Strengthening Infrastructure to Enhance Disaster Resilience

Accelerating Risk Mitigation Along Key Transport Corridors

On the morning of July 14, workers and heavy machinery were actively clearing loose soil and rock while cutting back unstable slopes along Prenn Pass near Datanla Waterfall—the main gateway to central Da Lat—to reduce landslide risks before heavy rainfall intensifies.

This is one of many construction sites currently operating across Lam Dong Province to address safety risks identified at the beginning of the 2026 rainy season.

According to the contractor, work at Prenn Pass has been particularly challenging because the unstable slopes are located on steep mountainsides, making it difficult to transport heavy equipment to the site. Nevertheless, construction is being expedited with the aim of completing the project within the next few days, minimizing the risk of rocks and debris falling onto the roadway during periods of intense rainfall.

Hoang Van Nam, a resident who frequently travels through Prenn Pass, said the series of landslides during last year's rainy season remains a major concern for motorists.

"People hope these dangerous locations will be fully addressed before prolonged heavy rains arrive in the coming months," he said.

Beyond Prenn Pass, authorities are also inspecting and reinforcing other major transport corridors, including National Highways 20, 27, 28 and 28B, as well as D'Ran, Gia Bac and Song Pha passes. These routes traverse mountainous terrain intersected by rivers and streams, making them among the province's most landslide-prone areas during prolonged heavy rainfall.

Many landslides that occurred during the 2025 rainy season have yet to be fully resolved because of their large scale, complex terrain and funding constraints. Construction units are therefore accelerating progress to complete remedial works before the peak rainy season.

Meanwhile, numerous residential areas continue to face landslide threats. At the K'No 5 resettlement area in Dam Rong 4 Commune, long cracks stretching dozens of meters have appeared along nearby hillsides and continue to widen after each rainfall, leaving dozens of households living in constant anxiety.

Ro Ong Ka Duyet's family is among those affected by landslides in the K'No 5 resettlement area. A slope failure behind her house damaged the kitchen, forcing the family to relocate their living space. More concerning, the cracks continue to widen after every heavy rain.

"Whenever it rains heavily, everyone in the neighborhood worries. We simply hope for a permanent solution so we can live with peace of mind," she said.

Another critical hotspot is Gia Bac Pass on National Highway 28, where several major landslides occurred during the 2025 rainy season. To comprehensively address the issue, the provincial Department of Construction has suspended traffic along the Km43+500–Km54 section through Son Dien Commune since May 20, 2026.

An emergency landslide mitigation project on National Highway 28, with a total investment of VND 70 billion, is expected to be completed in the near future, helping ensure traffic safety before the peak rainy season.

Prioritizing Prevention and Strengthening Disaster Preparedness

As climate change brings increasingly extreme weather, Lam Dong is shifting its disaster management strategy from emergency response to proactive prevention, emphasizing early preparedness as the most effective way to minimize losses.

According to the Lam Dong Hydrometeorological Station, localized heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, whirlwinds and lightning are expected to continue throughout July 2026, while storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea could further increase the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.

To strengthen preparedness, the provincial Department of Construction issued a disaster prevention and recovery plan in early June 2026 aimed at ensuring the safety of transport infrastructure across the province.

Hoang Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, said disaster preparedness is being implemented under Vietnam's "four on-the-spot" and "three readiness" principles.

Authorities are closely monitoring weather developments, enhancing early warning systems, preparing sufficient personnel, equipment and emergency supplies, and developing traffic diversion plans for high-risk locations such as Chuoi Pass, Bao Loc Pass, D'Ran Pass, National Highway 28 and National Highway 27C.

At the grassroots level, local authorities have been instructed to review all residential areas located in hazard-prone zones, update lists of at-risk households and prepare evacuation plans whenever necessary.

At the same time, numerous projects to reinforce slopes, stabilize landslide sites and improve traffic safety along national and provincial highways are being accelerated. By mid-July, many hazardous locations along Prenn Pass, Mimosa Pass, Gia Bac Pass and National Highway 27C have been largely secured. However, authorities acknowledge that significant work remains as the peak rainy season approaches.

Le Trong Yen, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee and Deputy Head of the Provincial Civil Defense Steering Committee, stressed that disaster prevention efforts must be implemented proactively from the earliest stages, with improved forecasting capacity to avoid being caught unprepared.

Provincial leaders have instructed departments, agencies and local authorities to promptly complete remediation at remaining landslide sites, prioritize safety in high-risk areas and ensure uninterrupted traffic ahead of the peak rainy season.

“

Heads of agencies, units and local authorities must never become complacent in disaster prevention and response. We must remain proactive at all times, with protecting people's lives, health and property as our highest priority.

Le Trong Yen, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee

Placing people at the center of disaster management, provincial leaders have also called on departments and localities to demonstrate greater determination, stronger commitment and more decisive, effective action, while continuing to invest in and modernize forecasting and early warning systems to enhance resilience against increasingly extreme weather conditions.

Chinh Thanh