Tornado spotted in northern Vietnam

The natural phenomenon was recorded at 7 a.m. following a period of heavy rain. Witnesses said the waterspout reached a height of up to hundreds of metres high and lasted for three to four minutes, causing no damage.

This is the first time that a tornadic waterspout has appeared in the area.

Waterspouts are typically created when tornadoes develop and pass over the sea. They have a five-part life cycle, including the formation of a dark spot on the water surface, a spiral pattern forming on the water surface, the formation of a spray ring, the development of the visible condensation funnel, and ultimately their decay.

Tornadoes are said to be rarely seen in Vietnam and they typically appear at the beginning and during the rainy season. This phenomenon is more typical in the south compared to the north.

Tornadic waterspouts had previously been see in the sea off Nha Trang, a coastal city in central Vietnam, as well as in Vung Tau city and Rach Gia city in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.