Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong, and Hai Duong received heavy rainfall but authorities reported no loss of life or property and said sea dykes in Nam Dinh and Quang Ninh were intact.

The National Hydro Metrological Forecast Center said the tropical low pressure zone would move past Hanoi to the northwest and become a low pressure zone on July 13, bringing heavy rain in the region.

Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Center, said the rains may cause widespread landslides.

Hundreds of tourists got stuck on island

La Thi Thu Giang, 26, said she and a group of 10 tourists travelling from Hanoi to Co To Island in Quang Ninh Province on Friday only learnt about the storm on the afternoon of the 11th, and had no time to return to the mainland.

On July 12 there were 300 tourists on the island. Hotels could not ensure food for them and they had to subsist on instant noodles and wait for the storm to blow over.

In Ha Long, many tourist buses and container trucks traveling to the Mong Cai border gate were stuck at many places due to heavy rain. Vehicles and people were prohibited from using the Bai Chay Bridge in Quang Ninh because of the fear that the strong winds could blow them into the water below.

Hai Phong and Quang Ninh authorities prohibited boats from going out to sea until the storm blew over and recalled all boats out at sea.

Flood in the Central Thunderstorms on July 12 caused flooding in some places in provinces from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai.

Many streets in Da Nang, like Tran Phu, Ngo Quyen, and Nguyen Van Linh, were submerged in water. Hoa Khanh IZ was seriously flooded with the water rising to a meter.

By Van Phuc - Sài Gòn Giai Phong - July 13, 2009