Typhoon Kalmaegi and Vietnam’s Logistics: A Market Shock, A Resilience Test

In early November 2025, Typhoon Kalmaegi unleashed havoc across Central and Southern Vietnam, shattering what had been a year of cautiously optimistic recovery in the region’s import/export and logistics sectors. Overnight, the country’s carefully balanced supply chain—a linchpin for global electronics, textiles, and perishables—was thrown into disarray. With six key airports shuttered, hundreds of flights canceled, and customs operations ground to a standstill, the cost and complexity of moving goods and people skyrocketed. Yet, as leaders scrambled to manage the immediate fallout, the crisis revealed deeper truths: about market fragility, the escalating impact of climate volatility, and the urgency of future-proofing logistics for a world that is changing faster than ever before.

The Anatomy of Disruption: A Region Paralyzed

Historic Airport Closures and Customs Standstills: Between November 6-8, 2025, Typhoon Kalmaegi forced the shutdown of six major airports—Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Tuy Hoa, Chu Lai, Phu Cat, and Lien Khuong—central arteries for Vietnam’s manufacturing and export economy. Operations at these facilities, including customs clearance, were suspended for up to 36 hours, creating a backlog that rippled across time zones and trade routes. At Da Nang International Airport, the central hub for both passenger and cargo traffic, historic vulnerability was underscored by comparisons to Typhoon Bualoi earlier that year, when closure lasted four days and post-reopening throughput barely reached 65% of normal levels.
The Scale of Flight Disruption:The numbers are stark: over 50 scheduled flights, serving both passengers and cargo, were canceled or delayed in just 48 hours. Major trunk routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and vital central production zones faced suspensions or rerouting, imperiling supply chains—particularly those feeding Japanese, EU, and US markets. Long-haul international cargo was prioritized in phased recovery, while secondary services languished for days longer.
Downstream Impact:Ripple effects were felt well beyond airport terminals. Inland container depots near Chu Lai, Da Nang, and Quy Nhon saw port customs delays; regional flooding and wind damage crippled road and rail networks. Truck traffic faced stoppages in low-lying areas, risking spoilage and financial loss for time-sensitive shipments. Meanwhile, communication bottlenecks left managers guessing as to clearance timelines and delivery certainty.

Industry Numbers: Quantifying the Losses and Lags

Flight and Passenger Analytics:Da Nang Airport alone, when closed in February’s typhoon event, disrupted an average of 180 flights and 42,000 passengers per day—a trend echoed during Kalmaegi’s onslaught. The Da Nang Tourism Association reported 92% of tour packages canceled and more than 45,000 travelers impacted, including business delegations and foreign buyers.
Customs and Cargo Throughput:As of November 9, Da Nang was only 65% operational, with Tuy Hoa and Phu Cat partially open. The entire region’s throughput was brought to a virtual halt, with significant delays projected until mid-November. Document backlogs in customs meant that exporters faced a wait of several additional days for clearance, and immediate consignment delays of 24–72 hours became the norm for goods moving through Central and South-Central Vietnam.
Economic and Contractual Risks:Exporters of electronics, textiles, perishables, and auto parts faced the prospect of contractual penalties and customer claims for late delivery. Just-in-time supply models teetered on the edge of breakdown, as cascading production halts threatened to move up the value chain. The Vietnamese government, recognizing the scale of impact, allocated over 285 billion VND (~$11.2 million) just for tourism and infrastructure recovery in Da Nang, with similar financial interventions anticipated for logistics networks across the region.

