[English]
[Music]
Coming to you from Hanoi, Vietnam,
we are broadcasting live on Newsline. I'm Thao Trang and I'm Brian Pham. And here are the headlines from this
news hour. International Day for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction 2025. Vietnam takes action for resilience.
International Day for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction. Vietnam acts for resilience.
And global cuisine brings the world closer together at the first world cultural festival in Hanoi.
We begin today's newsletter with an update on the prospects for peace in Gaza.
Well, a major international summit on Gaza is scheduled to take place this afternoon
local time in Egypt co-hosted by Egyptian President Abdan Fata
LCC and US President Donald Trump with the participation of more than 20 world leaders.
A reporter from Vietnam Television in the Middle East has detailed information.
The summit aims to end the war in the Gaza Strip, strengthen efforts to achieve peace and
stability in the Middle East and usher in a new era of security and stability in the region. Among
those expected to attend are the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the prime ministers of Britain,
of Italy and Spain, as well as the president of France. The meeting of many of the world's top leaders
emphasized both the urgency and global scope of the Gaza crisis, and sent a strong signal
pressuring Israel and Hamas to maintain their commitments. Certainly, this is a
historic turning point for the peace process in the Middle East. However, many regional commentators
also emphasized that this is just the beginning and that the road ahead is still long and difficult
with much work to be done to achieve lasting peace and stability for the Gaza Strip.
Before going to Egypt, President Donald Trump is expected to visit Israel
within a few hours, where he will deliver a speech to the Israeli Parliament and meet with Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and the families of the Israeli hostages. Meanwhile, within the next few hours,
20 hostages currently being held in Gaza, believed to be still alive, are expected to be released. In return,
nearly 2,000 prisoners and Palestinians held in Israel will also be released.
Continue to update on the flood situation in Thailand. Flooding continues in 17 provinces of Thailand,
mainly in the Central and Northern regions, with Sopan Buri still seeing
rising water levels. About 340,000 people have been affected and 11 have died.
The government will provide 9,000 Bath to each affected household and has ordered
local authorities to ensure prompt and equitable relief as per Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's directives.
In a devastating development, US authorities have confirmed there is no hope of finding
survivors after a massive explosion at an explosives factory in Tennessee,
left 18 people missing. Local police said a team of more than 300 officers searched
almost the entire area, but found no signs of life. Rescue operations have now shifted
to searching for bodies, and investigators plan to use DNA testing to identify the victims. Multiple
agencies are still investigating the cause of the explosion. Continued risks from explosives and
ammunition left at the scene complicated search efforts. The explosion was said to be so powerful that
flattened one of the factory's buildings and could be felt from several kilometers away.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a serious failure of
the Heimari night weather satellite while monitoring the storm,
the 23rd storm of the season. This incident caused a complete loss of storm imagery,
potentially reducing the accuracy of wind intensity and trajectory analysis. To respond,
experts activated an alternative observing system using another satellite
as well as infrared and water vapor imaging. Typhoon Nakri continues to move towards Japan
and is expected to make landfall on the European Union islands, which were recently devastated by Typhoon Ha Long.
Next is the International Day for Natural Disaster Risk Prevention
2025. Vietnam acts for resilience. Later, Hanoi students supported friends after the flood.
[Music]
Natural disasters are happening more often and Vietnam is one of the countries most affected due to
's long coastline and diverse terrain. Brian, can you give us more details?
Yes. In September alone, natural disasters left seven people dead or missing and five injured.
19,500 hectares of rice and crops were damaged, nearly 12,000 cattle and poultry died
and nearly 1,300 houses collapsed, were swept away or were severely damaged. Total
property damage due to natural disasters during the month was estimated at about 28 million USD.
As of October 9, 2025, natural disasters across the country have left 238 people dead
or missing, 367 people injured and 258,000 houses damaged or roofless. More than 500,000 hectares of
crops and plantations were flooded. Total economic losses are estimated to date at
approximately US$1.3 billion by 2025. Natural disasters are expected to reduce Vietnam's GDP by approximately 2%.
And we've reported extensively on severe weather events in recent weeks. Storm follows
storm as natural disasters become increasingly serious and unpredictable. And Vietnam has strengthened
cooperation with international partners to improve forecasting, early warning and response to natural disasters.
