Extreme heat in Vietnamese urban areas should be addressed more concretely in climate adaptation plans

Vietnamese fast-growing cities are increasingly affected by extreme heat events due to global warming compounded by the urban heat island (UHI) effect. This trend threatens public health, infrastructure, and quality of life. In order to assess the current state of knowledge in Viet Nam and the level of preparedness of the policy-makers and the population in the face of this growing issue, we conducted a systematic review of scientific and grey literature, in both English and Vietnamese. The finding shigh light some major gaps inresearch, policy implementation, and public awareness. We stress theurgent need to enhance Viet Nam’s capacity to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat in urban areas.