Emerging Patterns: Tactical Shifts and Innovation Amid Crisis

Phased Recovery and Routing Priorities:Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority quickly enacted a triage protocol—reopening essential airports first for international long-haul and trunk domestic routes, leaving secondary domestic lines on slower timetables. Businesses scrambled to reroute critical shipments via the North (Noi Bai/Hanoi, Hai Phong) or South (Ho Chi Minh City), accepting the price of congestion and elevated logistics costs to maintain supply chain continuity.
Inventory Strategies and Contingency Planning:The crisis became a crucible for inventory management. Many firms, previously lean on stock to maximize efficiency, were forced to reconsider and build contingency inventory, particularly for high-demand or time-sensitive goods. Dual sourcing and emergency reserves emerged as immediate priorities, not just for Q4 2025, but also in anticipation of future volatility as climate risks escalate.
Digitalization and Real-Time Tracking:As delays mounted and information became harder to access, businesses turned to digital solutions for real-time tracking of shipments, weather patterns, and customs operations. The rapid adoption of logistics tech underscored a trend: in an era of climate-driven disruption, visibility and flexibility trump static planning.

Comparative Perspectives: Regional Vulnerability and International Response

Local Industry vs. Global Supply Chain Perceptions:Domestic managers, deeply familiar with Vietnam’s seasonal weather risks, often plan for short-term disruptions—but Kalmaegi’s timing and severity broke with historical patterns, catching even experienced operators off-guard. In contrast, foreign partners in the US, Europe, and Japan—often reliant on just-in-time deliveries—found the magnitude of delays threatened entire production schedules, revealing critical gaps in risk modeling and contingency strategies.
Tourism and Business Travel Fallout:For the travel sector, the disruption was existential. Over 90% of tour and business travel packages to Central Vietnam were canceled or rescheduled. Hotels and conference centers faced occupancy plummeting, while inbound site visits by foreign investors were abruptly suspended—jeopardizing a season of negotiations and contract closings.
Government and Regulatory Dynamics:Vietnamese authorities responded with rapid allocation of disaster recovery funds and phased reopening protocols, emphasizing international cargo and essential passenger flows. At the same time, regulators began implementing tighter reporting and evacuation standards for foreign nationals, alongside stricter compliance for hotels in managing guest records during emergencies—a sign of evolving governance as climate events grow more frequent.

Real-World Implications: Lessons for Leaders and Market Players

Supply Chain Mapping and Real-Time Communication:The events of November 2025 exposed the strategic necessity of rapid supply chain mapping. Organizations that knew exactly which shipments or supplier dependencies traversed Central Vietnam during the crisis were able to inform customers and partners promptly, activate force majeure provisions, and reroute cargo via alternate channels.
Contractual Preparedness and Customer Trust:Proactive updating of force majeure clauses and customer notifications became a differentiator. The firms that communicated early and transparently retained credibility, even as delays persisted; those that hesitated faced both reputational damage and financial claims.
Innovation in Infrastructure and Partnerships:Looking ahead, the government and private sector are prioritizing investments in storm-resistant transport infrastructure and the diversification of logistics hubs. Early 2026 is set to see rollout of new support programs and public-private partnerships to rebuild and future-proof Vietnam’s critical supply lines.
Climate Risk Models and Operational Playbooks:With meteorologists warning of “unprecedented rainfall” and increasingly erratic typhoon seasons, integrated climate risk models and dynamic routing protocols are no longer optional—they are mission-critical. Firms investing in these tools today will be positioned not only to weather the next storm, but to shape the standards for resilience across the region.

Innovation and Opportunity: Digitalization, Diversification, and the Road Ahead

The Rise of Real-Time Logistics Intelligence:One of the clearest outcomes of the Kalmaegi disruption is the rapid uptake of digital logistics platforms. Companies now rely more heavily on tools that integrate meteorological data, customs status, and live shipment updates—empowering managers to make informed decisions minute-by-minute.
Diversification and Decentralization:Leaders in the field are rethinking centralized logistics strategies. By diversifying their network of hubs (moving more operations to Northern or Southern Vietnam, or even across borders), firms reduce dependence on singular regions and create redundancies that can absorb future shocks.
Resilient Partnerships and Community Engagement:Industry groups, local authorities, and business coalitions are increasingly joining forces to accelerate recovery, advocate for priority clearance, and share best practices. Open dialogue and collaboration with government entities—especially for companies dealing in critical goods (medical, electronics, infrastructure)—are proving essential in navigating both crisis and recovery.
Investment in Storm-Resistant Infrastructure:On the physical front, both state and private actors are channeling resources into reinforcing airport, road, and port structures, ensuring that future weather events don’t leave the market as exposed. These investments will define the competitiveness and stability of Vietnam’s logistics sector for decades to come.