The United Nations, through its disaster risk reduction partnership, has worked closely with
Vietnam to strengthen preparedness and response before, during and after major storms such as Ragaza
Bualoi and Matmo. On the occasion of International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, October 13,
we will hear from Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, sharing how
the United Nations and Vietnam are working together to strengthen resilience after natural disasters.
Thank you for joining our program today. How Vietnam is working with the United Nations
to strengthen early warning systems, improve weather forecasting capacity
and increase training for better management and leadership at the local level in natural disaster response.
The United Nations is a long-standing partner of Vietnam in preparing and building resilience after natural disasters.
Our collaboration includes a wide range of efforts, from integrating disaster prevention education
into school curricula to building risk literacy capacity through training,
promoting the use of damage and disaster risk data for better forecasting and preventive action,
strengthening governance and coordination, such as through disaster risk reduction partnerships
and Support national implementation plans for climate adaptation and early warning systems.
Currently, we are developing a scenario-based contingency plan to prepare
in advance for natural disaster seasons. Contingency planning will help address capacity gaps,
thereby enhancing local preparedness and response capacity. We are aware of the
need for advanced training in community-based disaster risk management. This means organizing
community drills along with the necessary equipment for community first responders.
Includes search and rescue items, first aid kits, rescue boats, generators. All
are needed to strengthen community preparedness and resilience. And the United Nations is supporting Vietnam
How to strengthen international cooperation and raise community awareness in reducing natural disaster risks?
The United Nations is committed to supporting Vietnam in strengthening multilateral cooperation and
community engagement in line with government priorities and guidelines. We are ready
to facilitate connections with international expertise and resources, while respecting
national leadership in disaster mitigation initiatives. For example,
through the education sector group co-founded by UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Training,
we facilitate coordination between development partners, international non-governmental organizations (NOS) and embassies. We also
support youth engagement through skills training, policy dialogue, empowering
young people to contribute to climate action and disaster recovery in their communities.
United Nations support will be provided and continue to be provided upon request and in close coordination
with relevant national partners. Please share your assessment of Vietnam's
efforts in recent years to reduce natural disaster risks, especially through recent storms, and the next
actions that Vietnam needs to take to enhance preparedness and recovery from natural disasters.
Vietnam has demonstrated strong leadership in reducing disaster risk and building resilience, especially
through the Government-funded Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership program. VDDMMA has played a key role in
providing timely warnings and information during recent storms such as Ragaza, Bualoi and Matmo,
helping to prepare and respond effectively. All disaster relief activities during these storms
were carried out successfully under the coordination of the Government. We encourage all partners
actively participates in the Disaster Risk Reduction Platform (DRRP), sharing information, coordinating actions to ensure
effectively uses resources and avoids duplication. With Vietnam at the forefront of the fight against climate change,
the United Nations' support in building long-term resilience is grounded in
an inclusive and whole-of-society foundation. This means integrating disaster resilience into
climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. This means ensuring Vietnam has social security systems that respond to shocks
, leaving no one behind. This also means that digital transformation and innovation continue to bring
breakthroughs for early warning, preparedness, response and recovery. Together, under
Vietnam's leadership, we can create a
thank you to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam for joining us. Now, the financial support received in
is extremely timely and necessary for affected communities to recover more quickly, especially in
provinces most affected by the floods. Over the past week, we have seen firsthand in the
press how difficult it is to travel in areas affected by floods. Now, we will focus on
Bac Ninh province, where a large area is still flooded after the Thuong River
overflowed its banks. Until now, water still covers the entire neighborhood, isolating many
families behind walls of water. Since a week ago, people have had to endure life without electricity,
only living on alternative power sources brought in from outside. The following story was recorded from Cau Gu village.
The second floor of Mr. Mong's house has been turned into a shared kitchen for five families.
's electricity has been cut off since floodwaters rose to roof level nearly a week ago. There is only one gas stove
is enough to feed 10 people, young and old, with hot meals at night. Our downstairs neighbors were flooded by
, so they had to take shelter here. We couldn't move heavy appliances like
refrigerators or washing machines upstairs, we could only bring the gas stove up, so at least we could cook. Many others
also found shelter on the upper floors, second floors and roofs, double clotheslines, suitable spots to get
clean water and food, and even makeshift walkways between families to help each other. Khanh
saved her piglets and chickens. Now he's hurdling across the roof, clinging to survival. Leoners,
we only saved a few animals. Life is extremely difficult and
tiring. After a week, the water was still like a vast ocean surrounding us.
