Northern Vietnam floods inundate 2,000 homes as rivers cross danger levels

Hanoi,UPDATED: Sep 17, 2026 15:15 IST

Heavy rain triggered flooding across parts of northern Vietnam on Thursday, disrupting travel, submerging homes and pushing several rivers above dangerous levels, according to authorities and state media. More than 2,000 homes were inundated, many key transport routes were blocked and more than 1,000 households were left isolated.

Rain has lashed northern and north-central Vietnam this week, with some areas receiving more than 50 centimetres of rain, the disaster prevention department said. Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces, south of Hanoi, have been among the worst hit, while the government has also warned of more heavy rain in southern Vietnam, including flood-prone Ho Chi Minh City, from September 17 to 21.

In Thanh Hoa province, authorities told students to stay at home as flooding made travel to school dangerous, state media reported. Heavy rain and flooding have submerged or damaged about 10,014 hectares of rice and other crops, with the biggest losses reported in Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. Thousands of livestock and poultry have also been killed.

Vietnam is among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries and is prone to flooding. After a series of severe storms last year, the country has been looking for new ways to prepare for and manage floods. In Ninh Binh, resident Tran Ngoc Tai told national broadcaster VTV, "The flood happens every year," adding that people were prepared with fresh water and food.

In Hanoi, many streets were badly flooded on Thursday morning, with water nearly a metre deep in some places. The flooding disrupted traffic and made it difficult for residents to get to work, take children to school or leave their homes. State media said rainfall from Wednesday night to Thursday morning exceeded 15 centimetres in some areas. Many high schools and universities in the capital remained closed or shifted to online classes on Thursday afternoon.

The rising waters of the Bui River on the south-western outskirts of Hanoi also threatened to flood homes, prompting authorities to send hundreds of soldiers to help residents move belongings to higher ground, state media said. Forecasters expect widespread rain in southern Vietnam through September 21, with Ho Chi Minh City forecast to receive 10 to 20 centimetres of rain and some areas likely to get more, as authorities warn of flooding in low-lying areas and along waterways.

With PTI Inputs

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