Vietnam is preparing for Typhoon Wipha, with emergency alerts in coastal provinces and flight cancellations. The typhoon threatens to bring severe weather, including heavy winds and floods, to northern mountainous regions and urban areas.

Typhoon Wipha is approaching Northern Vietnam as it hit China’s Leizhou Peninsula and was about 275km to the east of the Quang Ninh – Hai Phong coast at 4a.m. on July 21.

Travellers to Vietnam have been warned to “expect travel disruption” as a tropical storm approaches tourist hotspots on its northern coast. Storm Wipha is forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds and flooding when it makes landfall on Tuesday.

Storm Wipha threatens the region with intense rainfall exceeding 600mm and raises the risk of flash floods and landslides.