Not every family can make it through. At the peak of the flood,
authorities had to evacuate dozens of households. For those who stayed,
boats and canoes became means of survival, providing food, water and medicine every day.
We are working to ensure essential supplies reach every household in
villages until the water recedes completely. We will then focus on
cleaning and disinfection to help restore daily life.
The damage was truly huge. More than 600 hectares of crops were destroyed,
more than 21,000 livestock were lost. Even when the rain stops, it will take many days for the road
to open again. Until then, families are still trapped in floodwaters, bearing the hardship together and
hoping to receive support from the community to rebuild their lives. The storm has passed,
but we are still struggling with the aftermath. School life in flooded areas has come to a
halt in recent days. While teachers and students are eager to return to school,
many schools are still struggling with damaged books, supplies and equipment. Yes. To
provide timely support, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training has launched a donation campaign for two
communes in the city and other localities. The campaign is not only material support
but also an opportunity for students to show care and compassion in a meaningful way.
Immediately after the donation campaign was launched, schools across Hanoi quickly donated
pens, notebooks and school bags. The students also prepared sincere words of encouragement to
send to their peers in flood areas. [Music] Dear friend, I am heartbroken
when I witness the difficulties that you and your family are going through during these days of storms and floods.
If donation activities only focus on material things, they may lose their true educational meaning.
From an early age, students have shown empathy through sincere gestures such as folding
paper cranes for good luck or making designs of hope. I hope that through folding
paper cranes, we can spread the message of solidarity. Through lessons about the causes of floods,
students also learn something equally important. That is a way to share and show compassion to those affected.
Each of your actions, although small, carries within you a great heart. No matter how
society develops, I believe that love and compassion will always be the foundation.
Giang Vo Secondary School students are sending these gifts to friends they
have never met. Across Hanoi, schools are spreading messages of kindness, empathy and sharing.
Flooding in Northern Vietnam continues to gradually subside, causing
Tuyen Quang hydropower plant to close one of its blowdown gates on Sunday afternoon. According to the authorities,
water flow to the reservoir is lower than the total downstream discharge according to
inter-reservoir operating procedures for the Red River basin. The floodgates are expected to close at 4
pm on Sunday. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has requested the People's Committees of Hanoi,
Phu Tho and Tuyen Quang to notify local authorities, people and organizations operating along the
river to take necessary precautions and adjust their activities to ensure safety.
As for Hanoi, the capital has operated both
existing and temporary pumping stations to remove floodwater from residential areas. At the same time,
authorities are conducting detailed studies of this severe flood to review
the city's dyke and irrigation systems. This information came from Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee
Tran Sy Thanh during a field inspection on Saturday afternoon in Trung Gia and Da Phuc communes.
Since Saturday, floodwaters have begun to recede in Trung Gia commune. Seven villages are still flooded
. Two villages, An Lac and Hoa Binh, still have water levels up to 1.5 meters deep.
Our rice fields suffered approximately 65 hectares of damage and some local infrastructure was damaged including
irrigation and drainage systems. We hope the city will provide support to help us recover.
In Da Phuc commune, the flooding situation became worse due to a landslide on October 10 along the
railway line passing through Trung Gia, inundating 15 residential areas and thousands of hectares of rice and crops.
We recorded the highest water level. This will help ensure
better connectivity and circulation between irrigation systems and dykes.
The government will operate both permanent and temporary pumping stations to drain water from
residential areas. Cleanup efforts will be initiated as soon as water level
falls below the third alarm threshold. All five pumping stations operated
continuously for 2 days, helping to lower water levels in residential areas. The water pumping will
continue for another 3 days, for a total of 5 days to completely drain the flooded areas.
Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, Tran Sy Thanh, also directed local authorities to create
a list of urgent projects, including dyke reinforcement,
pumping station repair and improving drainage systems to provide solutions and
lay the foundation for future irrigation network planning throughout the affected communes.
About a week after storm Matmo swept through Cao Bang province, floodwaters have receded,
but many areas are still flooded with mud and prolonged power outages continue to affect people. Amid
of these ongoing challenges, electrical workers are working around the clock to restore power to
Highlands communities, bringing a much-needed sense of normalcy to affected households.
Despite ongoing cleanup efforts, many neighborhoods in Cao Bang are still buried
under mud and rubble. As of this afternoon, floodwaters have damaged homes and furniture,
disrupting daily life after several days of power outages.
