Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan on November 24 chaired an on-line meeting with provincial officials to address transport disruptions caused by heavy rains, flooding and landslides along highways, the Ho Chi Minh Road and railway sections.
Severe flooding and landslides have disrupted highways and railways across multiple provinces. At an online meeting on November 24, Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan ordered localities to urgently clear blockages, restore traffic and strengthen disaster-response coordination.
Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan chairs an online meeting with provincial authorities on flood response.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that prolonged inundation and slope failures have severely affected travel, essential goods transport and emergency relief efforts. He urged localities to mobilize manpower, machinery and materials to reopen roads as quickly as possible, highlighting the crucial role of highways in linking provinces and economic regions.
He instructed provincial Departments of Construction to strictly implement flood- and storm-response plans, especially the "four on-the-spot" principle, while reviewing deployment capacity and drawing lessons for future incidents. Under the newly decentralized model, national highways are now managed by provinces, with the Department for Roads of Viet Nam acting as the focal point for information exchange and coordination.
The Department for Roads of Viet Nam was tasked with promptly supplying emergency materials, including steel gabions for landslide control. At hazardous locations, Departments of Construction must install warning signs, assign on-duty personnel and collaborate with traffic police to ensure safety.
The Deputy Minister also requested stronger communication measures to keep the public informed of reopened routes, remaining blockages and alternative options. He asked the Department for Roads of Viet Nam to consolidate reports on damage and recovery progress, while urging the Vietnam Railways Corporation to complete repairs and fully restore operations by 24:00 on November 25 to meet public travel needs.