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Arranged through the World Meteorological Organization, Mr. Edwin Lai, Senior Scientific Officer, took part in a World Bank (WB) Identification Mission to Vietnam on 8 - 21 October to review and advise on the initiatives relating to Early Warning Systems, in particular the modernization plans for Vietnam's hydrometeorological services.
The mission team, including a flood management expert from Singapore as well, was led by a couple of WB personnel from Washington and supported by selected local staff at the WB Hanoi office. During the mission, the team met with government officials from the key departments/agencies responsible for flood and storm management. A side visit was also undertaken to the central coastal provinces on 15 - 16 October in view of the region's susceptibility to river and coastal flooding caused by landfalling tropical cyclones.
Apparently, it was a good time to visit Hanoi as the city celebrated its 999th anniversary. Visiting the National Centre for Hydrological and Meteorological Forecasting, located right next to the landmark of Hanoi Opera House, for technical discussion provided a chance to renew acquaintances, not just with our forecasting counterparts in Hanoi, but surprisingly and unexpectedly some old friends from the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Typhoon Committee Secretariat (in Macao) as well who were also visiting at the time!
 The mission team inspecting the central Vietnam coast devastated by Typhoon Ketsana in late September.
 Chance meeting by the Hoan Kiem Lake. From left to right: Dr. Kazuo Saito (Japan), Mr. Edwin Lai, and Mr. Le Duc (Vietnam). |
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