Review of Housing Vulnerability Implications for Climate Resilient Houses

The document examines housing vulnerability to typhoons and floods in Vietnam, focusing on the region of Central Vietnam and the city of Da Nang. It identifies a 'two-fold source of vulnerability' where the adoption of modern materials without professional technical guidance has increased risk. Technical weaknesses in semi-permanent housing—such as flat roof angles, lack of ring beams, and inappropriate building shapes—are highlighted as primary failure points. Socio-economic factors, including low income and lack of awareness, prevent the adoption of disaster-resistant measures. While national strategies exist, the paper argues they lack local specificity, and local governance in Da Nang lacks the legal framework to enforce safe construction practices. Economically, the paper notes that while reinforcement costs 15-60% of construction costs, the lack of such measures leads to recurring repair costs that can double the initial construction investment over five years.

• Vietnam is identified as having higher risk levels for floods and typhoons compared to the Philippines and Indonesia due to the low levels of preparedness in vulnerable communities.
• Housing in Central Vietnam is categorized into four types based on the presence of reinforced concrete (RC) in the foundation, walls, and roof: permanent (all three), semi-permanent (two), less permanent (one), and simple (none).
• A 'two-fold source of vulnerability' has emerged in Central Vietnam since the 1986 Doi moi reforms; households shifted to durable materials like cement and steel but lacked safety-related disaster reduction measures, leading to higher risks and greater damage.
• Over 70% of residential houses built during the post-reform period lack typhoon- and flood-resistant features, commonly exhibiting flat roofs, lack of structural bracings, and inadequate attachment of roofing sheets.
• Specific technical vulnerabilities in Da Nang's semi-permanent housing include building shapes (T, L, and U-shapes), heights exceeding 3.6m, roof angles smaller than 30 degrees, and a lack of bond (ring) beams on top of surrounding walls.
• National disaster risk reduction documents, such as the National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation to 2020 and the National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change, provide top-down direction but lack specific strategies for local needs and contexts.
• The cost of technically reinforcing an unsafe house in disaster-prone regions of Central Vietnam typically ranges from 15-30% of total construction costs, though it can exceed 60% for homes designed to withstand Beaufort scale level 12 storms.
• Failure to invest in disaster-resistant design leads to high recurring costs; owners of rural houses in Central Vietnam may spend 10-12 million VND annually on repairs, potentially spending double the initial construction cost over five years.

APA

Tran, T. A., Tran, P., Tuan, T. H., & Hawley, K. (2012). Review of Housing Vulnerability Implications for Climate Resilient Houses. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ISET2013_Sheltering-Series_1_ReviewofHousingVulnerability_140518.pdf

Chicago

Tran, Tuan Anh, Phong Tran, Tran Huu Tuan, and Kate Hawley. Review of Housing Vulnerability Implications for Climate Resilient Houses. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2012. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ISET2013_Sheltering-Series_1_ReviewofHousingVulnerability_140518.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tran |first1=Tuan Anh |last2=Tran |first2=Phong |last3=Tuan |first3=Tran Huu |last4=Hawley |first4=Kate |title=Review of Housing Vulnerability Implications for Climate Resilient Houses |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2012 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ISET2013_Sheltering-Series_1_ReviewofHousingVulnerability_140518.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tran2012review, author = {Tran, Tuan Anh and Tran, Phong and Tuan, Tran Huu and Hawley, Kate}, title = {{Review of Housing Vulnerability Implications for Climate Resilient Houses}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2012}, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ISET2013_Sheltering-Series_1_ReviewofHousingVulnerability_140518.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }