Typhoon Kajiki has made landfall after Vietnam ordered more than half a million people to evacuate their homes in anticipation of widespread destruction.

Vietnam announced plans to evacuate more than half a million people and ordered boats to stay ashore, while the southern Chinese city of Sanya closed businesses and public transport on Sunday as both braced for an intensifying Typhoon Kajiki.

Typhoon Kajiki has brought strong winds and heavy rain to southern China's Hainan island and parts of Guangdong province.