Australia pledges $1.94M aid to Vietnam after typhoons Bualoi and Matmo

By Minh Nga October 13, 2025 | 11:58 pm PT

Houses are submerged in floodwaters following heavy rains caused by circulation of Typhoon Matmo in Lang Son Province, northern Vietnam, Oct. 9, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

Australia will provide up to AU$3 million (US$1.94 million) in humanitarian assistance to Vietnam after back-to-back typhoons Bualoi and Matmo triggered widespread flooding and destruction across the country's northern and central regions.

The support package will fund emergency relief supplies—including kitchen kits, hygiene kits, and shelter tool kits—and activate the Australian Humanitarian Partnership so Australian non-government organizations can deliver assistance, the Australian Embassy announced.

Funding will also be directed through United Nations agencies. Canberra said it will work closely with the government of Vietnam to coordinate delivery.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: "We know the path to recovery will take some time and as longstanding friends and partners, Australia stands with Vietnam in its time of need."

She added: "Australia will continue to work with Vietnam on immediate relief efforts and building disaster resilience," according to a statement from the embassy.

Bualoi made landfall over north-central Vietnam on Sept. 29 before weakening as it moved inland toward Laos. Matmo weakened into a tropical depression as it reached Vietnam on Oct. 6, but its remnant circulation unleashed heavy downpours across the north, causing widespread flooding.

Preliminary statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development show the two typhoons left more than 80 people dead or missing; damaged or destroyed about 195,600 houses; flooded and ruined some 87,000 hectares of rice and other crops; and caused extensive damage to roads, schools, health facilities, and other public infrastructure.