The NW of Vietnam is currently affected by a stress field characterizing by approximatc1y NS and EW sub-horizontal maximum and minimum principal stress axis respective1y. The results obtained from field investigations and numeric modelisation reveal that the present stress field varies not only in relative magnitude but also in orientation of principal stress axes from point to point and in depth. The tectonic stress variation strong1y depends on the geometry and active kinematics of faults as well as on their earthquake history. .
