According to Hoang Duc Cuong, director of the Vietnam National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the storm is moving at 25km per hour and will enter the East Sea this morning.

The centre has forecast that by tomorrow afternoon, it will bring strong winds of about 10-12 level on the Beaufort scale. This means winds of 89 to 118 km per hour will approach the north of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Early on Wednesday, the storm is expected to directly affect northern Viet Nam, particularly Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City.

From Tuesday to Thursday, the storm will bring heavy rain in the north. Falls of 100-200mm are expected. Falls of 200 to 300mm are forecast for the north-east.

According to the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control, border guards in coastal provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Binh Thuan have provided updates to about 300,000 workers in coastal areas.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, who chaired meeting, asked localities to urge vehicles travelling in dangerous areas. He also told them to advise aqua-farmers to protect their farms.

Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces were requested to prepare contingency plans to evacuate those most in danger and tell others to reinforce their homes and cut tree branches.