Lobster farmer Pham Phu Duc in Dak Lak Province returned to his floating cages after the flood last week to find most of them destroyed.
Typhoon Kalmaegi and the following floods between Nov. 19 and 23 swept away more than 30 cages dozens of kilometers into the sea, causing estimated losses of VND5 billion (US$190,000) to his family, which for years has been relying on the farm for its livelihood.
“The water rose so quickly that all the cages were destroyed, and all the lobsters died,” Duc says, adding he does not know when he will be able to restart his business.
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A lobster farmer seen in Dak Lak Province after a historic flood sweeps away most of his cages in November 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung |
Lobsters, which are raised in salted water deep under the sea, could not survive the surge in fresh water coming from the rivers.
The Phu Yen area where Duc is located has approximately 177,000 lobster-farming cages, accounting for more than 63% of the national total.
Duc is just one of about 2,000 lobster-farming households in this locality left empty-handed after the historic floods.
His business is among many in Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Khanh Hoa to suffer severe losses due to the flooding.
The historic disaster, besides causing damages worth VND13 trillion, also killed 102 people, according to official estimates.
Nguyen Ngoc Hien Tam, owner of a makeup and bridal shop in Tay Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province, says it was completely flooded, all tables and chairs were knocked over and her sofa and dozens of wedding gowns and suits were left coated in mud. The damaged assets were worth around VND100 million.
In Khanh Hoa, a number of manufacturing facilities also suffered severe losses.
In Vinh Trung Commune, a woodworking factory belonging to Hoang Dang KH 79 was submerged under more than 1.3 meters of water. Even machines placed on platforms were submerged.
Company spokesperson Bui Huy Hat says he has never seen water rise so quickly, and estimates the loss of materials and equipment at around VND400 million.
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Damaged equipment at a woodworking factory of Hoang Dang KH 79 in Khanh Hoa Province. Photo by Bui Huy Hat |
Demand is usually strong at the end of the year, but the factory has perforce to stop operations for at least 10–15 days for repairs.
Mattress chain Vua Nem says many of its stores in Gia Lai and Khanh Hoa are still closed due to flooding, power outages and damaged roads.
Go! and MM Mega Market stores in Tay Nha Trang were badly flooded. A Go! spokesperson said the retail chain rented pumps to restore operations quickly and ensure essential supplies for flood-hit residents.
Tech consultancy HKT Solutions suffered losses of VND2 billion as furniture and electronic devices were submerged.
CEO Nguyen Hieu had to temporarily shift the office to a hotel to keep operations going.
Even major retail chains that have disaster-response plans in place suffered losses.
Mobile World’s 21 stores in Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak and Gia Lai were affected, with 10 being severely flooded, damaging nearly all products.
The company has been able to restart operations at 16 locations after the water receded. Many have opened their doors to locals for charging phones for free.
For business owners, the financial strain has become acute.
Dang Huong Giang, owner of the Ong Du organic rice shop, says hers and other small businesses in Khanh Hoa lack capital and urgently need low-interest loans to repair equipment, replenish stocks and resume operations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered government agencies to quickly restore electricity, water, telecommunications, healthcare, and transport, open schools and restart agricultural work, and issue incentive tax and credit policies.
He directed the State Bank of Vietnam to roll over loans and reduce interest rates for affected businesses.
