Heavy rain disrupts HCMC tourist plans, leaving many stranded

Heavy rain inundated downtown streets in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, disrupting plans for some tourists who struggled to find transportation, while others embraced the wet weather. Remy from Australia and his family of four waited nearly an hour for a ride-hailing taxi outside a hotel on Bui Vien backpacker street, but were unable to secure a ride to a restaurant on Nguyen Hue Street, about two kilometers away. "I've waited too long, and now we have to walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner," he said. He had initially planned to take his children for ice cream on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street but scrapped the idea due to the heavy rain and potential for prolonged traffic jams. "After dinner, we might just sip a beer at a nearby bar, since the rain hasn't stopped and the traffic jam could drag on." Emis from France and his friend stayed in their motel room for nearly two hours as Bui Vien Street and a nearby intersection were flooded to a depth of 20–30 centimeters along a stretch of about 400 meters. As the rain eased around 4 p.m., they bought raincoats for VND20,000 each and took a walk to experience the city's rhythm on a rainy day. Though she knew it was the rainy season, she was surprised that Vietnam's largest metropolis would experience heavy rain for consecutive days. "Anyway, I really love Ho Chi Minh City. The weather these days is truly cool, a far cry from the sweltering heat back home," she added. Staff at bars on Bui Vien Street were seen pumping out water and cleaning up their facilities as floodwaters began to recede. Hung, who works at a bar there, said it took him more than half an hour to clear the floodwater in front. "I have to finish before 5 p.m. so I can start welcoming guests—and hopefully, the rain stops," he added. Some foreign visitors appeared to enjoy the rainy weather while sipping beer at bars. The Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center forecasts rainfall in Ho Chi Minh City from Wednesday through 1 p.m. Friday to total 70–100 mm, exceeding 150 mm in some areas. Widespread rain is forecast to continue into the evening of September 23, following several heavy downpours since the start of the week. The rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City typically runs from May to November. The city welcomed an estimated 7.77 million international visitors in the first eight months of 2026, up 38.5% from the same period last year.