Does Vietnam have public shelters?

Short answer. Vietnam's Civil Defence Law (No. 18/2023/QH15) and People's Air Defence Law (No. 49/2024/QH15) define shelter works, including works for evacuation and protection against air attack ¹². A 2025 decree lists shelter works for the people among state-funded civil defence works ³, but Phaenyx found no public list, count or locator. For storms, the VDDMA asks every family to identify its safest place and evacuate when told ⁴.

What does the law say about shelters?

The Civil Defence Law, in force since 1 July 2024, defines civil defence works as works used "cho mục đích phòng ngừa, ứng phó, khắc phục hậu quả sự cố, thảm họa" (to prevent, respond to and recover from incidents and disasters) ¹. They include dedicated civil defence works and other works usable for civil defence; dedicated works follow plans tied to the military defence posture ¹. In wartime, the law provides for building extra hide-out shelters (hầm ẩn nấp), underground works and protective works ¹.

Decree 200/2025/NĐ-CP, in force since 23 August 2025, lists the dedicated civil defence works that the State funds and runs. They include "Công trình trú ẩn cho Nhân dân" (shelter works for the people), as well as warning works, storm anchorages for boats, national reserve stores and rescue roads ³. Works usable for civil defence include hospitals, schools, sports facilities, bus and railway stations, airports and seaports, underground transport works, lighthouses and natural caves ³. Provincial People's Committees plan and build the system of civil defence works ³.

The People's Air Defence Law, in force since 1 July 2025, lists among dedicated air-defence works "Công trình trú ẩn bảo đảm cho nhiệm vụ sơ tán, phòng tránh khi địch đột nhập, tiến công đường không" (shelter works for evacuation and protection against air attack) ². Provincial People's Committees decide to build them ².

How do I find my shelter or evacuation site?

No national shelter map or locator is published. Under the air-defence law, the chairs of provincial and commune People's Committees decide where businesses evacuate and disperse, and heads of organisations and companies set evacuation and protection areas for their workers under the local plan ². Ask your commune or ward People's Committee.

For storms and floods, the VDDMA's advice is to "Xác định vị trí trú ẩn an toàn nhất cho tất cả thành viên trong gia đình" (identify the safest shelter spot for every family member) and to evacuate when needed or when the local authority asks ⁴. The Ministry of Construction adds that public buildings such as schools and state offices built to standards can be used as safe shelter sites when a storm does not exceed their design level ⁵. Whether your house can stay occupied in a given storm level is on the shelter standards page. See /guides/shelter-or-evacuate.

How many shelters are there?

Phaenyx found no official count of shelters or places in Vietnam. Each year, before 31 December, provincial and ministerial civil defence commands compile a catalogue of civil defence works and report it to the National Civil Defence Steering Committee ³; the catalogue is not published.

Frequently asked questions

Are there bomb shelters in Vietnam?

The law provides for shelter works for the people, and for building more in wartime, but no public list or count is published ¹³.

Where do I go in a typhoon?

Follow the evacuation order of your commune or ward; the VDDMA asks families to pick their safest place in advance ⁴. Schools and state offices built to standards can be used as shelter sites ⁵.

Who builds public shelters?

The State funds dedicated civil defence works, and provincial People's Committees plan and build them ³; dedicated air-defence works are decided by the provincial People's Committee or its council ².

Preparedness index: Vietnam ranks joint 52nd of 67, 45.5/100 · full ranking