Environment

Vietnam remained among the countries most severely affected by natural disasters in 2025, with disasters leaving 484 people dead or missing and causing economic losses of approximately USD 4 billion.

Forestry officials in Tay Ninh Province have seized nearly 300 birds after a bird trading facility failed to provide documents proving their legal origin.

Hundreds of people were mobilised to tackle a forest fire in Quang Tri Province as extreme heat and strong southwesterly winds hampered firefighting efforts.

Hanoi recorded the country’s highest temperature on May 25 as northern Vietnam faced severe heatwaves ahead of heavy rain forecast later this week.

The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection has warned extremely high forest fire risks across several regions as prolonged heat and dry weather continue to affect Vietnam.

Authorities in Thanh Hoa Province have rejected a proposal to convert 13 hectares of production forest into a soil mining site, citing concerns related to a protected defence area.

Thunderstorms are expected to intensify across Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam from May 25, raising the risk of localised flooding, strong winds and lightning.

Severe thunderstorms and strong winds swept through Ca Mau Province on May 24, damaging dozens of homes and disrupting daily life in several local communities.

Hanoi authorities have begun fencing off and rerouting traffic on several central streets to facilitate anti-flooding construction projects scheduled to run until June 15.

A mountainside in the core zone of the Trang An World Heritage Site in Ninh Binh Province continues to face landslide risks despite earlier stabilisation work costing billions of dong.

Authorities in Quang Tri Province have removed and destroyed a number of bird-trapping nets discovered in rice fields as illegal hunting of wild birds re-emerged in the area.

Authorities in Dong Nai City have raised investment for a drainage project linked to Long Thanh International Airport to nearly VND 1.8 trillion (USD 69 million).

Hanoi and much of northern Vietnam are forecast to endure severe heat, peaking at 42 degrees Celsius in the city on May 26.

Forestry officers in Ca Mau Province have released a wild rhesus macaque into U Minh Ha National Park after the animal was voluntarily handed over by a local resident.

A young elephant was rescued after falling into a pit more than three metres deep in an orchard in Dong Nai City.

Hundreds of rare Asian openbill storks have appeared in rice fields in Dak Lak Province, drawing crowds of residents eager to watch the protected birds feed during their seasonal migration.

Three female environmental workers in Con Dao Island rescued two endangered hawksbill sea turtles after finding them trapped in discarded fishing nets washed ashore on a local beach.

Authorities in Gia Lai Province are investigating the illegal logging of hundreds of casuarina trees in a coastal protection forest in Phu My Dong Commune.

A three-hour downpour early on May 21 left many roads deeply flooded across Ca Mau Province, disrupting traffic and daily activities.