Norway and Vietnam are strengthening their cooperation on maritime weather forecasting as Vietnam seeks to improve its ability to predict and respond to natural disasters at sea.
The cooperation was highlighted at the 2026 Maritime Disaster Workshop, which opened in Hanoi on November 2 and runs until November 4. The event is organised by Vietnam’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology in collaboration with the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
The workshop brings together experts to exchange knowledge and explore technologies that can improve marine weather forecasts, including wave modelling, satellite data and digital forecasting tools.
Vietnam is regularly affected by dangerous maritime conditions, including storms, strong offshore winds, high waves and storm surges. These conditions threaten coastal communities, maritime transport and fisheries, making accurate and timely forecasts important for both public safety and economic activity.
More than a decade of Norwegian-Vietnamese cooperation
The workshop is part of a broader cooperation between the two countries’ meteorological institutions, formalised through a memorandum signed in November 2023. The agreement focuses on strengthening weather forecasting capabilities and climate services, with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam.
According to Vietnamese meteorological authorities, cooperation over the past decade has included technical exchanges, joint research and practical training for Vietnamese forecasters and scientists.
At the workshop, Marianne Rabe Knævelsrud, First Secretary at the Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, highlighted the importance of reliable maritime forecasts for both countries.
She noted that timely warnings can give coastal communities more time to prepare for dangerous weather, while helping people working at sea decide when it is safe to depart or return.
The workshop also addresses technologies and methods for improving forecasting, including the use of the European Copernicus Marine service, satellite data analysis and deep-learning models for predicting storm surges.
Beyond disaster preparedness, the cooperation is also relevant to fisheries, maritime transport, marine planning and offshore wind energy.
For Norway, the partnership provides an opportunity to share its meteorological expertise with a country facing significant exposure to maritime weather risks. For Vietnam, improved forecasting capabilities can support disaster prevention, maritime safety and the development of its coastal economy.
Source: Vietnam.vn
