Assessing policy readiness for climate-informed infectious disease early warning systems in Vietnam: a scoping review and stakeholder consultation

BACKGROUND: Climate change is reshaping infectious disease patterns, increasing the need for climate-informed early warning systems (EWSs). However, the extent to which Vietnam's governance frameworks support their development and implementation remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To assess policies and guidelines governing infectious disease EWSs in Vietnam and identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen system readiness. METHODS: A policy review using a modified scoping review approach was supplemented by qualitative stakeholder consultations. National regulatory documents issued since 2000 and in effect as of July 2026 were identified through Vietnamese legal databases. Documents were analysed thematically and mapped against the core components of EWSs. Twelve key stakeholders were interviewed to contextualise policy findings and explore implementation challenges. RESULTS: Fifteen policy documents met the inclusion criteria. Vietnam has established strong legal and policy foundations for disease reporting, outbreak investigation, emergency response, and intersectoral coordination. Recent policies increasingly recognise climate change adaptation, environmental risks, digital transformation, and cross-sector collaboration, creating an enabling environment for the development of EWSs. However, these policies primarily provide strategic direction and institutional support rather than operational guidance for implementing EWSs. Key gaps include fragmented governance arrangements for data sharing and integration across meteorological, epidemiological, vector, laboratory, and vulnerability datasets; limited guidance on model validation and adoption; weak mechanisms linking forecasts to authorised anticipatory actions; and constraints related to financing and workforce capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening policies and operational guidance for forecasting, data integration, and forecast-based action will be critical to enhancing preparedness for and responses to climate-sensitive infectious diseases in Vietnam.