By 1pm on November 21, the eye of the storm was located at 9.7 degrees north and 115.2 degrees east. Gusts near its centre ranged from 75-102kmph and the storm continued moving west at 10-15kph to cause strong winds and rough seas around the Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands in the next two days.

In addition, due to the effect of the north-east monsoon, there will also be strong winds and rough seas in the coastal central provinces.

To cope with the storm, the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and the National Committee for Search and Rescue sent a telegram, asking the concerned ministries and provinces to make a concerted effort to brace for the storm.

At a meeting held in Hanoi on November 21, Cao Duc Phat, Head of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention, said the storm would smash into southern coastal provinces on November 23. Although the storm might weaken, it would still cause damage to the region.

Mr Phat said southern coastal provinces must ban all vessels from setting out to sea and ask those operating around the Truong Sa (Spratly) islands to return to the shore or to take shelter near neighboring countries. Especially, the provinces of the Mekong River Delta should make concrete plans to cope with the storm.

Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Bui Minh Tang said apart from this storm No 7, the country would be prepared for another tropical low pressure system coming from the Philippines.