Participants said that inadequate meteorological and rainfall observation has led to slow response to any natural calamity. To deal with this problem, the Da Nang Water Resources Technical Consultancy and Development Joint Stock Company has cooperated with other cities, provinces, and owners of irrigation and hydro-power reservoirs to establish a VRAIN system connecting 300 automatic rainfall observation stations across Vietnam.

"Natural calamities, especially those related to heavy rain and floodings, have become more and more complicated to forecast and control. The government and the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has called for private investment in the rain gauge stations nationwide as soon as possible. Several companies equipped with latest technologies have contributed necessary data to help localities deal with natural disasters.", said Nguyen Van Vy is Deputy head of the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control in the Central and Central Highlands Region.

Since last year, rain gauge system VRAIN has been updated with a mobile phone application that enables everyone to get information on rainfall level on their smartphones.