Ho Chi Minh City Center Submerged After Heavy Rains, Causing Traffic Chaos

Heavy rains lasting over an hour on the afternoon of September 23rd caused severe flooding in Ho Chi Minh City's central districts, leading to widespread traffic chaos. Streets like Le Loi, Ham Nghi, and the backpacker area of Bui Vien were submerged, forcing office workers and foreign tourists to wade through the water. Authorities have deployed temporary barricades in some sections to restrict vehicle access. According to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, rainfall in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to range from 70-100 mm, with some areas exceeding 150 mm, by 1 PM on September 25th. Widespread rain is forecast to continue this evening, following several days of heavy downpours since the beginning of the week. The prolonged rain is attributed to a combination of the intertropical convergence zone and a low-pressure system moving inland from the sea. Sections of Pasteur Street at the Ton That Thiep intersection and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street experienced flooding up to half a wheel, making vehicle movement difficult. Mr. Tran Van Hung, Deputy Director of the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, stated that Ho Chi Minh City is currently experiencing a five-day period of widespread rainfall. On September 21st and 22nd, many areas recorded over 100 mm of rain, with Nha Be logging the highest at 249 mm. Locals and tourists were seen wading through the flooded streets of Pasteur and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. Earlier this morning, heavy rain lasting about 30 minutes affected Binh Thanh, Thu Duc districts, and the city center. The downpour coinciding with peak hours made commuting difficult for many residents and parents taking their children to school. Approximately 1.5 km away, a 400-meter stretch of Bui Vien Street, near the intersection with Do Quang Dau Street, was submerged 20-30 cm deep. Authorities have set up mobile barricades to limit vehicle passage. Cars were seen submerged up to their wheels on Bui Vien Street. Nearby, a restaurant on De Tham Street, situated nearly a meter below street level, required staff to use pumps to drain water after the rain subsided. An employee at a beer establishment on the 'Western' street noted that residents and tourists are accustomed to such flooding, with some foreign visitors even expressing amusement. Ham Nghi Street was flooded for about 300 meters, particularly at intersections and bus stops, causing traffic jams. In recent days, heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding in numerous other locations across Ho Chi Minh City, including Ba Son Bridge, Hanoi Highway, Thu Duc Market, Nguyen Van Linh Street, and Le Van Luong Street, with some areas inundated by over half a meter. This has resulted in many vehicles breaking down. On some slopes, strong currents have caused motorcycles to fall. The rain coinciding with the evening rush hour has also led to prolonged traffic congestion for up to two hours on many central roads and around the Hang Xanh roundabout. Source: VnExpress