Short answer. Vietnam has no technical standard for blast or fallout shelters. For typhoons, the Ministry of Construction's guidance (letter 1145/BXD-KHCN, 2015) sorts homes by build quality and says up to which storm level each holds and when residents must be moved to a safe place 1. A solid house standing alone on open ground, a riverbank or the coast holds to level 10; above level 11, everyone must leave 1.
What does the guidance cover?
The Ministry of Construction issued it as interim guidance "tập trung vào đối tượng nhà ở của dân" (focused on people's homes) 1. It uses the official storm scale: tropical depression at Beaufort level 6 to 7, storm from level 8, strong storm 10 to 11, very strong storm 12 to 15, super typhoon from level 16 2.
Homes built to standards hold up to their design wind level; above it they need reinforcing, and if necessary residents move to a safe place 1. Non-standard homes are classed by how many of the three main parts (columns, roof, walls) are made of durable materials: solid (kiên cố, all three), semi-solid (two), less solid (one) and makeshift (đơn sơ, none) 1.
When must I leave my home?
| Non-standard home | Holds up to | Everyone must be moved |
|---|---|---|
| Solid, standing alone (open ground, riverbank, coast) | level 10 | above level 11 |
| Semi-solid, standing alone | not given | above level 10 |
| Less solid, standing alone | not given | above level 9 |
| Makeshift, standing alone | level 6 | above level 8 |
| Solid, in a sheltered cluster | level 11 | above level 12 |
| Semi-solid, in a sheltered cluster | not given | above level 11 |
| Less solid, in a sheltered cluster | level 8 | above level 10 |
| Makeshift, in a sheltered cluster | level 7 | above level 9 |
"Not given": the level is blank in the published text. Between "holds" and "must be moved", the guidance asks for protective and reinforcing measures 1. The same thresholds apply to gusts 1. For homes whose main frame is built to standard but whose roof or walls are sheet metal or fibre-cement, roofs and walls must be protected against collapse and roof loss from storm level 8 to 9 1.
How do I know the storm level?
Warnings give the storm level and a disaster risk level; see alerts. Evacuation orders come from your commune 3.
Is this a building code?
No. It is guidance for assessing existing homes, not a design standard; for any structural work, ask a licensed engineer. See /guides/hurricane-preparedness.
Frequently asked questions
Do the levels apply to gusts too?
Yes: the guidance applies to gust levels as well 1.
Where can I read the text?
Letter 1145/BXD-KHCN of 28 May 2015 and its annex 1.
Preparedness index: Vietnam ranks joint 52nd of 67, 45.5/100 · full ranking
Sources · 3
- Bộ Xây dựng (Ministry of Construction), file hosted by Sở Xây dựng Khánh Hòa · Công văn số 1145/BXD-KHCN ngày 28/5/2015 về việc hướng dẫn nhà an toàn theo các cấp bão checked 2026-11-13
- Thủ tướng Chính phủ (Prime Minister), via datafiles.chinhphu.vn · Quyết định số 18/2021/QĐ-TTg ngày 22/4/2021 quy định về dự báo, cảnh báo, truyền tin thiên tai và cấp độ rủi ro thiên tai checked 2026-11-13
- Cổng Thông tin điện tử Chính phủ (xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn) · Hướng dẫn kỹ năng ứng phó với bão và mưa lũ sau bão (21/07/2025, nguồn: Cục Quản lý đê điều và Phòng, chống thiên tai) checked 2026-11-13