5 of 1997 (Vietnamese: Bão số 5 năm 1997) was the worst typhoon in southern Vietnam in at least 100 years, killing thousands of people and leaving extensive damage.

Strengthening as it moved westward, Linda struck extreme southern Vietnam on November 2 with winds of 65 mph (105 km/h), dropping heavy rainfall.

It restrengthened in the Indian Ocean to typhoon status, but increasing wind shear and weakened steering currents caused Linda to dissipate on November 9.

It subsequently began to organize, and late on October 31, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories on Tropical Depression 30W.

Turning northwestward, Linda deteriorated to tropical storm strength, and struck Thailand late on November 3 with winds of 65 mph (105 km/h).

[3] Linda weakened further over the mountainous terrain of the Malay Peninsula, and the storm emerged into the Andaman Sea with winds of 50 mph (80 km/h).

[5] With warm waters, Tropical Storm Linda gradually re-intensified as it slowed down, due to a weakness in the subtropical ridge.

[5] Prior to the arrival of the storm, officials in Vietnam issued warnings to the residents, although its approach was faster than expected, and the region rarely experiences tropical cyclones.

Tropical Storm Linda dropped heavy rainfall across southern Vietnam, peaking at 9.17 inches (23.3 cm) in Cần Thơ.

[7] The storm caused heavy damage in the country, particularly in the southernmost province of Cà Mau where it struck,[3] but also in Bạc Liêu, Sóc Trăng, and Kiên Giang.

[13] Eight days after Linda's passage, a United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) report indicated 857 people were injured by the storm.

[8] The country made a formal request for international assistance, noting that the storm was the worst in 100 years, and officials had limited resources due to the unexpected destruction.

[7] Red Cross workers had to travel by riverboat to bring aid to the most affected communities,[9] due to the poor state of the roads.

Additionally, the two primary factories responsible for making iron and construction frames were only intermittently open, due to machines failing.