer weather from March 17 as weakening cold air gives way to rising temperatures, with some areas forecast to exceed 33 degrees Celsius.