Hanoi Hit by Widespread Flooding After Heavy Rains, Commuters Face Major Disruption

Hanoi experienced widespread flooding on several roads from the evening of September 14 to the morning of September 15, causing significant traffic jams during peak commuting hours. The Hanoi Drainage Company reported that as of 6 a.m. on September 15, flooding was observed on Dam Quang Trung, Co Linh, and Vinh Hung streets, at underpasses 4, 5, 6, and 9 on Thang Long Boulevard, and on National Highway 6 near Yen Nghia. At the intersection of Nguyen Van Linh and Co Linh streets in Long Bien Ward, water depths of 20-40 cm made driving difficult. Particularly at the foot of Vinh Tuy Bridge, water reached knee-deep by 4:30 a.m., leading to traffic backups stretching for kilometers in both directions. Some vehicles stalled, forcing owners to push them through the water. By noon, water levels had receded by about 15 cm, allowing more vehicles to pass. Nguyen Thi Thuy from Long Bien Ward had to walk her two primary school children to dry ground to wait for their grandfather to pick them up after her motorbike stalled in front of Aeon Mall Long Bien. Traffic on Dam Quang Trung Street and at the Co Linh-Dam Quang Trung intersection below Vinh Tuy Bridge began to pile up from around 7 a.m. due to both flooding and construction that narrowed the roadway. By 9:30 a.m., even though the water had receded to just under 10 cm, the jam still stretched the full length of Vinh Tuy Bridge, over 3 km, primarily in the car lanes. Trieu Khuc Street, a low-lying area prone to routine flooding, saw water rise 20-40 cm. Cars speeding through the flooded sections created waves that washed into homes on both sides, prompting many residents to install flood barriers at their doors. Significant traffic jams also occurred on Nguyen Trai Street in Thanh Xuan Ward and Thai Ha Street in Dong Da Ward, with congestion extending for several kilometers. Localized congestion was also reported on Truong Chinh Street and Lang Street. Hanoi, along with other parts of northern Vietnam and the north-central region, has been experiencing rain since September 12 due to the remnants of a tropical depression combined with a cold air mass. The weather agency forecasts rain to continue through September 16, with expected amounts of 80-150 mm.