Wipha has remained steady but its winds are forecast to increase from 88 kph to 89-117 kph as it intensifies and hits the Gulf of Tonkin and Vietnam’s coast.

Two former leaders of the Observatory cite wind and tidal factors that mitigated the effects of the hurricane-level storm on the weekend.

HANOI: Tropical Storm Wipha (Storm No. 3) is closing in on northern Vietnam after entering mainland southern China early on July 20, bringing heavy rains, strong winds and heightened risks of flash floods and landslides across large parts of the country.

Travellers to Vietnam have been warned to “expect travel disruption” as a tropical storm approaches tourist hotspots on its northern coast. Storm Wipha is forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds and flooding when it makes landfall on Tuesday.

The thunderstorm came so suddenly that it overturned the boat within seconds, said two survivors of the shipwreck which killed at least 35 people in Vietnam's top tourist spot of Halong Bay and left another four missing.

A sudden thunderstorm in Halong Bay, Vietnam, overturned a boat, killing at least 35 people and leaving four missing. Survivors describe how the storm capsized the vessel within seconds. The tragedy,