Tropical storm Wipha was set to cross Vietnam's northern coastline on Tuesday morning, with almost 350,000 soldiers on standby as the state weather agency forecast up to 50 cm (20 inches) of rainfall that could cause flooding and mudslides.

Tropical Storm Wipha slammed into northern Vietnam near Haiphong, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and flash flood threats as it moves inland toward Hanoi and Laos, authorities warned.

Vietnam's capital city Hanoi was quiet Tuesday morning as the country's north braces for tropical storm Wipha. (AP Video by Hau Dinh)

Typhoon Wipha has made landfall in northern Vietnam, prompting large-scale emergency preparedness, after deadly floods and heavy rain in the Philippines left at least five dead and thousands displaced.

This is the terrifying moment a roof was torn off a building and sent flying as Typhoon Wipha approached Vietnam. Footage shows a vehicle driving through fierce winds when suddenly a sheet of roofing was blown away,

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam braced for Typhoon Wipha on Monday as coastal provinces were placed on emergency alert and airlines canceled flights ahead of the storm’s expected landfall early Tuesday.

Vietnam's Prime Minister put coastal provinces on emergency footing for Typhoon Wipha, saying it could cause flooding and landslides, as airlines cancelled flights ahead of the storm's expected landfall early on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Wipha is edging slowly toward Vietnam and is set to cross the coast near the northern port city of Haiphong around noon on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding.

La tormenta tropical Wipha tocó tierra el martes en el norte de Vietnam y llevó fuertes vientos y lluvias intensas a partes de las

Wipha was a tropical storm in the Gulf of Tonkin Monday afternoon China Standard Time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said in its latest advisory. Typhoon season is year-round; however, most typhoons form from early July through mid-December.

Typhoon Wipha started building up over the South China Sea before hitting Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, and making its way towards Vietnam. Video credit: CSU/CIRA & JMA/JAXA