My house is currently buried under about 40 cm of mud. I can only clean
of the first room. I hope there is electricity and running water so I can wash the house and doors.
My house was completely destroyed. No electricity, no water. I just hope
's power comes back soon so I can clean out the house and salvage anything I can still use.
The aftermath of storm MatMo caused heavy damage to the province's electricity system.
About 30,000 customers lost power and more than 1,100 households,
mainly in areas severely flooded by landslides, still have not had power restored.
We have mobilized all staff to work day and night. Currently, more than 500
customers still do not have electricity. Electricity will be restored in these two areas as soon as possible
. That's right. Difficult terrain and landslided roads make access to affected areas
extremely difficult. However, amidst the mud and floodwaters, the electricity team persisted in rebuilding
every electric pole and reconnecting every meter of cable, bringing light back to remote villages in the highlands.
Next news on the news,
Cat Tien National Park won the international eco-tourism award.
Then there are cultural appreciation activities and the closing night of the festival. [Music]
[Music]
Good news for Vietnam tourism. Cat Tien National Park was honored to receive four awards from
Asian ecotourism network AEN. The highest award is for efforts to conserve biodiversity
and protect tropical forests. Other awards recognized efforts to promote ecotourism,
destination management and community engagement. The International Ecotourism Awards 2025
reaffirm Vietnam's commitment to sustainable and nature-based tourism.
Now, we return to Hanoi with a series of exciting activities that are sure to pique the interest of
visitors. a major cultural festival, specifically the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi. The opening event
on the 10th A with a food street, which has become a highlight attracting a large number of tourists
from all continents. Every dish, technique and spice tells the story of tradition,
customs and national pride. [Applause] The participation of 45 cultural spaces and 34
international culinary booths has brought new vitality to the world cultural festival at
Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Here, visitors can not only enjoy unique dishes from around the world but also participate in
cooking demonstrations with famous chefs and discover cultural stories told through cuisine.
The Venezuelan store impresses visitors with its variety of sweet and savory pastries such as
arapas, Cheetos and teenos, recreate the vibrant culinary scene of
this remote South American country. Today we bring aripas. It is made from a special powder called arinapang.
You can add it to meat like minced meat. You can add cheese to black beans. is part
of a Venezuelan meal. Participating in the culinary festival, Vietnamese artisans not only
introduce regional specialties but also introduce the art of making lotus tea,
a delicate and complex aspect of Vietnamese culinary culture to international friends.
Lotus tea. The tea is flavored with lotus and other Vietnamese flowers. Cannot
be found anywhere else in the world. I am very proud of this tradition. [Applause]
I can see that through all the times the tea is brewed, the flavor remains strong and
the flavor develops in a very, I would say romantic way. From South America to Asia, from
the Middle East to Africa, each grocer serves as a cultural ambassador, helping to promote the
identity and culinary approach of its respective country. As for the dishes, it tells stories about
the identity of the traditions and also the creativity of each country and people.
Euzine is not only a symphony of flavors but also a common language that enhances
mutual understanding, promotes exchanges and cooperation and strengthens friendship between Vietnam and
other countries. [Applause] After three days attracting more than 1 million visitors, the
World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 2025 ended with a grand closing night with
unique music and art performances from Vietnam and
international friends. [Music] On its final day, the World Culture Festival will deliver a stunning
farewell, a vivid reminder that even though we come from different countries, we share a love for
culture. [Applause] [Music] Each performance is an opportunity for participating countries to express themselves
appreciation for each other. We played a very popular Vietnamese song with
traditional Indonesian instruments. This is a small gesture from us, a form of friendship
we want to show. It is also a form of respect for Vietnamese culture. Hopefully with this, we can
strengthen the relationship not only between people and people but also between the two countries. [Music]
Cuban dance is amazing. At first I thought it was Cuban but it turned out I was watching
Vietnamese people dance like Cubans. So it's good to have a festival like this that shows off all the different cultures and
gives different countries a chance to show off their uniqueness in Vietnam. That's good
for Vietnam and good for the countries. Vietnam's top artists also took the stage,
bringing the audience a vibrant musical journey from youthful melodies celebrating national pride to
famous global hits. Each performance is a sincere gift to international friends,
spreading the spirit of Vietnamese friendship to the world. And that's all we have for you
this hour on News Line. And thank you for following. See you again in the next newsletter.