Ho Chi Minh City Hit by Heaviest Rainfall of Year, Infrastructure Strained

Ho Chi Minh City is bracing for more heavy rainfall after experiencing its wettest day of the year, which led to widespread street flooding and significant disruptions to daily life. The Southern Hydrometeorological Station forecasts heavy to very heavy rain across the city and many other southern localities from September 11 to 13, with the heaviest expected on the evening of September 11. Its 24-hour rainfall forecast map showed more than 130 mm possible in Dau Tieng and Phu Giao, and around 100 mm in Cu Chi, Thu Duc, and Thu Dau Mot. Daily rainfall above 100 mm is rare in the city's built-up areas. Tran Van Hung, deputy director of the station, said the rain was being generated by an intertropical convergence zone whose axis runs through south central Vietnam and connects to a low-pressure area over the East Sea, combined with a strongly active southwest monsoon and wind convergence over the south. The zone could strengthen further and may spawn tropical cyclones over the East Sea, he said, before its axis lifts northward from around Sept. 13, leaving rain widespread but lighter and mostly confined to afternoons and evenings. The station forecast the highest tides of the early eighth lunar month on Sept. 12 and 13, peaking between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. and again between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Phu An and Nha Be gauges are expected to reach or just below alert level 2 of 1.5 m, and the Thu Dau Mot gauge on the Saigon River to approach alert level 3 of 1.6 m. Residents were advised to plan their routes around the evening rush hour and watch for thunderstorms, whirlwinds, lightning and strong gusts. Rain fell from around 5 p.m. into the evening of Sept. 10 across much of the city. Between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., the station recorded more than 100 mm at several gauges, including 127.2 mm in Cu Chi, 126.4 mm in Cat Lai, 113 mm in Thu Duc and about 104 mm in Hoc Mon. It called the downpour the city's heaviest rainfall so far this year. The rain hit at rush hour, flooding more than 10 streets and areas, mostly in the east, the north and the inner city. Water rose 30 to 50 cm in places, stalling large numbers of vehicles and causing long traffic jams. Flooding hit Do Xuan Hop, Quoc Huong, Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien, To Ngoc Van, Chu Van An, Dien Bien Phu and Dinh Bo Linh streets, along with the areas around Thu Duc Market, Hoc Mon Market and the old Mien Dong Bus Station. In Cu Chi and Hoc Mon, water carrying rubbish and plastic bags flowed into homes. Refrigerators, furniture and bedding were soaked and damaged. At the An Phu interchange in the former Thu Duc City, the underpass flooded to about half a meter, stalling several cars that had to be towed to garages. In Hiep Binh Ward, Streets No. 38 and 40 were under roughly half a meter of water from the evening of Sept. 10. By the morning of Sept. 11, water in some alleys and residential areas had still not drained. This event underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Vietnam's rapidly urbanizing cities, where infrastructure development often struggles to keep pace with economic growth. Ho Chi Minh City, in particular, is grappling with the strain on its drainage systems due to increased construction and population density. This situation also has implications for Vietnam's broader development goals and its relationship with China, given the economic interdependence and geopolitical considerations in the region. Addressing climate resilience and upgrading urban infrastructure are critical for the nation's continued stability and prosperity.