4 March 2011: The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) has reported that five of Viet Nam’s largest cities, Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Can Tho and Da Nang, pledged to make cities safer against disasters. The pledge came at the second National Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, which convened in Viet Nam, from 1-4 March 2011.

The Forum was organized by the Government of Viet Nam and supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The Forum agreed to establish a joint National Platform to coordinate and integrate disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation programmes in Viet Nam. [UN/ISDR Press Release]