Key Recommendations for Decision Makers—Action over Anxiety

1. Audit Supply Chain Exposure Now: Map every shipment and supplier linked to Central Vietnam immediately. Communicate with freight forwarders and customs brokers for up-to-the-minute status. (Source)
2. Activate Force Majeure Clauses:Use contractual levers to manage upstream and downstream risk. Notify partners and customers proactively to maintain transparency and trust. (Source)
3. Reroute and Reschedule Critical Shipments:Shift urgent deliveries to Northern or Southern hubs; expect higher costs and congestion but prioritize supply for high-value contracts. (Source)
4. Build Contingency Inventory and Review Sourcing:Where exposure to regional disruption is high, increase safety stocks and explore dual sourcing for the coming quarters.
5. Monitor Recovery Bulletins and Engage Locally:Stay connected to updates from Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority, customs offices, and logistics providers. Engage in local forums and advocacy if operating in affected industries. (Source)

“In the age of climate volatility, supply chain resilience is measured not just by speed of recovery, but by the depth of preparedness, adaptability, and digital intelligence. Leaders who integrate these principles into their operational DNA will stand at the forefront of market opportunity—while those who delay risk falling permanently behind.”

Forward-Thinking Insights: The New Logistics Imperative

Climate Volatility as a Strategic Variable:The dual shocks of Typhoon Kalmaegi and Typhoon Bualoi in 2025 have changed how Vietnamese supply chains—and their international partners—calculate risk. Meteorological unpredictability, once an outlier, is now central to scenario planning. Firms must build agility into their logistics playbooks, harnessing digital tools and fostering adaptive partnerships.
Regulatory Evolution and Stakeholder Accountability:Expect more rigorous evacuation, reporting, and compliance requirements for travelers and businesses—especially those hosting foreign nationals. Accommodation providers, in particular, will need to bolster record-keeping and crisis management systems to stay in line with the tightening regulatory landscape. (Source)
Investment in Resilience as Competitive Advantage:The next generation of market leaders will be those who invest early in storm-resistant infrastructure, diversify their logistics network, and deploy advanced tracking and analytics. This is not simply risk mitigation—it is the foundation for reliability, customer trust, and brand growth in a more volatile world.
Collaborative Innovation and Policy Advocacy:Vietnam’s government is rolling out new support programs; now is the moment for industry coalitions and business groups to join the conversation, advocating for smarter infrastructure and fair, effective recovery protocols.

Conclusion: The Strategic Imperative of Resilience in Vietnam’s Logistics Future

Typhoon Kalmaegi’s disruption of Vietnam’s import/export and logistics sectors was not, in hindsight, a freak event—it was a bellwether of how climate change and global market interdependencies are reshaping risk and resilience. For industry leaders, the lessons are clear: rapid mapping, robust contingency planning, digital transformation, and investment in adaptive infrastructure are now strategic imperatives, not optional extras.

Vietnam—long a hub for world-class manufacturing and exports—stands at a crossroads. Those who seize the opportunity to embed resilience, adaptability, and innovation into their logistics playbooks will not only weather the next storm, but thrive in its aftermath, setting new standards for regional and global competitiveness. Lagging behind risks more than just market share; it means falling out of sync with a world where volatility is the new normal.

For executives, supply chain strategists, and investors, the directive is unmistakable: act decisively, plan collaboratively, and integrate climate risk into every facet of operations. The future will reward those who build for disruption—starting now.