14 - Evaluating Tsunami Risk and Vulnerability Along the Vietnamese Coast

Abstract

The Vietnamese coast faces the East Sea, which has been recognized as having the potential to generate devastating tsunamis, thus requiring a careful consideration of tsunami risk. In this chapter, tsunami risk and vulnerability are analyzed based on the numerical simulation of tsunami propagation and the social and geographical background of Vietnam. The numerical simulation of a potentially hazardous earthquake scenario in the Manila Trench shows the distributions of the maximum tsunami amplitude and arrival time along the Vietnamese coast. When discussing the vulnerability of the coastline, particular attention is given to three main elements affecting this type of potential disaster in Vietnam: the extensive area of low-lying ground, namely large deltas; a lack of past experience regarding tsunami events; and underdeveloped tsunami mitigation measures. Tsunami mitigation measures implemented recently in coastal communities in Vietnam, such as tsunami warning stations and tsunami drills, are also mentioned.