Vietnam Comments on International Advisories for Citizen Survival Kits

During a regular press conference on November 5, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang was asked to comment on several countries recently advising their citizens to prepare enough essential supplies for three to seven days in case of emergencies.

“Vietnamese competent authorities will coordinate risk assessments and study measures appropriate to practical conditions, including raising awareness and guiding people to proactively prevent and respond when incidents occur, without causing panic in society,” Hang said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang

Hang’s statement came after several European nations, such as the UK and Finland, and Asian nations, such as Japan and Thailand, recommended that families store enough food, bottled water, and basic necessities to manage on their own for at least three days in preparation for natural disasters or emergency situations.

Addressing recent cyberattacks targeting refrigeration systems at European supermarkets that caused widespread food spoilage, Hang noted that this reflects expanding cybersecurity risks that impact not only data and information systems, but also production, business operations, supply chains, and daily public life.

Many supermarket chains across France, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden faced incidents over the past month where hackers drove refrigerator and freezer temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius, forcing stores to destroy large quantities of food.

An employee clears empty shelves at a SuperValu supermarket in Dublin, Ireland, after hackers attacked and raised refrigerator temperatures. Photo: Reuters

Hang stated that Vietnam is monitoring the situation closely and strongly condemns cyberattacks and cybersecurity threats in any form. Vietnam considers ensuring cybersecurity for essential systems—such as energy, telecommunications, finance, healthcare, transportation, and goods supply—an especially important requirement that must be carried out proactively and comprehensively from an early stage.

Vietnam will promote information exchanges with international partners, share early warnings, cooperate in investigating and handling cross-border cybercrimes, and enhance incident response capabilities.

As the host country for the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime (the Hanoi Convention), Vietnam affirms its active and responsible commitment to cooperating with the international community in preventing and combating cybercrime.

“Our perspective is to shift strongly from passive response to proactive prevention, forecasting, and preparedness, ensuring that cybersecurity is tied directly to safeguarding essential economic activities and the daily lives of the people,” the spokesperson said.